Conscious or otherwise, every human being is in hot pursuit of the desirable state of contentment. Without contentment in every area of our lives, life is pointless… it’s no more meaningful than a mouse running non-stop in a drum cage… wearing itself out to get nowhere.

What is contentment? Wikipedia defines contentment as… “an emotional state of satisfaction that can be seen as a mental state drawn from being at ease in one’s situation, body and mind. Colloquially speaking, contentment could be a state of having accepted one’s situation and is a milder and more tentative form of happiness.”

Mankind’s fall from their original, idyllic state of contentment was caused by their disobedience to God through touching the forbidden Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Instantly, Adam and Eve’s eyes were opened to know the distinction between good and evil (Gen. 3). In other words, they became intellectually developed to distinguish between good and evil–they realized there was a gap between what they considered good or ideal and what they were experiencing. The perception of this inequality is what creates psychological, emotional, and physiological tension.

Friends, here is a splash of sobering truth: We are broken people! The world in which we live is broken! In this natural state of brokenness, it is impossible for any person to experience contentment. The Book of Ecclesiastes says, “Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content” (1:8). “A person might live a thousand years twice over but still not find contentment. And since he must die like everyone else—well, what is the use?” (6:6)?

A person might live a thousand years twice over but still not find contentment? Wow! What are we to do with this truth! We can investigate any time, past and present, and we will discover that a great number of people in life toiled and struggled without ever tasting sweet contentment. Friends, a life lived without contentment is a failed life! Three verses earlier, Solomon said, “A man might have a hundred children and live to be very old. But if he finds no satisfaction in life and does not even get a decent burial, it would have been better for him to be born dead” (6:3).

We can learn a valuable lesson of contentment from the apostle Paul in the letter he wrote to the church at Philippi. Paul had received their generous gift of support to him via their messenger, Epaphroditus. Paul said to them…

“How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you did not have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength (4:10-14).

Paul did not beg God’s people at Philippi to help him in his work. He just placed the need before them and trusted God to meet it. He had learned the lesson of contentment! Outer circumstances of every kind did not affect the inner state of contentment Paul was enjoying. 

The word content (autarkes) means “self-sufficient.” Paul used this word to refer to a divinely bestowed sufficiency, whatever the prevailing outer circumstances. Paul said he could “do everything”—including handling poverty and living in abundance—through God who gave him strength. This was not a claim of pride in his own abilities but a declaration of the strength provided by Christ.

At times Paul experienced definite financial and material needs, and at other times he had an abundance. No matter what, Paul was able to celebrate both times of need and plenty.

In his letter to Timothy, Paul said, “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we cannot take anything with us when we leave it. So, if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content” (1 Tim. 6:6-8).

Friends, I am a reformed, chronic worrier. I no longer worry about anything. All my needs are being met through Christ. I am indwelt with the Holy Spirit. I have every good thing a person could desire. I have eternal life. I am a joint-heir of the Kingdom of God. While death will rob me of everything the world has given, eternal life and the riches of God’s Kingdom is held in trust by Christ!

Only those who pursue righteousness and a godly life will taste the sweet satisfaction of contentment. Righteousness and a godly life is the worthy pursuit of every believer (1 Tim. 6:11).

Bill