Contentment 

1 Timothy 6:6

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

Do you ever struggle with discontentment? A dissatisfaction with your circumstances? A restless longing for more? Always dreaming of that perfect house. That perfect job for your husband. That perfect look.

The world tells us to chase our dreams. To follow our hearts. That we can be whatever we choose to be. That we can achieve whatever we set our minds to. Now that may sound okay, but it is worldly wisdom. It is not God’s wisdom.

Now I’m not saying that you shouldn’t have dreams and hopes and desires, but when these desires become the focus of our attention to the point of developing a spirit of discontentment, then it is sin. It’s good to have dreams. Even the Bible tells us that.

Proverbs 29:18

 Where there is no vision, the people perish:

but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

We need to have vision. Something to strive for. But the end of that verse tells us that if we keep the law, we will be happy. Keeping God’s precepts, obeying His word. So, yes, it’s good to dream and dream big. But don’t let it become so big that you become discontent when it is out of your reach. God may be working an even greater good in your life that you know nothing about.

I remember many times in our marriage, that Dave and I had a dream to buy a bigger, better place, some land, a property, something greater. And when we couldn’t achieve it, we became discontent. We began to complain. We looked around at others and the seed of discontentment began to grow. But when we stopped and took a good hard look at what God had already given us, we were ashamed at our greed and our ungratefulness. We realised how selfish we had become and we had to stop and reassess where we were at spiritually, and get our hearts right with God.

In 1 Timothy, Paul exhorts Timothy, and us, to be content. Contentment has to do with satisfaction, fulfilment, gladness, cheerfulness, restfulness, peace. Paul is warning that rather than striving to accumulate wealth, we as followers of the Lord, should focus our attention on pursuing holiness in conduct, attitude and thought. We should choose to be content in whatever circumstances the Lord puts us in.

Philippians 4:11

 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned,

in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Contentment is not found in ‘things’. True contentment lies in having faith in God, that whatever he chooses to do in our lives, whatever he chooses to give us, or not give us, is according to his perfect will and we should put our trust in him and be content that he is working for our good.

Unfortunately, we, as wives and mothers, often struggle in this area of contentment. Life seems to be so unfair at times, as we look around at what others have. We see other women with perfect figures, picturesque ‘display’ like homes, pintrest worthy décor and the like, and we begin to be disappointed with our lot in life.

When the seed of discontentment is sown in our hearts, it begins to grow and pretty soon our whole outlook is one of frustration and ungratefulness.

So, how do we stop it before it begins? By taking time to praise the Lord for all he has done for us. By worshipping him. By praising him. By looking at what he has given us, not by being miserable over the things we don’t have. Focusing on the blessings we do have. The little things and the big things.

1 Timothy 6:7-8

 For we brought nothing into this world,

 and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

As these verses tell us, we came into this world with nothing and we’ll go out with nothing. Interestingly enough, it also tells us that we should be content with food and raiment. Period. That’s it. Wow. Food and clothes. Well, we all have that don’t we? But is it enough? I know I’d like a whole lot more than just food and clothes.

I read a good quote on this subject.

“If you cannot find happiness, joy, peace, and contentment in the Lord with what He has already done for you in your present- then you will probably not be able to find it with whatever He will want to do for you in your future, since you will always be looking for that next, new, big thing that you think will make you happy, content, and fulfilled.”

It’s true. If we don’t work on being content today, we’re not going to be content in the future. I love how Paul says in Philippians, “I have learned”. In other words, it didn’t come naturally, he had to work at it. It’s something he had to learn. And it’s something we have to learn too. So there’s hope. We can learn to be content. We can work on it. We can practice contentment.

As you go about your day, think of things that you can be thankful for. Jot down the blessings as they come. Take time to think over your day and write down the things you’re grateful for. No matter what kind of a day you’ve had, how crazy it’s been, how frustrated you’ve felt, there is always something to be thankful for. Even if you just cry out to God in praise that the day is over and you made it through!

We are so blessed. And as Christian women, we are blessed even more. We have a hope. We have a help. We have an eternal home, free of worries and cares. We can have peace that passes understanding.

Every day, God brings little things, little blessings into our lives that we take for granted. Stop. Take notice of these things. And praise him. Aim for a contented spirit. Keep a record of God’s blessings so that when you begin to feel that discontentment welling up inside of you, you can go back over your list of blessings and praise God once again.

Psalm 95:1-7

O come, let us sing unto the LORD:

 let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving,

 and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

 In his hand are the deep places of the earth:

the strength of the hills is his also.

 The sea is his, and he made it:

 and his hands formed the dry land.

 O come, let us worship and bow down:

 let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

 For he is our God;

 and we are the people of his pasture,

 and the sheep of his hand.