Contentment

I think one of the things Satan wants most in our life is for us to be discontent.

If we aren't content with our possessions, maybe we will steal.
If we aren't content being single, maybe we will look for affection in the wrong places.
If we aren't content in our marriage, maybe we will just end it.
If we aren't content with our faith, maybe we will just drop it.


When I decided I was going to write a blog about contentment (a quality that I am really trying to build in myself), I realized that I didn't really know what the bible says about being content. I mean I have a general notion, certainly, but we can't expect ourselves to embody the qualities the bible encourages in us if we don't even know what the bible says. So I looked up the word "content" on an online ESV. It appears about 12 times in that version. I'm just going to go through them here, and we will learn about contentment together.

Exodus 2:21- Moses was content to dwell with Jethro.

Joshua 7:7- After they are defeated at Ai, Joshua wishes the people of Israel would have been content beyond the Jordan.

Judges 17:11- The Levite was content to dwell with Micah.

2 Kings 14:10- Jehoash (king of Israel) tells Amaziah (king of Judah) to be content with the glory he received from defeating the Edomites and to not face the Israelites in battle. Amaziah doesn't listen and is defeated.

Job 20:20- In describing the wicked sufferer to Job, Zophar mentions that the wicked man is not content with what he has, and that he will try to get everything he wants. This is not a good thing.

Luke 3:14- John, in preaching to the multitudes, tells people not to defraud one another, and he specifically tells soldiers to be content with their wages.

2 Corinthians 12:10- Paul is content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities, because his weakness is Christ's strength.

Philippians 4:11- Paul has learned to be content in all circumstances because Christ strengthens him.

1 Timothy 6:6-8- Paul tells Timothy that godliness is of great gain if one is content. If one has food and clothing, he should be content, because wanting to be rich causes him to fall into temptation.

Hebrews 13:5- The Hebrew writer exhorts his readers to be content, free from the love of money, because Christ will not forsake them.

3 John 1:10- John tells Gaius that Diotrephes is not content with talking wicked nonsense, so he also refuses to welcome the brothers. This is bad.


There seem to be five main themes in these verses:

1. Be content with where you are
2. Be content with what you have
3. Be content with what is happening to you
4. Discontentment has consequences
5. Contentment is possible--you have Christ for strength and support

I especially like the Old Testament verses about contentment. I have never really looked at them before.

I'm not exactly sure what to make about what Joshua said in Joshua 7. He makes this excalamation before the Lord tells him that they lost at Ai because of sin. I think it does show us something about Joshua's attitude. In his mind, if the people of Israel would have been content beyond the Jordan, these bad things wouldn't have happened to them. Again, not really sure about this one. Something to think about.

The 2 Kings passage is more clear. Jehoash knows he is going to beat Amaziah. He tries to tell him that he just needs to be happy with the battles he has already won. He needs to not get a big head and think he can go up against the Israelites because he can't. Or perhaps it is that he needs to not get greedy for more glory than he has, causing him to make a decision that wasn't going to turn out well.

I think what Zophar says in Job is really great. It probably wasn't what Job needed to hear, but it's definitely what I need to hear. It's the wicked person who isn't content with what he has, and this discontentedness is only going to lead to horrible things. He isn't satisfied, and he won't ever be satisfied, and it will destroy him.

With Moses and the Levite, contentedness was pretty straight forward. They got in these situations living in these places and they said "Okay, I'm willing to do this."



I just think being content is so important, especially seeing the consequences that come from refusing to be content. It's bad news trying to get more than what you've been given, or trying to change the situation that God has given you. There's a reason we are told to be content--it's better. It keeps us from sinning and shows our trust in God. Philippians and Hebrews especially show us the trust aspect of contentedness.

I want to leave you with the words from Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

God is watching out for us. He gave us the circumstances we are in for His glory. In faith, let us strive to be content.