Are You Content?

The world around us offers so much, and for many of us, it offers too much—often too much of the wrong thing. Where do we turn? What do we listen to? And perhaps most importantly, when is enough finally enough?

Our society thrives on bigger, better, and faster. We have become far more interested in quantity than quality. We will spend hours standing in line outside a store to make sure we have the latest iPhone, television, toy, or whatever the newest fad happens to be that we simply cannot live without. We can easily begin to believe that we have a right to be wealthy, own a home and a car, and fill our homes with everything we want, whenever we want it.

We are often no longer interested in saving for something, patiently waiting for it, or asking God for what we would like to have and allowing Him to provide it in His timing. When God does not move quickly enough, we are tempted to go around Him and take control of the situation ourselves.

While it may appear that others get away with this, God does not want His children—those who claim God as their Father and Jesus as their Savior—to live with that mindset, or perhaps more appropriately, that “heartset.”

Philippians 4:11–13 says:

“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.”

Here is the beauty of what Paul says about his circumstances: contentment did not come naturally to him, and it does not come naturally to any of us. Paul says, “I have learned to be content.” Those words clearly indicate that contentment must be practiced. We must work at it. It is a discipline we develop over time.

Paul also says that he knows what it is like to have plenty. He knows what abundance feels like and what it looks like, which can make contentment even more difficult. It is often easier to have never had something than to have had it and then lose it. That is a true test of our fortitude.

Contentment can also become difficult when we constantly compare ourselves with others. We see what someone else has and begin convincing ourselves that if only we had what they have, we would automatically be happier.

But happiness and contentment are not found in possessions. If we do not exercise self-control and learn to be grateful for our present circumstances, having more will never be enough.

Jesus says in Luke 16:10:

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”

So what is the primary benefit of learning contentment?

God certainly does not have a problem with us having things—or even having nice things. The issue is not the possession; it is our relationship with the possession. God can bless us with abundance, but He wants us to be responsible stewards of what He gives us.

We must first learn to be satisfied and faithful in whatever circumstances we are in. Then, as God knows we are ready, He can entrust us with more. His provision is not simply about giving us what we want; it is about giving us what He knows we can responsibly handle.

1 Corinthians 10:12–13 says:

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

A lack of discipline in contentment can create a world of hurt and anguish. Many of us have found ourselves in that predicament, and some of us have found ourselves there more than once.

I know there are people who have developed the idea that Christians should not be wealthy or enjoy beautiful things. That could not be further from what God’s Word teaches. God does not have a problem with wealth, beauty, abundance, or prosperity. What He does care about is how we obtain those things, how we use them, and whether those things ever come between Him and us.

Consider 1 Timothy 6:10:

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Money itself is not evil. The problem is the love of money. When our desire for wealth becomes more important than our relationship with God, money can become a root that leads us toward all kinds of destructive behavior.

If money itself were evil, God would have failed every person to whom He has entrusted great wealth, including those who use their resources for His glory. The problem arises when we allow what God has given us to become more important than the One who gave it.

And when we lose our contentment after receiving what we wanted, we can find ourselves experiencing the very “many griefs” Paul describes.

How do we know this? We need only read the entire passage.

1 Timothy 6:6–10 says:

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Verse 9 is particularly important:

“Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap…”

Notice the wording: “those who want to get rich.” Paul is addressing a heart that becomes consumed with the pursuit of wealth. When we decide within ourselves that we must become rich, we can make ourselves particularly vulnerable to temptation, poor decisions, and an endless hunger for more.

Those who allow God to provide may have a healthier perspective, but even then, we must remain vigilant about maintaining contentment. The world even has a warning for us: “Watch out for those get-rich-quick schemes!”

Once again, contentment is a lifelong practice. It is a discipline whether we are rich or poor, young or old. We can easily become distracted, begin comparing ourselves with others, and slowly fall over the cliff of dissatisfaction.

So, how do we stay content?

The answer begins by keeping our priorities in the right order.

Matthew 6:33 says:

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

And Philippians 4:19 reminds us:

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Contentment does not mean that we stop having goals, stop working hard, or stop enjoying the blessings God provides. It means we stop allowing our desire for more to become greater than our desire for God.

When we seek Him first, trust His timing, practice gratitude, and faithfully steward what He has already placed in our hands, we discover that enough is not determined by how much we have. Enough is determined by whether we are content with what God has provided.