Seek Ye First the Kingdom: God's Way to Finding Contentment Based on Matthew 6:33

By Timothy Gray

Stress, short tempers, impatience, and greed-these are elements that have their origin in what is having an effect on all of us. That thing is discontentment. Matthew 6:33 addresses this condition and provides us with the answer to discontentment by looking through the lens of God's perspective. It is sure to enlighten, challenge, and encourage the reader.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9781644683224

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Seek Ye First the Kingdom

God’s Way to Finding Contentment Based on Matthew 6:33

Timothy Gray

ISBN 978-1-64468-321-7 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64468-322-4 (Digital)

Copyright © 2020 Timothy Gray

All rights reserved

First Edition

All scripture quotations and references are taken from the King James Version of the Bible, which is available through public domain.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books, Inc.

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

The Origins of Sin and the Curse

Early Life in the Garden

Examples of Discontented Bible Characters

Examples of Contented Bible Characters

Some of God’s Promises

Is Something Wrong with Being Wealthy?

Contentment Trials

Anxiety and a Divine Perspective

God’s Plan for Remaining Content

About the Author

Dedicated to Tyler Trent, who ran his race with unwavering faith and love for God, showing us how to live and face adversity in a state of contentment.

9/7/98–1/1/19

There is laid up for him the crown of righteousness.

Special thanks to the Children’s Cancer Research Fund, to which monetary contributions from the sale of this book will be made.

Preface

This book is about a societal condition that has affected mankind throughout history but has become much more pronounced in the past several decades. Even in this age of high technology and conveniences, which are supposed to make life easier and less stressful, it seems to be getting worse.

That condition is the lack of contentment. One can find it anywhere: in the home, at work, the marketplace, movements, clubs, and sad to say, even in the church.

In the following chapters and pages, we will study this lack of contentment. We will look at the societal trends that have given rise to and why it persists. But we will also, through the pages of scripture, learn the solution.

It is my wish and prayer that this book will be a help and encouragement to all who read it and that it will bring honor and glory to our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Acknowledgments

The making of this book would not have been possible without the help of several people, to whom I am very grateful. First and most of all, I want to thank our Heavenly Father for sending those people to help me, and for giving me the ability to put into words what He laid on my heart to write. Next, I want to thank my wife Diane, who so unselfishly gave up many bicycle rides in order for me to spend time in my study. I owe a huge thank you to my Navy shipmate, friend, and author Frederic W. Burr, who tediously went above and beyond in proofreading and offering his sage advice regarding the grammatical structure. Without Fred’s experience and wisdom, my high school English teachers would have been appalled! Another person who was a big help by suggesting changes to the text is my brother-in-law, Kirk Whitaker. Kirk is incredibly gifted with intelligence and computer skills and is a man who loves the Lord. I also am thankful to fellow church member Karen Hatch and her husband Don, for their critique, as well as my friend and former Sunday school teacher Bill Sparks, another person whose insight and honest evaluation of the book is treasured and appreciated. Finally, I want to thank my pastor, Mark Helm and his wife Kathy, who are steadfast in their commitment to furthering the gospel, and who having gone through the valley of sorrow themselves, remain content. Their rewards in heaven will be many.

Chapter 1

The Origins of Sin and the Curse

The biblical account in the book of Genesis records how God created the heavens, the earth, birds and land animals, and the human race in chapters 1:1 through 3:19. A recurring statement is made: And God saw that it was good. Adam and Eve were placed in a perfectly balanced and beautiful environment where their every need was provided for and they lacked for nothing. They, along with the animals, were given the perfect food, which was plants, as verses 29 and 30 record. There was no sickness or disease for mankind or animals, and death did