The Pursuit of Contentment

Discontent comes when you believe things are out control. Discontent happens when things don’t go the way you believe they should. Discontent happens when you think you don’t have enough. Discontent is the enemy of healthy, loving relationships.

When getting ahead in life is measured by the things you acquire or by the approval of others discontent thrives. In short, living for things that you cannot eternally possess results in futility. Listen to what Paul says about contentment:

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” I Timothy 6:6&7.

This is why you must aggressively pursue contentment. It is not enough to just want to be godly and do good things. You must pursue them with contentment, otherwise the quest for godliness will result in futility and frustration.

Discontent breeds worry. Worry leads to lack of trust in God. Failing to trust God brings anxiety and discouragement. Discontent blinds you to the sufficiency of God’s daily care for you. Nothing ever gets by God. He is never stressed. His ability to care for you is never in doubt.

There is no circumstance in your life that prevents you from honoring God. This means you, like Paul, can always know the peace of contentment. Paul said that he had learned to be content in all circumstances. Paul knew that he could always do whatever it was that God wanted him to do. Because of this reality he was able to be content, regardless of the circumstance.

The consistent, constant goal in your life must be finding what will honor God. So Paul tells Timothy to be content with following God. This must always be your reality check – bringing honor to God. This gives you an objective way to gauge contentment, following what God directs in Scripture.

Contentment allows you to see the beauty and wonder of God that is unfolding in front of you. Contentment will cause you to see the hand of God on a rainy day as he nourishes the grasses of the field and the birds of the air.

Pursue godliness with contentment knowing that your God is relentless in his loving care for you!

 

Shepherd Press