1 Peter 5 the Message
But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for— God has had it with the proud,
But takes delight in just plain people.
6-7 So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.
8-11 Keep a cool head. Stay alert.
The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping.
Keep your guard up.
You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good.
Be Content was Sundays theme for our service
Peter tells us to be Content with who we are and what we have.
Jesus said
“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. Matthew 6:25-26 MSG
As followers of Christ we need to have a contentment with our life. Not to worry about what we do not have or want what others have. To trust that our Father knows our needs and will supply it, all we need to do is to walk in His path and do our part by work etc.
But we are also called upon to be content with who we are as a person. That is a more difficult for most people as so many are dissatisfied with themselves physically or mentally.
Psalm 139
13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Scripture tells us that not only that God loves us but also that He created us as we are and He loves us as we are. We need to stop comparing ourselves to others as we are all supposed to be different and individual, not clones of each other.
Being Content brings peace to our lives as we are not trying hard to be something else or someone else. Or always seeking more stuff in our lives or ‘keeping up with the Jones’s’ which only brings stress and anxiety.
God has had it with the proud,
But takes delight in just plain people.
So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs.
So Peter is only picking up what Jesus and the Bible tell us, know that you are Loved by God and He will give you all you need in life, it might not be what you want or what others have but it will be what you need and striving for more will only lead to envy, greed, disappointment and unhappiness. While knowing that God loves you and has your best interests at heart should bring you contentment and peace.
This song I used in the service
A Christian Warrior 