CONTENTMENT??

Contentment… Is It Achievable?

 

J. P. Morgan (1837-1913), the renowned financial and industrial magnate was once asked what it would take to make him happy. His reply? “Just a little bit more.“

By his response Mr. Morgan was affirming the truth of Proverbs:

Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. (Prov 27:20)

How then can a person achieve CONTENTMENT? Let me suggest Five Biblical Principles:

1. Contentment is achieved when seeking God and His kingdom are our first priority:

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  (Matt 6:25)

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  (Matt 6:33)

2. Contentment is achieved by believing God will meet our needs:

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)

3. Contentment is achieved by graciously accepting what God allows into our lives:

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  (Phil 4:12-13)

4. Contentment is achieved through a life of simplicity over greed:

But godliness with contentment is great gain.  (1 Tim 6:6)

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. (1 Tim 6:8)

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity  (Eccl 5:10)

There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.  (Eccl 5:13)

5. Contentment is achieved by enjoying hard work and its remuneration:

Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.  (Eccl 5:18-19)