The Bible tells us in Hebrews 13:5-6 to be content. One of the ways Satan attempts to mold us after the world is to stir up within a bubbling cauldron of discontent. As we measure ourselves our situation and our possessions after the world it is very easy to forget all of the rich spiritual blessings we have in Christ and to fall into the trap of discontent.

What is discontent? Let us first identify what it isn't. Contentment is not self-satisfaction or complacency. This is the state of being the Laeodecians were in. Complacency results in lukewarmness and ultimately condemnation. Contentment is not apathetic indifference. Many lazy and slothful people have tried to justify themselves by saying they are content. There are many who are ambitious and industrious and at the same time able to be content. With these misconceptions dispelled, we ask, what then is contentment?

Contentment is the state of resting satisfied, not disgruntled. Webster says to be content is to be free from care or discomfort (that is the discomfort of anxiousness). Tyndale says of discontent that it is “detachment from anxious concern about the outward features of this life. Finally, the pulpit commentary says that it is a quiet restfulness in the midst of changing events. How refreshing would contentment be to our lives and the lives of others? Indeed in this consumeristic and celebrity culture, contentment is rare and Christians do well to cultivate it.

In order to cultivate contentment one need remove the weeds and debris that work against it. The first is covetousness. In Heb. 13:5-6 we are to live free of covetousness. Some are possessed by the desire for possessions or status. When one is constantly obsessing of wanting this or that he lives in covetousness and in this state is unable to be content.

Another enemy of contentment is envy. Saul was content until he saw David receiving more adoration than he (1 Sam. 18:8-9). The Philistines were content until they saw the wealth of Isaac (Gen. 26:14). The elder brother was content until he saw the feast given for the prodigal (Luke 15:25-32). Envy is the stealthy thief who robs us of our contentment.

Others are discontented simply because they have a sour, negative and pessimistic attitude. They can't see the roses for the thorns. It seems that they love to wallow in misery. How tiresome it is to listen to their constant belly-aching and whining. If they would just learn to adopt a different point of view, contentment would soon follow. Once these robbers of contentment are identified and removed, one can move on toward cultivating this wonderful “quiet restfulness”. It does in fact take work. It is something that we need to “learn” as Paul says in Philippians 4:11.

What positive things can one do to cultivate contentment? First one needs to learn to count his blessings (1 Thes. 5:18, Eph. 5:20). Paul tells us to always give thanks in everything. No matter where we find ourselves we can always find something for which to be thankful.

Secondly Christians need to learn to transfer their affections to higher things (Col. 3:1-2). We are risen with Christ, therefore our affections need to be set upon Him and “things above”. Jesus tells us in the sermon on the mount to seek His Kingdom and its righteousness first and not be distracted by the things of the world (Matt 6:33-34).

Finally, in order to be content, Christians need to learn to appreciate the simple things in life. Paul writes to Timothy about being content with food and clothing (1 Tim. 6:8) and the Psalmist says that having a little and being righteous is better than being wicked and having much. This is not to mean that all who have much are wicked, but rather that the righteous is able to be content whether he has little or much. His contentment does not depend upon his possessions but upon his relationship with God.

Why should I spend millions of dollars for a parcel of real estate on the beach when I can take a 15 minute drive to Fort DeSoto Park in the evening and watch the sunset on the Gulf of Mexico for free? I dare say it looks just as beautiful from my camp chair set upon the grass at Fort DeSoto than it does from a million dollar condo at St. Pete. Beach. What is more, I enjoy it not because of what I own, but of who owns me. It is He who makes the sun rise and set. With this I am content.