Contentment is something every human heart longs for. Even as far back as the Christian Reformation, Martin Luther found that “Contentment is a rare bird, but it sings sweetly in the breast.” During the founding of our nation, Ben Franklin wrote, “Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.” What Ben didn’t say is what Christians throughout the ages have found to be true; the source of real contentment is found only in a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul found the secret of contentment and he shared it in his teaching and his letters. “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little, for I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13) His advice to Timothy also points out that contentment doesn’t come from material riches. “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.” (1 Timothy 6:6-8)
Sometimes I think we confuse contentment with comfort. I can find physical comfort in my easy chair or my bed, but it is when I am actively sharing my testimony and serving others that I find my greatest contentment. When we search for comfort, we turn our focus on ourselves. Jesus pointed that out in the parable of the foolish rich man who decided to build bigger barns to store his bumper crop then take life easy, but he wound up dying and leaving his wealth for others to enjoy instead. Had he sought contentment instead of comfort, he would have turned his attention to God, praising Him for the blessings he received, and to those in need, sharing his good fortune with them. (See Luke 12:13-21) Whether that would have lengthened his life or not, he would have experienced true contentment and that is something we can take with us.