Contentment

by Dan Richardson

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want. I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:11-13).

Contentment Is Defined: “to be sufficient, to be possessed of sufficient strength, to be strong, to be enough for a thing; to be satisfied …” (W. E. Vine, An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words). Discontentment causes much unhappiness and many problems. Consider what Paul teaches us about contentment.

Contentment Is Learned. The source of this learning is God’s word, wherein are found His “precious and exceeding great promises” (II Peter 1:4). We learn that our heavenly Father will give “good things to them that ask him” (Matthew 7:11), that our Lord will be with us always (Matthew 28:20), and that we can be content because God said, “I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). God’s care for his people is reminiscent of that spoken to Israel by Moses (Deuteronomy 31:6), as well as God’s instruction to Joshua (Joshua 1:6).

God warns us of trusting in materialism rather than in Him (Matthew 6:25-34), and that He will care for those who “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (verse 33). God reminds us that we will leave this world as we came into it – with nothing (I Timothy 6:6-8). And He warns of the “many sorrows” associated with the love of money, as opposed to the spirit of contentment. “But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (I Timothy 6:9-10). Will we listen and learn?

Contentment Is Needed In Every State. We need it in the state of material need, as Paul showed. Material things were not Paul’s primary concern; his mind set was rather on spiritual riches (Colossians 3:1-2).

We also need contentment in the state of material prosperity. Paul warned those rich in this world’s goods to be “not high-minded, nor have their hopes set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (I Timothy 6:17). The “all things” God gives includes not merely material riches; God’s storehouse of blessings provide for the eternal salvation of our soul. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26 KJV; cf. James 1:17). Especially do the material rich need to see the difference and be content.

Also, contentment is needed in the state of suffering, like is being observed now in the present pandemic. Rather than blame God for our sufferings, we should seek to draw nearer to Him by faith. Paul’s “thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan” was sent to “buffet” him (literally, give a black eye). He prayed three times for its removal, but God’s answer was, “My grace is sufficient for thee …” (II Corinthians 12:7-9). As seen in the definition above, contentment means to possess sufficient strength from faith in God to endure whatever we face.

Contentment Is Evidence of Living In Christ. The source of Paul’s strength, whereby he could feel sufficient (content), was Christ. “In Christ” describes a spiritual relationship, initiated by baptism “into Christ” (Romans 6:3-4), and maintained in the new spiritual life in Christ by faith (II Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20). In the contentment of faith, we can “with good courage” press on in the assurance that “the Lord is my Helper; I will not fear. What shall man do unto me?” (Hebrews 13:6). Such sufficiency can never be found in human wisdom/strength (Proverbs 3:5). Are you in Christ? Are you content?