Thoughts on Contentment

“I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content.”

Contentment is not the passive lack of motivation and desire.  Contentment is not complacency. 

Contentment strives for improvement, but it does so by clinging to the only true source of improvement and clinging when all else would seem to entice it away.  Contentment hopes, but it hopes confidently, resting in the promises that cannot fail.  Contentment desires, but it trusts those desires to God. 

The contented man isn’t blind.  He knows full well that there are plenty of worthwhile things he doesn’t possess.  He simply prizes contentment over these.  He realizes that he may lack something, but at least he has contentment.  The discontented man possesses neither thing.  Contentment is knowing there is something you do not have and trusting God to get it for you or to make you complete without it.  Contentment is hoping for heaven while rejoicing in the heaven God creates today in your heart. 

Contentment does not ask, “What do I need to make me happy.”  It has that already. 

Contentment does not come from having all of your needs met; it comes from having all of your God.  It is not the product of luxury, abundance, comfort, or ease; it is the product of the presence of God. 

“For He Himself has said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” 

Contentment will not be anchored to earth by fears however legitimate and logical they may be but will soar on eagle’s wings to heights that the all the frantic flapping chickens will never reach.  Contentment isn’t for chickens.

The beauty of contentment lies in its ability to transform time into treasure, poverty into plenty, loneliness into loving service, and pressure into peace. 

Contentment gets its smooth, calm, stillness from the dam that keeps the little blessings of today from rushing downstream.  It gets its sparkling clearness from its ability to let the little trials of today sink to the bottom or wash away.  The muddy trials of tomorrow are allowed to stay upstream.  

“Godliness with contentment is great gain.”