It seems that more and more people are frustrated and upset about life than ever before. People are craving for things they don't need and they are not happy about what God has already given them.
This is especially true about relationships. Husbands and wives are not happy or satisfied with one another and make each other's lives absolutely miserable. They don't like the lives they currently have and they for sure won't be happy if anything changes because they are miserable and angry inside.
Jeremiah Burroughs defines Christian contentment in this manner. Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal (loving control) in every condition.
Contentment is the most powerful proof of living the Christian life. It is recognizing the sovereignty of God over all people and situations. The people and circumstances that I live with are by God's perfect design. Either I am to be a blessing to them or they will be to me.
You might be wondering about that cantankerous person or that terrible situation that you are dealing with. Could it be that God placed you there to be a testimony of God's grace. Could it be that God wants to use you to minister to the ugliness of their life and to pray for them or for that situation?
The proof that your Christian confession is genuine will be found in a life of contentment. A Life of contentment, as you live it before your children and before the world and before your friends, is the strongest witness you could ever give of your confession.
Your reaction to how much you are paid; your reaction to your house and the things in it; your reaction to your looks; how you react to setbacks and disappointments - this is the confession that you make before the world. Contentment seals our confession.
Contentment is seen in our life when, at all times, it becomes obvious to others that we believe we are in the hands of God. In a life of contentment we are showing that we believe the power and the grace of God.
Contentment, therefore, is to say with the apostle Paul in Philippians 4: "I have all and am full." It is expressed in the words of Asaph in Psalm 73:25, "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee." I have no more desires on earth if I have Thee. "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want"( Ps. 23). I do not lack. The Lord is my portion, saith my spirit ( Ps. 119). It is to be truly happy, to be truly content in belonging to the God who is God.
Do you possess the grace of Christian contentment, of peace and a satisfaction in your soul? Do you believe that God will meet all your needs and has met your great need in Christ, and that the heavenly Father works all things for your good? Do you believe that?
Or do you live a life of discontentment? Is that simply your confession of mouth, but it is different with respect to your feelings about your house, your car, your job, your pay, your weight, your looks, your children, your clothes, that you have no children, that you are dissatisfied with your wife or husband, that you are dissatisfied with a single life or married life, or with the church or with the elders, or with fellow believers or with yourself? Are you content in the grace of God?
The word contentment is a very beautiful word in the Scriptures. If depression may be said to be the life in darkness, contentment is the life in the sunshine of God's countenance. Contentment beautifies the Christian life. The word means "to be sufficient, to be enough, to be full." God Himself is the complete and sufficient One. He is full. Contentment, therefore, involves God. Contentment can be found only when the God of the Bible is our God by His grace.
So we read in the Scriptures, Philippians 4:11, where the apostle says to his beloved Philippians, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."
Again we read, in I Timothy 6:6-8, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content."
Contentment gives us peace and strength and an eagerness and readiness to serve. It is an inner calm with the grace of God so that we become a devoted worker. We become energetic unto every good work. The contented person is the person who has a stick-to-itiveness. He sticks to it. He believes that God is with him. And he is content to persevere in obedience.
I love what Isaiah 26:3 says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee."
I pray for you to become a very contented person in Christ today. I know it might be rough and perhaps circumstances are not to your liking but find yourself in Him - in His presence! Rest in His arms that He's got this and you can trust Him to bring better days ahead.
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