Contentment at Christmas (12.21.25)

MATTHEW 2:1-11

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” ³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴ and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
⁶ “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
⁷ Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” ⁹ After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ¹¹ And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

TEN TAKE-HOME THOUGHTS

• Contentment is a sign that our faith is growing.

Godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6)

• Greed is being obsessed with the desire for more or different than what you have & thinking you deserve more or different than what you have.

• Greed is more insidious and more infectious than we imagine. It blinds us to the truth, traps us in the “control” vortex, and takes us to a darker place than we thought possible.

• If I don’t check myself, my desires will grow into perceived needs, which will become entitlement. When I believe I don’t have what I deserve, I become obsessed with what is not good for me.

• God’s love is the source of contentment.

For God so loved that the world that He gave… (John 3:16)

• Contentment is discovered when we receive what we don’t deserve instead of what we think we deserve.
• Gratitude and generosity are the fuel of contentment.
• “When” is a circumstance word that reminds us we cannot control everything.
• “Then” is a responsive word that reminds us we can always control our responses and the direction in which they move us.
• WHEN life isn’t what you desired or think you deserve, THEN you can still choose gratitude and generosity which will move you toward contentment.

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Check out this informational post about the Wise Men, Daniel, and the star; and how their story provides us with a pratical principle to chew on:

The Star of Bethlehem Points (Also) to the Eternal Impact of Our Work

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Click on the image to download the DiscipleQuest PDF

The DiscipleQuest PDF includes 7 days of verse study prompts. You can use these seven studies to dig deeper into the following verses about contentment:

• Philippians 4:11-13
• Hebrews 13:5
• Psalm 23:1
• 1 Timothy 6:6-8
• Proverbs 15:16
• Ecclesiastes 4:6
• Matthew 6:31-33

SERMON LEFTOVERS

Use these questions as journal prompts or as conversation starters with a group of friends or a Bible study group:

When you face unexpected or unsettling circumstances, then how do you typically respond—more like Herod (with fear and grasping) or like the Wise Men (with trust and seeking)? Why?

When life isn’t going the way you planned, then what emotions rise in you that make contentment feel difficult?

When Herod hears about a new King (v.3), then he is “troubled.” What does this reveal about the relationship between greed, insecurity, and discontentment?

When the Wise Men see the star again (v.10), then they “rejoice exceedingly with great joy.” What does this teach about how gratitude shapes contentment?

When the Wise Men enter the house and see Jesus (v.11), then they fall down in worship and give gifts. How does their response illustrate that generosity flows from a content heart?

When your circumstances threaten your sense of control (like Herod), then what false beliefs or fears surface that steal contentment from your heart?

When God redirects your plans—like guiding the Wise Men step by step—then how willing are you to trust Him in the in-between moments of the journey?

When you choose gratitude and worship (like the Wise Men), then how does it reshape your desires, your emotions, and your sense of enough?

When you face a situation this week that tempts you toward greed, comparison, or control, then what is one Wise-Men-like response you can choose instead?

When you feel discontent rising, then what simple practice—gratitude, generosity, worship, or surrender—will you intentionally use to reset your heart?