This post is part 2 of 3 in our introduction series.
Part 1: Greed
Part 3: Christian Giving and Generosity
Almost everyone agrees that contentment is a good thing. Not to be content is a virtual synonym of unhappiness. To be content is to be satisfied, to enjoy a balance between one’s pleasures and their fulfilment. To be content is in effect to experience freedom from want. Whether we are content is more important to our well-being than how well off we are. The fact that contentment is the opposite of greed and the solution to it is clear from the admonition in Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your life free from the love of money”. How we might ask? The verse continues: “be content with what you have”. These six words form one of the most difficult commands in the Bible, especially in our day of engrained consumerism and unquestioned materialism. The world is infinitely deceived in thinking that contentment lies in having more than we already have.
The Christian approach to contentment begins with the knowledge of God. The Christian faith supplies three good reasons to be content.
God Himself is Content
In creating and redeeming us, he limited himself in acts of extraordinary self-control. We believe that God has created and sustains the world, but is independent of it. In doing so, the infinite God restricted himself in order to give a measure of freedom to his creatures. God takes the lead in self-limitation.
God Promises His People a Secure Future
A proven way to put up with uncomfortable restrictions, is to set your mind on your wonderful destination. Limitations can be borne, if it is clear that they are not permanent. Christ was able to bear even the pain and shame of the cross “for the joy that was set before him” (Hebrews 12:2). Paul considers his “slight momentary affliction” to be far outweighed by a “eternal weight of glory” being prepared for him. (2 Corinthians 4:17) In all these cases, the restrictions were entirely voluntary and avoidable. The ultimate incentive to contentment is the confidence that God is on our side and is looking after us. Hebrews 13:5 says “for God has said, “I will never leave or forsake you””.
We Can Trust God’s Goodness
Contentment is centred in trust in the goodness of God. As Christians, we believe that God knows best how to order things and that he has our best interests at heart. We affirm the universal and comprehensive nature of God’s providence. If we truly believe that God is good, we ought to accept our circumstances when things don’t turn out as we had hoped.
Contentment requires patience. The tragedy of being discontented, is that in longing for what we don’t have, we cease to take pleasure in what we do have. Patience is rooted in humility but discontentment in pride. Our contentment arises not from getting the things we want, but from God’s moulding our spirits to our condition and from recognising his gracious provision, both spiritual and material. Contentment is the essential prerequisite for giving. When we are content, we exercise faith, humility, love, patience, wisdom and hope. Contentment prepares us to receive mercy and to undertake acts of service. If greed is a hideous sin, contentment is a supreme grace which honours and pleases God. Christians are to be content, yet resourceful and hardworking, not indolent and irresponsible. Our hearts are to be set on things above, not on the things of the earth. Contentment is the most precious thing in the universe to us as Christians. Compared with the treasure that is knowing Christ – or rather being known by him- everything else is secondary. Phillipians 4: 11-13 says “… for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Paul’s closing encouragements in Phillipians 4 should keep us strongly focussed on what we possess in Christ and his heavenly kingdom and thus, more content in any and every circumstance.
- Rejoice in the Lord always (4:4)
- To not be anxious about anything but to pray (4:5-7)
- To focus our thoughts on what is just, pure and excellent (4:8)
- To put into practice the apostolic teaching that we have seen in Paul’s life(4:9)
All of these have the effect of focussing our hearts and minds on Jesus Christ and increasing our knowledge of him. They lift our eyes to him, and to our citizenship to heaven. That is, or rather He, is the secret of contentment.
The next article will lead from contentment to Christian Giving and Generosity.
Prepared by Mel Zerner and adapted from the book “Beyond Greed” written by Brian Rossner who teaches New Testament and ethics at Moore Theological College.
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