(Text: 1 Tim. 6:6-8)
Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, once quoted “Contentment makes poor men rich, discontent makes rich men poor.” Is there any truth to this quote? What does the Bible say about contentment? What are the causes of discontent? How does one overcome discontent?
What then is discontent? According to the Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, “Discontent is the feeling that you have when you are not satisfied with your situation.” In discontent, there is dissatisfaction, unhappiness and displeasure.
Conversely, the same dictionary states that “If you are content, you are fairly happy or satisfied.” Therefore, “Contentment is a feeling of quiet happiness and satisfaction.”
Understanding Contentment
In 1 Tim. 6:6, Paul declares “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” The Greek word for contentment is “autarkeia” and it appears only twice in the New Testament. The second appearance is found in 2 Cor. 9:8 where it has been translated as “sufficiency” (e.g. in KJV, NKJV).
Contentment means “a frame of mind viewing one’s lot as sufficient.” Thayer defines it as “a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed”, while Vine describes it as “satisfaction with what one has.”
Many of us generally view contentment solely as a passive state of willingness to tolerate or endure whatever condition we are in. However, that is not the case. Contentment comes not because of a passive acceptance of whatever our state may be. Rather, contentment is a state in which you are in where you are satisfied with what you have. It is that “perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed”; a state where you are fairly happy and do not want anything else or any change in your life or situation.
How is contentment in every situation possible? The key lies in the grace and power of God. He has given us whatever we need to face life’s challenges and to conquer it. God has given us an active, living, power, such that we can overcome whatever circumstances life throws at us.
We can take a leaf from the apostle Paul’s letter to the saints in Philippi. Paul wrote “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Phil. 4:11). It is interesting to note that Paul penned this letter while he was in prison (c.f. Phil. 1:12-14). Yet, he was content! This shows us that godly contentment and happiness are not dependent on external circumstances. Rather, they are based on the inner qualities of the heart and upon a right relationship with God.
Paul clearly had his faith firmly anchored in Christ so much so that he can confidently say, in just two verses later, that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13).
Additionally, Paul was able to boast in his infirmities because he believed that the grace of God was sufficient for him to overcome “a thorn” in his flesh (2 Cor. 12:7-9). Whatever that thorn was, we are not told in the Scriptures. Nevertheless, we can gather from this passage that it must have bothered him greatly, as he pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from him.
Eventually, Paul concluded: “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:10). What a wonderful display of Paul’s faith in action!
Causes of and Remedies for Discontent
Although discontent comes in all shapes and sizes, it often comes from our wrong focus in life and our lack of gratitude towards God. Many of us repeatedly take the blessings of God for granted. In fact, we frequently forget about how God has blessed us in so many ways. Instead of counting our blessings, we tend to focus on what we do not have and what we think we should have!
What are some of the causes of discontent? This writer will provide three causes of discontent (which are by no means exhaustive) and how we can deal with them.
1. Covetousness
One of the causes of discontent is undoubtedly covetousness. The Hebrews writer admonished us to “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.” (Heb. 13:5a). Now covetousness is a strong desire to possess something that someone else has. It is the direct opposite of contentment!
Thus, we are encouraged to keep such sinful desires in check by counting the blessings that we have been bestowed by God and by cultivating a spirit of gratefulness.
Paul exhorted his readers that “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thess. 5:18). Similarly, in Eph. 5:20, Paul persuaded the saints to give “thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. What shall we be thankful for? “All things”, which means “everything”!
Fundamentally, these verses remind us to focus on things that we do have (such as food, clothing, shelter, health, etc.) rather than on those things that we do not have. Take heed always to be a thankful, appreciative person rather than a disgruntled, covetous person.
2. Unbelief
Another cause of discontent stems from unbelief. God’s instruction to be content is based upon His promises which are declared in Hebrews 13:5-6. God has promised that He “will never leave you nor forsake you.” God will be there to help us and we need not fear what man may do to us. In Rom. 8:31b, Paul affirmed that “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Unfortunately, some members of the church are not growing spiritually. Their faith is weak and they have doubts about God and His word. Unfortunately, “the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” (Mark 4:19). Their weak faith catalyzes their unbelief and soon enough, the promises of God are cast aside and discontent with life sinks in.
To overcome unbelief, we must allow the word of God, the seed, to germinate within our hearts. We must build up our faith and grow spiritually by desiring the perfect law of liberty, the Gospel (Lk. 8:11; Rom. 10:17; Jam. 1:25; 1 Pt. 2:2; 2 Pt. 3:18). Like the Psalmist, our delight ought to be in the law of the Lord such that we meditate on His law constantly (Psalms 1).
Let us then be diligent students of God’s word and hold fast onto the promise of God that He will be there for us in times of need (2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 10:23). We will be blessed with much contentment if only we have that believing, obedient faith!
3. Envy
Yet another cause of discontent is envy. “Envy” is the feeling of displeasure produced by witnessing or hearing of the advantage or prosperity of others (Vine).
Remember King Saul who was content with what praise he was receiving until he saw that David was getting more? In 1 Sam. 18:6-7, we read that when David was returning back from a victory over the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing with joy and musical instruments unto King Saul. While they danced, the women sang and said “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.” Then notice in verses 8 and 9 how the countenance of Saul fell as envy raged on in his heart. “Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” So Saul eyed David from that day forward.”
Envy is such a secretive, sneaky and subtle evil because it can develop within a person’s heart gradually without being noticed. No wonder we are admonished by the apostle Peter to lay aside “all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking” (1 Pet. 2:1) while the apostle Paul instructed us to conduct ourselves becomingly and “not in strife and envy.” (c.f. Rom. 13:13).
Another plausible solution to overcome envy is to focus our attention and affection on higher and holier matters (Matthew 6:33). We must set our priorities in life right by changing our thinking from the earthly to the heavenly, and from the temporal to the eternal (2 Cor. 4:18).
Generally, a discontented person filled with envy is also a materialistic-minded person. To overcome materialism, one should develop a deep sense of appreciation for the simple and necessary things in life. As the apostle Paul correctly pointed out: “And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” (1 Tim 6:8). Food and clothing are essentially the basic needs of humankind. They are truly the physical necessities of life. Paul declared that when such basic needs are met, we ought to be content and satisfied. Therefore, we should be watchful to avoid over-emphasizing the luxuries of life (c.f. Psa. 37:16; Prov. 15:16).
Conclusion
In the midst of challenging circumstances in life, when discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness could creep in unawares, we will do well if we have a deeply-rooted faith in God, trusting Him “with all your heart” and allowing Him to direct our paths (Prov. 3:5-6). Our God will cause all things to work together for our good (Rom. 8:28). How gracious and loving is our God Almighty!
Works Cited:
Brown, T. Pierce. Contentment Gospel Gazette Online. Vol. 10, No.1, January 2008.
DiPalma, Charlie. Philippians. www.churchstreetcoc.org.au/notes-material/wednesday-evening-bible-class, May 2012
Winkler, Wendell. Heart Diseases And Their Cure. Fort Worth, Texas: Winkler Publications.
Collins Cobuild English Language Dictionary. Editor in chief John Sinclair. Glasgow, Lonon: 1987