Be content

The Bible clearly teaches us to ‘be content’:

  • Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.””
  • Luke 3:14 (NIV) “Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely – be content with your pay.””
  • 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NLT) “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.  So, if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.  But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.  And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”

The dictionary defines content as gratified, happy, satisfied, pleased, at ease, comfortable, free from anxiety, unperturbed or calm.

True contentment isn’t something that we find in things, people or circumstances.

True, biblical contentment is a conviction that Christ’s power, purpose and provision is sufficient for every circumstance.  We need to learn how to walk through all kinds of adversity believing in and experiencing Christ’s sufficiency.  We have to choose to rest on God’s good promises despite what may be going on in our lives.

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (AMP) “But He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough – always available – regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.”  Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me.  So, I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].”

When I am discontent

God wants us to be content.  Yet, often we are discontent.  Dissatisfied with life, our circumstances, our marriage, our job, the country we live in, the choices we’ve made.  The list goes on and on.

When we are discontent, we are disappointed, disgruntled and dissatisfied.  We become miserable, self-absorbed and lose our joy.  We walk around sulking or even withdrawing from those who love us.  We start to grumble and complain.  This is then when we have to guard our hearts against anger, bitterness, envy and resentment.

Discontentment distorts the past and it can destroy the present and the future.  Numbers 11:4-6 (GNT) “There were foreigners traveling with the Israelites.  They had a strong craving for meat, and even the Israelites themselves began to complain: “If only we could have some meat!  In Egypt we used to eat all the fish we wanted, and it cost us nothing.  Remember the cucumbers, the watermelons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic we had?  But now our strength is gone.  There is nothing at all to eat – nothing but this manna day after day!”

Discontent comes when we focus on what we lack instead of what we have.
Often the things we thought will make us happy disappoints.

When discontentment is good

Not all discontentment is sin or bad.  Always question and consider the root of discontentment:

  • It is good to be discontent with sin and longing to become more like Jesus (sanctification).
  • Discontentment can lead us toward a life with greater meaning, purpose, and impact.
  • Discontentment is godly when we want to see God’s Kingdom expand and all people to hear the Gospel.
  • Discontentment is beneficial when it encourages positive behaviour. For example: I am discontent with mediocrity in serving God or my employer.  When it aids us to do something about our health.  When it motivates us to take action against abuse or situations wherein God is apparently dishonoured, etc.

If I am discontent for the wrong reasons

We can be discontent for the wrong reasons.  Discontentment rooted in unbelief, pride and rebellion is sin.  It can also open the door to the sin of covetousness.  This is when discontent turns into a strong desire for the things that other people have:

  • Exodus 20:17 (CEV) “Do not want anything that belongs to someone else. Don’t want anyone’s house, wife or husband, slaves, oxen, donkeys or anything else.”
  • Luke 12:15 (NIV) “Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Unbelief questions God’s providence and provision.  It is a lack of faith in God and His ability to make good on His promises:

  • Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) “Be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
  • Romans 4:18-20 (NLT) “Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping – believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”  And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead – and so was Sarah’s womb.  Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise.  In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.”

Pride believes I deserve more or better than what God gave me.  1 John 2:16 (CEV) warns “Our foolish pride comes from this world, and so do our selfish desires and our desire to have everything we see.  None of this comes from the Father.”

Grumbling and complaining display that we take no delight in God and the gifts he gave us.  We are actually rebelling against God. In Job 23:1 -2 (MSG) “Job replied: “I’m not letting up – I’m standing my ground.  My complaint is legitimate.  God has no right to treat me like this – it isn’t fair!””  In the NKJV translation it reads “Then Job responded, “Even today my complaint is rebellion; His hand is heavy despite my groaning.”

Grumbling or complaining displeases God.  Numbers 11:1 (NKJV) states “Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused.  So, the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp.”  Why?  Because the Israelites forgot God’s blessings.

There is a huge difference between grumbling and humbling.  Humility seeks God’s intervention to change our circumstances.  Philippians 4:6 (CEV) “Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything.  With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.”  Grumbling is a sign of self-centeredness.  It is about wanting things my way.  God calls it ungodly.  Jude 15-16 (CEV) “He will punish all those ungodly people for all the evil things they have done.  The Lord will surely punish those ungodly sinners for every evil thing they have ever said about him.  These people grumble and complain and live by their own selfish desires.  They brag about themselves and flatter others to get what they want.”

As long as a man is alive and out of hell, he cannot have any cause to complain.
Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)

We must be careful that our discontent doesn’t harden our heart against God and His will for us causing us to become stubborn.  Hebrews 3:15 (NKJV) “While it is said: today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” “This is what the scripture says: “If you hear God’s voice today, do not be stubborn, as your ancestors were when they rebelled against God.” (GNT)

This is the secret of being content: To learn and accept that we live daily by God’s unmerited favour given through Christ, and that we can respond to any and every situation by His divine enablement through the Holy Spirit.
Jerry Bridges (1929-2016)

Turn away from discontentment

If we are discontent for the wrong reasons, we need to repent.  Proverbs 28:13 (NIV) “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”  Job 36:11 (NIV) says “If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.”  Repentance comes from the word “metanoia”.  It is an ancient Greek word meaning to change one’s mind.

Learn to be content

In Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV) Paul remarks “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”  Twice, Paul states that he had to learn to be content.  It didn’t come naturally.  He says he had to learn the secret of facing life under all circumstances.  How did he learn it?  Through God who strengthened and empowered him.

If the sun of God’s countenance shine upon me, I may well be content to be wet with the rain of affliction.
Joseph Hall (1574-1656)

We need to be content under all circumstances.  Sufferings, hardships, failing, setbacks, etc. are inevitable.  It is simply part of life in a fallen world.  We can’t learn to be content in Christ on our own.  Only God’s power within us can transforms our mind and heart and enables us to do it:

  • Ephesians 4:23-24 (CEV) “Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person.”
  • Romans 12:2 (GNT) “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God – what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.”

It is when we focus on God and eternity, acknowledging that life on earth is only a very small portion of our life, that we can learn to be content.  1 Timothy 6:6-8 (CEV) “And religion does make your life rich, by making you content with what you have.  We didn’t bring anything into this world, and we won’t take anything with us when we leave.  So, we should be satisfied just to have food and clothes.”

Joy and contentment cannot be separated.  The joyful heart recognizes and delight in God, His plans and His provision.  Philippians 4:4 (NIV) “Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!”  Disappointments come.  Nonetheless, we have a choice about what to do with it, when it comes knocking on our door.

One of the best weapons we have when facing discontentment is worship.  Worship is a weapon that enables us to focus on how good God is, instead of how discouraging life can be.  Praise God for who He is and what He has done, and watch how your discouragement changes into courage, your fear turns into faith, and your anxiety transforms into peace.  When we worship our focus moves from what is not happening to what God has already done for us.  Psalm 92:1-2 (AMP) “It is a good and delightful thing to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High, to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night.”

Remain content

In a world that often equates contentment with material wealth and success, the Bible provides a different perspective.  True contentment is found in a relationship with God, in gratitude for His provision, and a trust in Him and His promises that rise above worldly circumstances.

Psalm 23:1 (NIV) “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

Prayer: Father, thank you for who You are and what You have done for me.  Thank you for revealing it to me through Your Word and Your Spirit.  Please help me to keep my mind and heart focussed on You.  Let me, like Paul, learn to be content under all circumstances.  In Jesus name, Amen.