CONTENTMENT

Contentment is a very elusive prize which everyone seeks in this life. The ideal of contentment in this country, the so-called ‘American dream,’ is a family with a couple of kids who have a nice house in the suburbs, a couple of cars in the garage and a good income. This is supposed to be the ‘good life.’ But in reality, it has its problems and does not bring complete contentment to those fortunate enough to experience it.

In life everyone seeks to be happy and content, but people have very different ways of trying to find contentment. I have seen some who build their lives around a career and look for satisfaction and contentment through that career. And while it is certainly possible to be happy with your job, I don't believe that any job can make a person content with their entire life. Many doctors, lawyers, engineers and the like, put their careers before anything else in life. It often even comes before their families. So even if they achieve contentment in their professional lives, they have often made a mess of the rest of their lives in the process.

Others seek fulfillment through the amassing of money and material possessions. But this also will fail to bring satisfaction as the wise man Solomon tells us. "He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity." (Ecc 5:10) Wealth cannot satisfy, because no matter how much a person gets he always wants more. As the old saying so aptly says, "money cannot buy happiness." It can make many things in life more enjoyable, but it cannot bring contentment.

Others seek contentment through fame and notoriety. But this also is a wasted venture. Fame only brings with it insecurity and pressure to continue your success. The more famous people in our society, professional athletes, movie and T.V. stars, and musicians, are far from being content. This is why their marriages fall apart so quickly. This is why so many abuse alcohol and illegal drugs. Despite their success contentment continues to elude them.

If the most successful and best educated people in our society cannot find contentment then who can? And what chance does the average man have of finding it? Anyone can have total contentment very easily if he will only pursue it correctly. Again from the wisdom of Solomon, "The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied." (Pro 19:23) He mentions absolutely nothing about what kind of job a person might have, or their financial status, or their position in society. He merely states that if a person has the fear of God in his heart he will live a satisfied life. That is a powerful statement and one that runs contrary to man's logic.

Solomon's father, David, said, "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8) David was a very contented man. He had many problems throughout his life, but he never allowed them to bother him. It is as he says here, I am not going to worry about anything because God will take care of me. Isn't that what contentment is all about, not having to worry about anything?

Christians should be the happiest most contented people on the face of the earth. It bothers me when I see Christians who walk around with a long face all the time. And those who are constantly complaining about their problems. David said, "Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart." (Psa 32:11) Being a child of God is a reason to celebrate. Every day of our lives should be lived in happiness.

The Apostle Paul understood quite well about contentment. This might seem strange considering all of the things he went through. He was imprisoned more than once, he was shipwrecked, he was beaten and left for dead, and he suffered many many other things. Yet he said, "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Phi 4:11)

How could Paul have possibly been content when he suffered so much? Because he knew God was with Him and would watch over him. And that whatever happened to him, eventually he had an eternal home awaiting him. So what did Paul have to fear? What did he have to worry about? Paul was as content with his life as any man could ever be. He knew his life had purpose and meaning. He knew he was accomplishing something.

We should take a lesson from Paul and find contentment in our service to God. If we are truly serving God and have put our trust fully in Him then we will be content. If you find that you are not as content as you would like to be, and that you are continually worrying about one thing or another, then you are not as close to God as you need to be. True contentment can only be found one place in this life. And that is in a deep, meaningful relationship with God. "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." (Heb 13:5)