CONTENTEDLY DISCONTENT OR DISCONTENTEDLY CONTENT?

Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content (Philippians 4:11).

Perhaps the real secret of contentment is found more in the context of Philippians 4:11 than in the verse itself, except to say, contentment is something that needs learned.  In that I hope this post helps.

Discontentment is not a good thing because it is what makes people over spend which leads people to over work, over play, over stress, cheat, steal, lie and murder.  It is as the Bible says, "The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" (I Timothy 6:10).  Hebrews 13:5 gives us a little more insight into contentment: "Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have: for he has said, 'I will never fail you nor forsake you.' "  In almost every case, when contentment is spoken of in the Bible it is in the context of money and material wealth.  Thinking in this way, contentment is rooted in faith, trusting God, our loving Father in Heaven, to make provision for us.  This does not mean that we are to stop working, but it does mean that God will provide the means for His children to have a job and make a living.  So, will we trust God or not?

In the dictionary contentment and satisfaction are said to be synonymous, in other words, they mean the same thing.  If one is content, or satisfied, there might be a tendency to relax and think there is no need to compete, to achieve excellence, or at least to become the best that we can be.  To think that way is to misunderstand Biblical contentment.  Contentment is rooted in faith and it grows in gratitude, taking time to recognize the many blessings God has already given us.  One of the greatest means of achieving contentment is to count your blessings, intentionally becoming aware of what God has already blessed you with.  Because we are His children and His servants, His commands and His blessings spur us on to greater achievement, making the most of what He has given us.  Certainly, God is not honored when we bury our blessings and contentedly sit on them.

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom

PS.  We all have a little materialism in us, the idea that if I just had enough money my problems would be solved.  When we do not have enough money is when discontentment enters the picture.  The truth is that there will never be enough money to solve our problems because very few of our problems are really money problems and money will not solve non-money problems.  The One who can really solve your problems is where to begin--person, church or state.