Is Contentment Lost?

This week, I want to touch on something that is generally not talked about: Contentment.

And finding it, no matter your age or the season of life you are in. I believe that we each start off with our own dreams and passions. You know, those things that fuel us to get out of bed each morning. Those hopes and dreams that are housed in our subconscious minds. Whether that's pursuing the American dream or simply finishing college to earn a degree. All of this takes time, effort, and money. However, along the way, things can become less desirable. Given the state of the world and the economy today, the American dream is obsolete. What seemed sustainable ten years ago has become unreachable. It now takes two incomes to make ends meet.

In 1 Timothy of the Bible, Paul talks about finding true contentment. He says, "I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. I know how to get along and live humbly in difficult times, and how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In every circumstance, I have learned the secret of life, whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need." (Philippians 5:11-12)

A lot of the time, people compete with one another and then get envious of a friend who got a promotion at work. Maybe a family member bought a new car or a new house. But along with that come the responsibility and payments. Often, others will try to compete and overstretch their own finances to keep up with the Joneses. Some of them have to take on a second job or work part-time to afford what they have. Before long, regret and burnout take over, and so does the misery.

God wants us to learn to be content and satisfied even when we may not have everything we want, and our current circumstances do not suit us.

We now live in a microwave society, and people want the house, the car, the American dream without having to wait for them, which causes discontent.

1 Timothy 6:6-8 says this, but godliness actually is a source of great gain when accompanied by contentment (that contentment which comes from a sense of inner confidence based on the sufficiency of God). For we have brought nothing into this world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

Does this mean that God does not want us to have anything? No. It means that He doesn't want us to seek something so much that we are miserable and discontent until we have it. 1 Timothy 6:10 says that the love of money is the root of all evil, and some, longing for it and other things, have wandered away from God and their faith, and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Don't compare yourself to anyone else. Don't be envious of anyone. Don't be jealous of the promotion a friend received. Don't covet what anyone else has. Tell the Lord this:" Lord, I only want what it is that You want me to have, and I want to be content with that." Saying and meaning it is the secret to true happiness and contentment in life. Ask God to help you be content in His provision for you, knowing He already knows everything that you need and is faithful to provide it.