Contentment was described as a precious jewel by the Puritans in the seventeenth century. It is hardly such today. Now it is often associated with lethargy, laziness, or passivity. A college professor once told me he believed contentment was the millstone around the neck of Christians. Today, people tend to focus on vision, goals, initiative, and assertiveness. While these things may produce more product, it is at the cost of broken family relationships, division, increase in suicides, and diminishing mental health. The apostle Paul wrote, “true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.” (1 Timothy 6:6, NLT2). Godliness, with contentment, produces more attractive and healthy fruit. I believe the word contentment deserves to be reconsidered.
Paul made an insightful statement about contentment when he wrote, “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.” (Philippians 4:11b-12, NLT2). We are born selfish, always wanting something more. That is why children fight with each other or drive their parents crazy in a store—always wanting something more from the shelf. It doesn’t change much with age. Contentment is counterintuitive; and therefore, must be learned before it is seen to be something of value.
During my wife Connie’s illness, there were moments when I grew weary of carrying the load of her prolonged terminal illness. In the darker moments, I felt sorry for myself. However, like an unexpected breeze of cool air on a hot day, I would sense I was in God’s presence. I felt a deep peace, a very healthy sense of spiritual well-being, even joy! I picture spiritual well-being as a small child jumping, laughing, freely frolicking in an open field chasing a butterfly. No stress!
Brief as those moments in God’s presence were, they certainly lifted my spirit for hours. I saw those moments as God’s love notes, answers to people’s intercessory prayers for me. The joy of being in God’s presence surpasses any joy from achievements or from completing monumental assignments. Such contentment raises a person above all circumstances, whether positive or negative. I cherish those moments. The longer they last, the better.
We experience true contentment when the cares of life around us lose their bloodthirsty grip on our hearts. Paul’s source of contentment was not external. It was so deep within that he could enjoy life with or without the most basic needs.
Once, on a mission trip to Africa, I watched children laughing and having fun with things as simple as a discarded plastic water bottle. They didn’t need the latest video game to be content and happy. The media has successfully made us think we need something more to be happy. The fact is, we only need God’s felt presence to experience joy-filled, abundant life!! I know from personal experience.
Rabbi Hyman Schachtel wrote that happiness is not having what we want. It is wanting what we have. High stress, envy, greed, and competition suck life and any remnant of contentment out of us. Aren’t we more blessed when we replace those joy killers with gratitude for what we have and listen to our heart sing? How might you be able to strategize getting off the treadmill and allowing yourself to “SON bathe” in the pleasure of godliness with contentment? Is it time to trade your stress for a contented lifestyle?
I struggled with similar thoughts when Amber first had her accident. How can this be happening what am I going to do? How am I going to handle this. I often struggle with selfishness but with GOD he always walks me out of it.
I struggle a lot more than most with just trying to be content with what GOD has blessed me with! I through his help have made it through dark times and am better for it but it is always a battle.
Thanks for your thoughts! And it’s the box that has always had my children’s attention. Find a big old refrigerator box and they are content for hours.
Thank you Steve for sharing your commments. I am very proud of how you have handled your struggle with contentment. Well done.
Bob