I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
(Philippians 4:11-13 NIV)
When I think about the word contentment, I believe I have it mixed up with being the word comfortable. Think for a minute, what’s the difference? Both seem to have a sense of rest, even peace. But does this mean that contentment and comfort are about inaction, or are they about action? I can be contented and comfortable at the same time, but what happens when one of them replaces the other? What happens when our contentment grows to a place of comfort which then looks for satisfaction, rather than dependency on God? These are all important questions to ponder over, these are also questions we cannot answer for others because we may see their efforts as being comfortable, while truly they maybe living in contentment. So let’s not focus on what others are doing, or not doing, but look to our own lives to see if we are truly searching for the secret of contentment.
What is your personal definition of contentment? Think to yourself about what it means to be content. Has your definition come from others, or have you made one up? Since we are thinking about contentment from a biblical perspective, let’s look at some definitions. In the Old Testament, contentment was defined as, show willingness, to resolve, yielding to, accept, and being pleased to agree. As we look in the New Testament we see it defined as, independent of external circumstances, to be satisfied, and to be strong. Webster’s give us another definition of contentment. “Rest or quietness of the mind in the present condition; satisfaction which holds the mind in peace, restraining complaint, opposition, or further desire, and often implying a moderate degree of happiness. State of resting in mind; quiet; satisfaction of mind with any condition or event.”
When I read these definitions a few phrases jump out at me. We are to be resolved, independent of external circumstances, satisfaction which holds the mind in peace, quiet, and restraining complaints. As I think about these I see that contentment is not only a state of rest, but a place of action. Not in a physical movement of the body, but a resting of the soul and mind, with an active participation in a pursuit of contentment. When I think of Paul, I see a man who was one of action, but not an action apart from God, but one who pursued and longed for contentment in God.
Contentment can be disrupted by outside forces. Think back to a time when you were content with a situation, then something or someone disturbed your peaceful state. For example, the husband who is contented in his marriage, until his eyes come upon a model on television. Or a wife who loves her husband and is satisfied until she reads a romantic novels and wonders why her husband can’t act the same way to her. The child who loves the Christmas gift he received from his parents, until his best friends shows up with his new toy, he then is dissatisfied with what he has. I could go on; many times in our lives when we what others have and this brings about discontentment in what God has given us.
But contentment is not about comparisons, because that is the enemy of contentment. Do you think while Paul was in prison he looked over at the other inmates and wondered why they had a better cell, more companions, or more food on their plate? No, he didn’t look around at what he didn’t have, but he focused upward at the peace Christ had given him. His satisfaction was not in the possessions of this world, but in whose hands his life was kept in. His strength didn’t come from self-determination, but from Christ Himself. The secret of contentment comes when we focus on God and His goodness, mercy, and strength. It is when we turn our eyes on to the things of this world, then we start to lose our footing, and slid down the slope of discontentment, self-pity, and bitterness.
We can become discontented not only from comparisons, but also when God moves us from our restful state. Some of us may see the need for contentment when we are facing trials and tribulations. But we can deal with the same issue when God blesses us also. Think about an area in which you worked hard at being content with life. Maybe a job, a relationship, lack of relationship, your spouse, or many other areas in which God may move you with a blessing of answered prayer. We might have grown accustomed and comfortable in our situation. We final came to a place in which we not feel content. But God stirs up the nest by giving us what we wanted at one time. Now we have to deal with change, change is hard, especially when we have come to a place where we don’t expect and anticipate getting what we once wanted. Now we have to deal with the decisions, responsibilities, and expectations which we may have buried. We come to a place which test our faith. We come to a place which moves us from our comfort and convenience, to a place which needs to trust God again. Yes again, because when we live in contentment, we most likely didn’t have to long for God as before, now we must roust our faith to see where His is bring us to in a new direction. A direction where God is calling to us to trust Him at a deeper level, a place in which God is calling us out of our comfort, no matter how truly uncomfortable it really is.
Now let’s look at comfort. There is a difference between being comforted, and being comfortable. Being comforted is when we are in pain, or trouble. God and others give us support and strength, and rest. Comfort is something we need at times and is temporary. Being comfortable is when we enjoy the place of rest, but this rest can be a place we overstay. Our bed is comfortable, but when the alarm goes off we must rise from our temporary place. A recliner is comfortable, but it is not a permanent place to live. We all need to rest, relax, and enjoy life, but if this is a place we long to live in, we will become more than comfortable, we will live an ineffective Christian life.
So when it comes to contentment and comfort are we exchanging one for the other? Or do we see a difference in the two when they are in contrast to one another. So what is the difference? Is it safe to say that being comfortable has more to do with a state of rest, a place of inaction? While contentment is an active state which rest but battles against, and restrains complains and negative attitudes; being comfortable focuses on our wants and needs, while contentment focuses on God’s provision during difficult times. I think we can also say that contentment is a learning process which looks to Christ for strength and direction. While comfort is something we don’t have to learn, but look for in ways that please ourselves. So where are you today? Are you in the process of learning, in the position of relaxing? Are you growing in godliness with contentment, or avoidance from life for the desire to be comfortable? These are hard questions to address, and we might not even know where we are at, but God does. We need to look to Him to see where He is moving us, and growing our faith. We need to ask God as the psalmist did in Psalms 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalms 139:23-24 NIV)
We could rephrase it like this, Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my comfortable places. See if there is any discontented way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. This is a question only God can answer, that is if we have the courage to ask Him.
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