We live in a world that believes that contentment comes from obtaining an object that we’ve longed for, or by accomplishing the things we want. It tells us that having the best life includes having the house, job, car, career, and other materialistic things we desire. As a new Believer, I had a wrong understanding of the true meaning of contentment. I believed it depended on having all the things I wanted and that God would provide me with all these things. Boy was I wrong.
God made sure that I learned this early on in my conversion. Through rough waters, He taught me that worldly things don’t bring true joy. It doesn’t mean that I’m not still growing in this area, but at that time, He stripped away from me certain idols that were distracting me from the true source of joy- Himself. It’s amazing to see how God works in us. Little by little, my focus started to change. He has humbled me in many areas, and through this, I’ve learned to see things through gospel lenses.
WORLDLY THINGS DON’T SATISFY
All Christians deal with indwelling sin. In Romans 7:14-25, we read of Paul’s battle against this topic. Salvation doesn’t eliminate our battle with worldly temptations. Therefore, our flesh is prone to seeking fulfillment and happiness in worldly things. There’s a constant search for that place, thing, or even a person who will meet our needs and bring joy. We even see books on self-help and finding contentment because everyone is searching for joy- the problem is they’re searching in this world.
The reality is that we’re created to only find fulfillment in Christ. That’s why we don’t find satisfaction in worldly things, and we find ourselves looking for the next big thing. That thing we’ve been wanting and finally have didn’t bring that never-ending satisfaction we longed for. So here we are again, stuck in a vicious cycle thinking that the next thing will finally satisfy or bring true joy. Not to say that God will not bless us with some of the things we want, but these things are not intended to bring everlasting joy, nor are they to replace God as our source of Joy.
NOT JUST WEALTH, BUT HEALTH
Another lie this world tells us is that if we have our health, we have everything. Or that we can’t find contentment if we don’t have good health. Does this mean that a person battling a terminal illness can’t live the rest of their days in contentment? Or that a person battling any physical or mental illness can’t find joy and their purpose in life? Absolutely not. James 1:2 says, “count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,” Many Christians get sick. Disease is also part of God’s plan, and immediate or permanent healing isn’t always God’s will. We can look at the story of Job to see that immediate healing wasn’t God’s will for Job.
There are instances in the Bible where healing doesn’t always take place. We know that Timothy had stomach problems (1 Tim 5:23). Also, Paul left Trophimus sick in Miletus (2 Tim 4:20). Paul, having the ability to heal, didn’t heal him. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, Paul wasn’t able to heal himself from the thorn in the flesh. We don’t know what that was, but he wasn’t healed. He pleaded with God three times to remove it, but God doesn’t. Instead, God replied “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). As John MacArthur puts it in his study Bible, “the weaker the human instrument, the more clearly God’s grace shines forth.” In Galatians 4:13, Paul speaks of infirmity.
GOD’S SOVEREIGN WILL
Our health is not secure, but what we can rest on are God’s sovereignty and providence. So nothing can happen outside of God’s will as in Job’s case (Job 1:12, Job 2:6). Keep in mind that illness isn’t a sign that God doesn’t love us, or that it came upon us as a punishment for sin we committed. Also, please don’t fall for the lie that healing will not take place if your faith isn’t “strong” enough. The level of our faith doesn’t override God’s sovereign plan for our lives. Sometimes illness is simply God’s will and we should trust Him through it all. The same goes if God doesn’t provide us with certain things we want. Instead, He gives us what we need. God gives as He sees fit, and it’s all for His glory and our good.
BIBLICAL CONTENTMENT
Our contentment shouldn’t be in what we have, what we’ve achieved, or in our health. In Scripture, we can read of God-fearing men, after God’s heart, who suffered. They experienced physical and emotional anguish. But even amid their suffering, they found contentment. These men found contentment, not because they had riches, health, and all the things they desired- but because they placed their hope in God. In their pain, they still remembered that God was still their God. They didn’t fall into complete hopelessness. As we read through the Bible, we will see that Biblical contentment doesn’t mean that we are free of pain, conflict, and sorrow.
Our joy comes from God’s character. It’s focusing on His grace, mercy, sovereignty, providence, goodness, faithfulness, love, and His desire to see His children conformed into His image. Meditating on who He is should produce peace, joy, and thankfulness- regardless of our circumstances. Where are you placing your hope and trust? Because whatever you put your trust in, that’s what you are depending on for your joy. That is your source.
THE TRUE SOURCE OF CONTENTMENT
Where we look for contentment matters. As we know, worldly things leave us empty and unsatisfied. The synonym for contentment is satisfaction. In Psalm 63:3-5, the psalmist expresses that because of God’s steadfast love, his soul will be satisfied. In Psalm 65:4, it says that we shall be satisfied with the goodness of His house. Another verse to look at is Psalm 107:9, it says, “For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.” God choosing us is a blessing. Because of this, we have a reason to rejoice. To be able to have communion with God and dwell with Him as sons and daughters don’t compare to anything the world can offer. Knowing that we belong to God, that we are under His provision, care, and love, is where we find contentment.
Psalm 23 expresses God’s care for His children, thus a comforting chapter. There is nothing more we could want. We have everything we need in Christ. He provides for our needs, protects, comforts, strengthens, sustains, gives us peace that surpasses all understanding, and will lead us to eternal life. And nothing can ever come between that. Verse 1 says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” David is saying, I am content, I’m satisfied, and He is enough. We find contentment in who God is and what He has done for us. And He has given us Scripture where we find the riches and comfort of His truths. The Lord is our shepherd, what else could we possibly want?
JOB’S SUFFERING
When we think about being content despite our circumstances, most of us immediately think of the story of Job. Here we have a godly, upright, God-fearing man. God, Himself describes Job as such (Job 1:8). In what seems to be a blink of an eye, Job loses his ten kids, wealth, health, and his wife told him to curse God and die. Job’s friends are not making things better by telling him that all his pain is due to what he had reaped (Job 4:8). We see a few chapters of his friends expressing their thoughts on Job’s situation, which isn’t bringing Job much encouragement. There’s a point where Job answers Bildad, “How long will you torment me and break me in pieces with words?” (Job 19:2). Nothing is going well for Job. He lost everything and his health was deteriorating.
JOB’S REALIZATION
Satan is trying to prove that the reason Job was such a God-fearing man was that God had given him wealth and health. He thinks that if God removes all these things from Job, that Job would turn away. However, despite Job losing everything, we see his response, “And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. (Job 1:21). Job acknowledges God’s sovereignty.
We read parts where Job is pleading his case with God. Job wants answers. He feels rejected by God (Job 19:6-7) and abandoned by everyone (Job 19:13-19). Just because we’re Christians doesn’t mean that we will never feel like Job felt. There may be times when we feel like God isn’t there. But even though Job goes through a period of discouragement, in the end, Job realizes that God’s purpose cannot be thwarted (Job 42:2) and has a richer relationship with Him (Job 42:1-6) due to his suffering. He knows God better and understands Him a bit more (verse 5). The same goes for us, our sufferings bring us closer to God. It helps us grow in our knowledge of who He is and strengthens our relationship with Him. Pain, suffering, and trials cause us to see things and let go of things that we wouldn’t have seen or surrendered otherwise.
PAUL’S SUFFERING AND CONTENTMENT
Paul was a man after God. He had a mission to preach the gospel of God and he did it at all cost. In Acts 16:22-25, we read that even when Paul was beaten and imprisoned, he prayed and sang praises to God. Acts 14:19-21 says he was stoned and left for dead because of his preaching but went on to continue to preach the gospel. Paul expressed, to the Ephesians Elders, that he knew persecution waited but didn’t count his life to be of value (Acts 20:22-24). All he wanted was to carry out Jesus’ ministry. Paul didn’t have it easy (2 Cor.11:25), but he wasn’t sidetracked by the events in his life. It’s astounding to read about Paul’s hardships, dangers, and sufferings (2 Cor. 11:22-33), and yet, also see his determination, perseverance, patience, and contentment through it all.
In Philippians, we read that Paul finds contentment amid trials. 4:11-12 say, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance, and need.” Wow. Here is Paul revealing his contentment as he writes from prison. He knew he had the strength to withstand all things- the good and the bad because Christ strengthens him (v.13). How great is that? We don’t have to muster up the strength to endure our circumstances, we lean on God who provides that for us.
MEN OF FAITH
These men weren’t stronger than us, nor did they have some superpower that allowed them to withstand pain. They simply knew that God was the source of their joy. And the same God that strengthened Paul, David, Job, and other men, is the same God that will strengthen us. We just need to make sure we’re seeking God and His Word as our source of joy. We have to learn to be content just as Paul had learned to be content in all situations. As we endure pain, we should look beyond our circumstances and know that God is molding us to be more like Him because He loves us. And most importantly, so that He may be glorified. We can rejoice because our hope is in Him. The source of our contentment is in Christ alone.
In the subsequent post, I will be discussing coveting, things that may cause discontentment, spotting discontentment in our lives, growing in our walk, and eternal perspective.
Though he slay me, yet will I trust him. Something I strive for and don’t always achieve.
Thank you for reading and subscribing to my blog, Alison. I appreciate your feedback.