7 Wrong Ways We View Contentment|5 Signs You’re Content

At an evening church fellowship, I brought up the topic of contentment and wondered why it was a rare sermon in some churches.

One lady snapped and said she didn’t believe in being content because God has called us to prosper, multiply and dominate the earth.

Her response led me to ask myself several questions!

Why does the Bible teach contentment? Is it for the poor only and not the rich? Is it accepting mediocrity and not aspiring to become better or the best we can? What is biblical contentment?

Denial of any truth in the scriptures reduces the Bible to a fridge where we pick what we want and leave what we don’t want. Yet all truth in the Bible is the Word of God that sets us free and equips us to live a godly life. (2 Peter 1:3)

I’ve seen rich people who are constantly anxious, who complain about everything and who seem to never have enough money to accomplish their goals. From the outside, they seem blessed but they don’t see it. They’re so focused on the things they’re striving to attain that they don’t appreciate the much God has helped them to acquire and achieve.

The same attitude can control the life of a poor person. Either way, I think it’s a sad way to live!

7 Wrong Ways We View Contentment

Before we define biblical contentment, let’s look at what contentment is not;

#1: Contentment Is NOT Stagnation

It isn’t sitting back, folding hands or doing nothing to grow or improve the quality of one’s life and that of others.

Remember God has given us talents, spiritual gifts and skills that He expects us to multiply or use with diligence, excellence and faithfulness to serve others. He’ll demand an account of what we did with what He gave us.

#2: Contentment Is NOT Laziness

Work is the duty of man before and after the fall, only that it’s more straining because sin entered the world. God gives us 12 hours of daylight and 6 days of the week for fruitful labour.

People who pass time or waste time are actually wasting their lives. No Christian should be idle because they’re not employed.

As obedient sons and servants of God here on earth, we should seize every opportunity to do our Father’s will and serve others, whether paid or not. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

#3: Contentment Is NOT Hiding, Hoarding Or Failing To Multiply Resources

When we invest the money God has given us in His way, we multiply it so more of it is available to accomplish His purposes on earth.

The needs and opportunities in our communities are great and we need Christians who are skilled in utilizing the available resources to make money and help those in need and support godly ministries.

Read more about the resources God has entrusted to us in this article Money Reveals True Self & Spiritual State|9 Resources You Must Steward

#4: Contentment Is NOT The Absence Of Problems

Suffering is the experience of all human beings. That’s why we need to learn contentment in all circumstances – in good and bad times, with much or with little.

You can go through the toughest trial of your life and still be content because your trust is in the Lord. (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Read more about suffering in this article Where is God When It Hurts?|The 6 SOURCES, 10 REASONS & 12 RESPONSES Of Suffering

#5: Contentment Is NOT Denying Our Weaknesses

Apostle Paul freely talked about the thorn in his flesh and why it was necessary to keep him humble. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

Likewise, we should not conceal, deny or be ashamed of the thorns that God is pleased to allow in our lives like disability, sickness, lack of education, unemployment, bareness, widowhood and singlehood among others. Some may be seasonal, others permanent.

It is wise to accept life’s fate at different seasons of our lives, as we trust God whether our circumstances change or not. He always knows what He is doing.

#6: Contentment Is NOT Being Comfortable In Sin

Some Christians give up the fight against sin and make it an acceptable habit.

They become complacent yet the Bible says

“Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is….

Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them.

So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.” (1 John 3:6,9)

We entertain or tolerate living in sin. That’s not normal for a true Christian. We need to confess our sins, repent and take every measure possible to live holy lives. (Hebrews 12:1, 1 Peter 1:15)

Jesus taught us to cut off things that cause us to sin. (Matthew 5:29)

If you desire to know more about the true gospel and how it helps us overcome sin, read this article DID YOU BELIEVE THE TRUE GOSPEL?|Be Sure Of Your Eternal Destiny

#7: Contentment Is NOT Denying Ourselves Life’s Enjoyment

God made a beautiful world with sunrises and sunsets, sunny and rainy days, snowy and sandy deserts, oceans and seas, rivers and streams.

Clearly, God is not anti-fun. He richly provides everything for our enjoyment. (1 Timothy 6:17)

If someone can afford to take a vacation after months or years of work, it’s okay. If someone can afford and needs a particular car, God won’t be mad because they bought it.

The problem is to desire or force ourselves to enjoy things we can’t afford or acquire things to prove a point to others about our status or at the expense of other people’s well-being.

Sometimes we’re also tempted to buy and accumulate things we rarely use thus wasting the money. Why not give them away?

What Is Contentment?

Contentment is a state or attitude of being grateful, satisfied and pleased with what God has given us or done in our lives.

Apostle Paul writes,

“True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.

After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us we leave it.

So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.” (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

Notice that the bare minimum to be content is food and clothing. We can go further and say that if you have a pair of clothing, you’re good to go because John the Baptist said, “If you have two coats and you see someone without, give them one.” (Luke 3:11)

When you have food and clothes, you’re a candidate to be content.

5 Signs You’re Content

#1: You Give Thanks In All Circumstances

Everyone has something to be thankful for. We may not have all we desire but even the little we have is by God’s grace.

The fact that you can see, read and write, are not in ICU or prison, stop and give thanks. Even through the challenges we face, we can give thanks because God knows why and He is with us.

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

#2: You’re At Peace

The other component of contentment is peace with God, self and others. Every Christian needs to enter God’s rest. (Hebrews 4:1-11)

Worry and anxiety about today or tomorrow make our Lord sad because He instructed us not to worry about anything since our heavenly Father provides for the birds and clothes the wildflowers. (Matthew 6:25-34)

A contented person doesn’t allow things that are beyond their control to stress them but focuses on obeying God in whatever situation they are in. Then God’s peace that surpasses understanding guards their hearts and minds. (Philippians 4:6-7)

#3: You Accept God’s Will

Contentment is a sweet surrender to God’s will whatever it might be. (1 Peter 4:19)

Sometimes God allows situations we don’t like or that are beyond our control. He expects us to endure as soldiers as we wait for His rescue or die as martyrs in battle for His cause.

#4: You Don’t Complain

A person who has learnt contentment doesn’t complain about their current circumstances. (1 Corinthians 10:10)

Complainers say things like “I wish life was better.” “Why is God making me suffer? He hates me.” “We are going to die.” They’re easily annoyed by little things and dissatisfied with God and people.

The Israelites grumbled several times in the desert and God’s anger was aroused against them. (Numbers 11:1, Exodus 14:11, 1 Corinthians 10:10, James 5:9)

Complaining shows we don’t trust God’s providence, wisdom and dealings with us. Instead, we should make the most of who we are and what He has given us.

The cure for complaining is to meditate and remind ourselves of what God has said and written about us in His Word.

#5: Absence of Envy

King Solomon observed that most people are motivated to succeed because they envy their neighbours. (Ecclesiastes 4:4)

When we look at the friends we grew up with driving or living in a better environment, we want to work harder to be at their level or higher. It gets more bizarre when we envy sinners who have only this world to live for and who will eternally lose their souls.

Even Bible writers struggled to understand why evildoers get success, wealth and health. But when God revealed to them the end of the wicked, they realized that those who fear God are better off – because they have an eternal hope that will not disappoint. (Proverbs 23:17-18, Psalms 73)

At every stage and state of your life, there is someone who desires to get where you are and have what you have because it represents success to them. At the same time, there is another who despises what you are and have because it represents failure.

Envy that manifests in comparing ourselves with others and competing with them is not only sinful but foolish. Each of us is on a personal journey and called to accomplish a specific assignment.

Bonus sign of contentment; You’re Debt Free

A content person lives within God’s providence for their lives. That they’ve overcome the temptation of acquiring stuff they can’t afford. In future we shall share more about the causes, dangers and tips of handling debt.

Our next article is How To Learn Contentment|10 Biblical Reasons To Be Content.

 Thank you for reading this article. I welcome your comments and questions below – as iron sharpens iron, let’s sharpen each other.

 A wise person hears and obeys the Word of God. Their lives are built on the rock. They stand strong through life’s temptations, tests and troubles.

A foolish person hears and ignores the Word of God. Their lives are built on sand. They bend, break down and backslide when faced with life’s temptations, tests and troubles.

“Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” (John 13:17, James 4:17)

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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. (https://www.biblegateway.com)

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