Learning to Be Content

Many young people are constantly wishing to be older, and when they are old, they wish to be younger! Contentment seems to elude most people. When many children are in school, they cannot wait until they get their driver’s license. When they have that, they cannot wait to be old enough to graduate high school. Then they cannot be content until they graduate college or find their dream job, and after that they cannot wait until they retire. Finally, when old enough to retire, they may wish they were young again! If we are not careful, our whole lives will pass without us ever having learned how to be happy and content.

If anyone in this world should be content, it is faithful Christians, who have the greatest blessings in existence (Ephesians 1:3). God has blessed us beyond compare, and He wants us to learn how to be content:

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. 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” (1 Timothy 6:6-8).

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5; cf. Matthew 6:33).

There seems to be a direct correlation between a person’s gratitude and his level of contentment. If we are ungrateful or take the blessings we enjoy for granted, we will inevitably become discontented. On the other hand, if we are extremely thankful for every blessing (big or small) from God (James 1:17), this is surely a critical key to contentment and peace. “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful” (Colossians 3:15; cf. 3:17; Ephesians 5:20; Philippians 4:6, 7; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Hebrews 13:15).