Learning The Christian Value of Contentment
The Spurgeon devotional had written this on contentment as part of the morning passage:
One value that the world often misunderstands or often misapplies is contentment. It's often mistaken for mediocrity when it's not mediocrity. To be content means to be in a state of peaceful happiness. It's not about mediocrity or not seeking one's best. Rather, to be content means to try one's best while relying upon God's provision. It is to make sure that one pursues the best for God rather than for one's self. You can be contented while trying your best for God by His grace but you can't be contented when you pursue material wealth.
A good example of a lesson in contentment is King Solomon. He found himself to be one of the richest monarchs ever but he wasn't satisfied. He had quoted about how much he hated life and how all is vanity of vanities in Ecclesiastes. Then he had some sound advice on regards to wealth and what he learned during his lifetime:
That's one simple truth that you can't deny. Some say that they will be satisfied when they have millions. Millions come and they want to have billions and it goes on. While nothing is wrong with careful investment of finances in the bank or careful investment in the stock market since the Bible talks about wise stewardship of money. The problem is when one gets too obsessed with money or puts their trust in it. While nothing is wrong with having millions, billions or even more but one must remember that the money must be used for God's glory. You can either be rich and be like Joseph or Arimathea or be rich and end up like the rich young ruler who rejected Jesus because of wealth.
Later, we have the Apostle Paul teaching about contentment. He gave this advice to Timothy regarding riches:
The call of the Christian life is not to seek to be materially rich but to make sure one has the resources to live properly and for others. If riches increase then one wants to have more, right? While it's good to increase one's money as a form of security yet one must never forget who provided the money. While money itself isn't evil but the love of money is what's evil. Work hard, get some financial security for daily needs, invest in business, let your business grow but never forget that God is the owner of all in all!
See also:
I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content. - Philippians 4:11
These words show us that contentment is not a natural propensity of man. "Ill weeds grow apace." Covetousness, discontent, and murmuring are as natural to man as thorns are to the soil. We need not sow thistles and brambles; they come up naturally enough, because they are indigenous to earth: and so, we need not teach men to complain; they complain fast enough without any education. But the precious things of the earth must be cultivated. If we would have wheat, we must plough and sow; if we want flowers, there must be the garden, and all the gardener's care. Now, contentment is one of the flowers of heaven, and if we would have it, it must be cultivated; it will not grow in us by nature; it is the new nature alone that can produce it, and even then we must be specially careful and watchful that we maintain and cultivate the grace which God has sown in us. Paul says, "I have learned ... to be content;" as much as to say, he did not know how at one time. It cost him some pains to attain to the mystery of that great truth. No doubt he sometimes thought he had learned, and then broke down. And when at last he had attained unto it, and could say, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content," he was an old, grey-headed man, upon the borders of the grave-a poor prisoner shut up in Nero's dungeon at Rome. We might well be willing to endure Paul's infirmities, and share the cold dungeon with him, if we too might by any means attain unto his good degree. Do not indulge the notion that you can be contented with learning, or learn without discipline. It is not a power that may be exercised naturally, but a science to be acquired gradually. We know this from experience. Brother, hush that murmur, natural though it be, and continue a diligent pupil in the College of Content.
One value that the world often misunderstands or often misapplies is contentment. It's often mistaken for mediocrity when it's not mediocrity. To be content means to be in a state of peaceful happiness. It's not about mediocrity or not seeking one's best. Rather, to be content means to try one's best while relying upon God's provision. It is to make sure that one pursues the best for God rather than for one's self. You can be contented while trying your best for God by His grace but you can't be contented when you pursue material wealth.
A good example of a lesson in contentment is King Solomon. He found himself to be one of the richest monarchs ever but he wasn't satisfied. He had quoted about how much he hated life and how all is vanity of vanities in Ecclesiastes. Then he had some sound advice on regards to wealth and what he learned during his lifetime:
Proverbs 30:8-9
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
Ecclesiastes 1:8
All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
Ecclesiastes 5:10-11
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
That's one simple truth that you can't deny. Some say that they will be satisfied when they have millions. Millions come and they want to have billions and it goes on. While nothing is wrong with careful investment of finances in the bank or careful investment in the stock market since the Bible talks about wise stewardship of money. The problem is when one gets too obsessed with money or puts their trust in it. While nothing is wrong with having millions, billions or even more but one must remember that the money must be used for God's glory. You can either be rich and be like Joseph or Arimathea or be rich and end up like the rich young ruler who rejected Jesus because of wealth.
Later, we have the Apostle Paul teaching about contentment. He gave this advice to Timothy regarding riches:
1 Timothy 6:6-8-10
But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
The call of the Christian life is not to seek to be materially rich but to make sure one has the resources to live properly and for others. If riches increase then one wants to have more, right? While it's good to increase one's money as a form of security yet one must never forget who provided the money. While money itself isn't evil but the love of money is what's evil. Work hard, get some financial security for daily needs, invest in business, let your business grow but never forget that God is the owner of all in all!
See also: