CONTENTMENT

But godliness with CONTENTMENT is great gain – 1Timothy 6:6

CONTENTMENT is not getting what you want but being satisfied with what you have. This Virtue comes with great gain. All good things come from the same Source and His supply will never run out (Jam.1:17). Everything you need is inside of God. All that you’ll ever desire is in Christ. The world has nothing of eternal value to offer creatures of eternity. The outside is cold, hard, and harsh; and some of us could wither within moments of getting some things we are lusting and longing after. Are you spending the best of your times on the fringes of faith? Are you looking longingly at worldly things that could harm you? Are you wasting energy in pursuit of what you don’t need and shouldn’t have? Are you ignoring God’s plentiful provision because you imagine that something just before your reach is better? To be rich in God is far better than to be rich in gold!

Ironically, we live in a world that feeds our desires for more and more – until we find it almost impossible to be content with anything! The Lord Jesus challenges us otherwise: “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Lk.12:15). He told a parable about a man “who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” – is not concerned about his relationship with God (v.21). He wants you to be content with what you have and not be consumed with amassing more. You must be thankful to God for material goods and view them as being given by Him to be used wisely and enjoyed (Mt.25:14-30; 1Tim.6:17). But never forget that: those who are preoccupied with possessing material goods often lose focus of eternal values. God can go as far as to prepare a table for you even in the presence of your enemies (Psa.23:5). Why allow your heart to run after fleeting “stuff”?

God supplies all your needs from His riches in Glory (Phil.4:19). Fulfilment in life goes beyond having abundance of things: “Let your conduct be without covetousness, and be CONTENT with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Heb.13:5a). The true remedy for hearts that “want it all” is the contentment found in the Presence of the Living God. You probably do not need more “things”; what you really need is to use well the things you already have – your opportunities, time, talents, and treasures. God meets the needs of those who seek His Kingdom and righteousness:“those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing” (Psa.34:10b; Mt.6:33). The Lord is “able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, have an abundance for every good work” (2Cor.9:8). When you recognise the significance of your work as a minister of God’s grace, you’ll stop comparing with and fighting for other people’s possessions or positions and be grateful for what He has given you to serve others on His behalf!

Your needs will never exhaust God’s supply. You are truly rich when you are satisfied with what you have. The Lord assures that you’ll never lack (Psa.23:1). He is sufficient  for all your longings. So instead of striving for what you don’t have, why not open your heart to gratefully receive and enjoy everything you’ve already been given by Him. Be content to fill the place where God has put you, so that He might be glorified through you. If right now you’re thinking, “I need more and more” of things, consider instead the possibility that God has given you “more than enough.” All that you’ll ever desire is found in Christ Jesus. Life would be worthless without Him. May your desire to have what God has kept from you not keep you from enjoying what He has given to you (Heb.13:5). Resentment comes from looking at others; contentment comes from looking up to God. He is truly rich who is contented with what he has in Christ! In Christ alone can you enjoy true contentment!