The Source of Contentment
Last Wednesday, my church began a series on what the Bible says about money. As we worked through the first lesson, something stood out to me from Hebrews 13:5.
“Let your conversation be without coveteousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
There’s much that could be said about this verse and the verses surrounding it, but as we read the verse out loud that night, two phrases stood out:
“be content…for He hath said”
You see, contentment springs from what God has said. It doesn’t come from what we have or gain, nor does it come from becoming like our heroes or reaching some pinnacle of academic achievement. Contentment comes when we take to heart what God has said, particularly about His unfaltering presence with us.
When I remember that God is with me, I can trust that what I have right now is what He means me to have: whether it’s something less than what I wanted or something I would rather not have. I know that my Shepherd is right there with me, watching over me and leading me to just the right spot in the pasture. As Jesus said,
“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will He clothe ye, O ye of little faith? And seek not what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Luke 12:22-31)
Did you read all that? If not, go back and read it. This passage is such a beautiful description of God’s loving provision, and of the fact that we can trust Him to provide. The very grass beneath our feet proclaims His power and faithfulness to meet the needs of even the least of His creation.
Contentment comes when we believe God can and will provide what we need as we need it, just as He said. But contentment also means choosing to believe what God has said about what we don’t have. Paul, through the Holy Spirit, tells us,
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 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.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
Contentment can abound regardless of circumstances. For me, contentment usually comes as I learn to see the things God has not allowed me to have as blessings, rather than privations.
In God’s wisdom, He has not chosen to give me many things that others my age have: but those very withholdings of the Lord are actually gifts.
For example, I may not have a home of my own, but God has given me the gift of extra time with my parents, and the blessing of being in their home, where I can more conveniently help wherever needed. Thus far, God has withheld the gift of marriage, giving me instead the gift of greater freedom and focus in my walk with Him and my service for Him. I may not have children of my own, but God has given me the gift of investing in many children I never would have had time for if I was parenting my own.
Each of the things God has withheld from me have been for my good, and are in fact gracious gifts from the Lord. It is only as I learn to see those things as God sees them that I find true contentment.
Psalm 84:11 gives us a truth that is foundational to a contented heart:
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
Contentment springs from what God has said: not only will He never leave or forsake us, He will never withhold from us anything that is good. There have been times in my life I have wrestled with this truth, but the times of greatest contentment have been a result of choosing to believe what God has said, even when I cannot see it in action.
We have the Good Shepherd ever by our side, actively protecting and providing for our needs. No wonder the psalmist followed the truth of God’s faithful provision with the upward statement,
“O Lord of Hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee.” (Psalm 84:12)
How about you? Are you choosing to be content, resting on God’s promises of His unfailing presence and provision?
“But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)