Making a Difference in Contentment
By Dr. Tom Walker
McDowell County
The Apostle Paul wrote, “I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” It is amazing how many people can have so little and yet be continually content. Contentment is a character trait that more Christians ought to be manifesting in daily life.
Jesus very clearly stated in a warning about coveteousness, “Take heed, and beware of coveteousness; for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth”(Luke 12:15). The context of these words deals with a rich fool. He lived for things, but he didn’t realize that things do not satisfy. Only God can gratify the longing, searching soul.
There are two main problems the rich fool of Luke 12:15 experienced. First, he never saw beyond himself. 1- He was clearly self-centered. Everything revolved around him. Rather than denying himself, he affirmed himself. Instead of finding happiness in giving, he tried to conserve it by keeping, rather than finding his happiness in giving, he tried to conserve it by keeping it. 2- In the next place, he never saw beyond this present world. All his plans revolved around life in the here and now. It is sad that a person does not know or remember there is another world.
Concept of Contentment
This can be discovered in its definition. It is “The state of being satisfied” (American Heritage Dictionary). It is also “A resting or satisfaction of mind without disquiet” (Websters 1828 Dictionary). There are many definitions for contentment, but they all tend to be similar.
Causes of Discontentment
One does not develop an attitude of discontentment because there are definite reasons why a person deals with that harmful attitude. A person does not possess it by accident, rather, there are factors that bring the detrimental attitude in a person’s life.
First, sin brings discontentment. The believer is to reckon himself or herself, dead to sin but alive unto God through spiritual resurrection power (Romans 6). The effect of sin on the life of a believer makes the child of God restless, because when he is sinning, that is not what God has in mind for him. When one sins, he or she becomes dissatisfied with one’s self because we know God desires holiness and holy living in the lives of his children.
In addition, impatience will bring discontentment. The Bible says in Hebrews 12:1 we are to “run with patience the race that is set before us.” Job is given to us as an example of patience (James 5:11). After losing his family, his health, and his wealth, Job was patient with the Lord. What did God do for him in the end? God gave him twice what Job had before his losses. According to James 1:3 when our faith is tried and tested, it produces patience in our life. The one who is impatient is breeding discontentment.
Unbelief will also bring about discontentment. Christians are called to live by faith.
Hebrews 10:38 says, “The just shall live by his faith.” There are examples given in Hebrews Chapter 11. The list of people in Hebrews 11 who lived by faith are: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Rahab. When we are living in unbelief and not
trusting the Lord as we should in our daily lives, we know we are not living by faith. When we have a life of faith, that causes us to not be pleased with ourselves, because we know the only way we can please the Lord is to live by faith (Heb.11:6). When our confidence is in the Lord, we do not place a great deal of confidence in ourselves.
Ingratitude is another instigator of discontentment. So many of us are not grateful for what we have. Since God has so abundantly blessed us there is no excuse for not being thankful for what we do have. I have seen some young couples I have married want to have in the first six months of their marriage what it took their parents several years to own. If we are not thankful for what we do have, I do not feel God is under any obligation to give us more. The Bible says in I Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” We do not know what the will of God is in everything, but we do know God desires that we have a thankful spirit. If we lack a spirit of gratitude for what we possess, we tend to lapse into a covetous spirit.
Ignorance is another cause of discontentment. If a Christian understands Romans 8:28 correctly, you understand that what you think is harmful to you may be working for your good and for God’s glory. Romans 8:26 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Note the words, “all things work together.” If you do not understand that important Bible truth, you will be discontent with things that happen in your life. The discontent ones own a tendency to complain to the Lord about some of the happenings that come their way. You will be a contented Christian if you come to a clear understanding of Romans 8:28.
Consequences of Discontentment
Sin is a consequence of not being settled in spirit. In Psalm 51 we find the account of King David’s sin. When it came to Bathsheba, he looked, he longed and he lusted. Because he wanted her so badly, the king sent her husband to the front line of battle to be killed. David was discontented with what he already possessed, so when he saw Bathsheba bathing, he felt he had her in addition to his other wives. Discontentment will lead to sin.
It will also lead to instability. Some of the most unstable people you will ever encounter are people who cannot be satisfied with what they have or with their lot in life. I personally believe it takes spending adequate time in the Word of God to be a truly contented person. The truths of the Bible are able to build us up and strengthen us. Acts 20:32 says, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”
Having an unsettled spirit will also bring division. If you put together a group of discontented people together to try to have a church, it won’t work. That kind of people will find problems with the preaching, the singing, their teacher and other things in the church. God is pleased when a local church has unity among its fellowship. Satan probably delights in dividing a church more than any other endeavor he accomplishes.
Sorrow comes from a discontented spirit. The person who has sorrow is the one who never seems to have enough in life. Earlier in our study, I mentioned Luke 12:15 and the rich fool. He was not a genuinely happy man because he set his affections upon the temporal, transient things of the earth. Jesus said, “Set your affection upon things above, not on things of the earth.” Material possessions do not bring true happiness. It seems the more a person gets, the more he wants. Jesus told us to- “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth not rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matt. 6:20).
Cure for Discontentment
We must have gratitude. If you are grateful for what you do have you will not pine over what you do not have. An Irish bishop lost his way on a journey. Since he did not know what direction to take, he went to the cottage of a poor woman for direction. The church leader found her finishing her dinner of cold water and a crust of dry bread. She was thanking God as though she had plenty and said, “I have all of this and Christ besides.” Someone said, “If you want to find gratitude, look for it in the dictionary.” Gratitude should not be that scarce.
You also need to have faith. Faith trusts God for daily needs and says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). If we manifest a wrong spirit toward material things, we are not living by faith, plus, we fail to have full confidence in God.
Reflection is important also. If you will take time to think about how good the Lord has been to you, you will tend to complain less about your present condition. Too often we fail to travel down memory lane and consider all the Lord has done for us. Psalm 107:8 says, “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”
That should be our attitude as we consider the goodness of the Lord in the present. The Lord was not only good to us in the past, He is bountifully good in the present.
Fullness or the fullness of the Spirit of God will keep a person content through all the trials, battles, and difficult times we must pass through in our daily lives. If one is filled with the Spirit of God here is what will dominate our lives. Galatians 5:22-23 informs us what will rule in the Spirit-filled life. Here is a list from Gal 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
We would be wise to be content in whatever state we are in from day to day. Paul the Apostle was and so should we be as well. Paul the Apostle wrote to the church at Philippi, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).
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Dr. Tom Walker is President of Foothills Bible College and Pastor of Zion Hill Baptist Church in Marion, NC. You can read more good Christian News from Dr. Walker HERE.
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