Gen. 17:1-8, Contentment vs. covetousness (2)

Continuing our Bible Study on Contentment.

c)    What important reasons are there for being content?

i)      Heb. 13:5-6: The message of a life that glorifies God is that in every situation of life, “God helped me”.  That message is ruined without contentment.  Greed or covetousness exalts me, not God my help.

ii)   Matt. 6:19-23: A life of covetousness centers on the pleasures of this world.  Material gains will all be lost.  Depreciation (the moth), inflation (the rust) and robbery (thieves) will get the best of this world’s goods.

iii)            Matt. 6:24: We cannot serve two masters.  Through contentment we find satisfaction in what God provides; we serve Him.  Through greed, we serve ourselves and since we cannot serve two masters, we reject God.

d)    In Gen. 17:1 how did God reveal Himself to Abraham?  (Using a Bible dictionary or some other study tool, what does this name imply about God?)

i)      The Heb. El Shaddai is translated “God Almighty” in the NKJV.

ii)   God’s revelation of Himself to Abraham is powerful.  The entire relationship was based on a promise/covenant God made with Abraham.  Earlier, in Gen. 15:1, God had described himself as Abram’s “shield, your exceedingly great reward.”  Now God’s name for Abraham relates to God’s promise to provide for Abraham.  “God Almighty” is the all-sufficient One, the God of abundance, the only God who can be Abram’s “shield” and “exceedingly great reward.”

e)    How did God show himself “all-sufficient” to the following?

i)      Abraham in Gen. 17:1-8.  He provided him a son in his old age.

ii)   Job, Job 1:21. “El Shaddai” is used 31 times in Job.  Note 4 principles in this verse:

(1)                        I brought nothing into this world.

(2)                        I’ll take nothing out of this world.

(3)                        Possessions mean responsibility, not ownership, and are given by God for His will.

(4)                        Temporal losses become eternal gains when we transfer our trust to Christ instead of to the possessions.

iii)            Paul in 2 Cor. 3:5-6.  God provided a ministry for Paul, and then blessed that ministry.

f)    How do I know that God, the all-sufficient One, will supply my needs?  Mt. 6:30-33.

i)      v30: God cares for the rest of His creation; He will care for me.

ii)   v32: God knows my needs.

iii)            v33: God promises to provide, in response to our faith.