The Importance of Contentment
One goal in life to which everyone aspires is contentment. The majority of people we meet seem to be discontent. Webster’s dictionary states that contentment is “having the desires limited to what one has, or to be satisfied.” Although the primary cause of discontent varies from culture to culture and person to person, it has its origin in only a few areas. The first of these is our desire for possessions. Are we satisfied with what we have, or do we look at what others have and desire more for ourselves? Another area that may bring discontent is the circumstances in which we find ourselves. Are we content? Do we trust God, or do we complain about the situations and surroundings that we are in? A third area which may produce discontent may come from a lack of acceptance of who we are and the gifts which God has given us. Are we tempted to desire the skills, wisdom and success which others have, or are we content to let Him use us where we are with the abilities He has given us?
A desire for more possessions is probably the most common cause of a lack of contentment. The advertisement industry is skilled at the presentation of new items which will make our lives easier or more enjoyable. We either see, or hear about an item which seems desirable, and before long it becomes a “must have” item. The Apostle Paul ’s words to us in I Timothy 6:6-8 are of great value to us as we consider “must have” options. “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.” One of the most reassuring promises to us regarding possessions is found in Hebrews 13:5. “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.’” We can be content, then, knowing that we have all our needs met and that he will never leave us or forsake us. It is important for us to know that we are given, in Christ, His victory over temptations to be discontent in regard to lack of possessions. He chose to be content, even in hunger, to stay inside the will of God and not change stones into bread, even though the bread was a legitimate need. As we abide in Him, His victory becomes ours as well.
The second area in which we may find discontentment is in our circumstances. We may not be content with our work environment, our occupation, or our place of residence, to name a few items. Situations may be present which will lead us to doubt God’s providential care for us. The Apostle Paul again has a word for us on this subject in Philippians 4:10-13. “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what 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 everything through him who give me strength.” To walk faithfully and obediently with the Lord in all circumstances is a matter of trust. Am I able to walk with Him when there is no verification of His presence? Job recounts the following in Job 23:8-10. “But if I go to the east, he is not there; If I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at his work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Despite any verification of the Lord’s presence, guidance, or blessing, Job put his trust in God.
In the Lord’s second temptation by the devil, His trust in God was put to the test. The evil one suggested that “Trust most perfectly expresses itself in daring something unusual, out of the ordinary, heroic. The enemy suggested that the trust of Jesus should be put to the test and proven by being placed outside the realm of the common place. Jesus’ answer was that as His physical being was content to be conditioned by the law of God so also it is that law which defines His spiritual responsibility. “ G. Campbell Morgan, Crises of the Christ, Hardpress 5th edition. Pg 151-154. Again, as in His success in the first temptation, the value and strength of His victory over the evil one is given to all who abide in Him. Despite all the varied circumstances in which we find ourselves in life, our trust in Him is sufficient for us in our time of need.
Another challenging attack on our contentment is not related to either our possessions or our circumstances. It calls into question the significance and contribution of the ministry given to us by the Lord. Whatever our background or status in life, we can always find someone who appears to have more success in ministry than we have experienced. The scriptures, however, remind us that we will never have any adequacy in and of ourselves. “Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” (II Corinthians 3:4-5) In Ephesians 2:10 we read the following. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” The fact that the Lord has prepared both us and the ministry He has selected for us enables us to be content with our assigned role in life. We need not search for the more popular, visible, and well-acclaimed gifts in ministry which are not His will for our lives.
In the third temptation faced by Christ, the devil showed Him an opportunity to obtain the kingdoms of the world. It was to do homage to the devil, and to avoid the cross. The Lord was enticed to use another avenue of accomplishing the work of God other than God’s chosen work of redemption. The choice of the Lord was always the will of the Father, even if it meant separation from Him to purchase our redemption. With His victory, we can also share in His triumph as we abide in Him.
We can see, then, that victory over every temptation was given to Christ as a result of His contentment in the provisions, the person and in the purpose of God. The chief value in our contentment, as in the life of Christ, lies not only in the peace which it provides. It is the means by which we successfully deal with the temptations we face in life. As we consistently look to Him as our victor and as our life, His victory becomes ours as we, also, are given contentment with His provision, His person and His purpose for our lives.
In Christ, Richard Spann