There are 4 Characteristics Defining the Place of the Kingdom of God.

1. A Place where Peace is the alternative to Violence. For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Matthew 14:17

2. A Place where Inclusion is the alternative to the emergence of Elites. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

3. A Place where a God of the Powerless is the alternative to a God who sanctions Inequalities. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, And righteousness remains in the fruitful field. Isaiah 32:16

4. A Place where the sharing of Goods is the alternative to amassing of Wealth. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38

ANALYSIS: The Key to Contentment
And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19

1. Those who are truly Godly are those who are truly Content. Now godliness with contentment is great gain. This world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. Vs 6-8

WORD POWER: Contentment (autarkeia)- a perfect condition of life in which one has sufficient strength, ability, power to do whatever needs to be done and is thereby satisfied with his condition.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with Thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus……. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:6-7, 11-13


2. Those who pursue Riches will find themselves a Wreck!
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. Vs 9

Proverbs 30:8-9 …give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

3. Those who Love Money Feed their Greed
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Vs 10

APPLICATION: The key to Contentment is found not in what you Have but in who you Know!

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5