What does the Bible say about contentment?
Two periods in my life were marked by extreme discontentedness. The first was as single parent desiring a godly spouse. The second was a time of severe financial struggle. Each experience taught me something about the character and nature of God.
If you want to be happy, honor God, and stay healthy — you should know what the Bible says about contentment.
I learned the hard way.
[FTC Disclosure: The following account is my true story. Plus, I will share the book that changed my life on this subject. Since I have an affiliate relationship with Amazon, if you decide to purchase the book, I will earn a commission to help me keep writing helpful content. Thank you. And, you will pay the same low price that Amazon ordinarily offers.]
My First Lesson in Contentedness (Singleness)
Before I was married, I was a single mother for 11 years. Many of those years were marked with terrible discontent. I was fearful to ask God to make me content in my singleness because I had wrong thoughts about God. I was convinced that if I were content with being single, I’d lose my desire for a spouse. And then I’d never get married at all.
However, that was not God’s heart in the matter. Through good teaching and studying the Bible, I finally came to understand that I needed to be content in singleness to please God.
If I could not be content while single, how could I ever be content being married?
It would be only in contentedness that God would be pleased to bring me a spouse.
The Bible says that contentedness with godliness is much gain.
When I finally surrendered my will to God’s will, I was able to ask Him to make me content in my singleness. And He faithfully answered my prayer. I learned to be content, resting in the God of my salvation.
Later, God was pleased to bring me a wonderful husband. Had He not brought me a spouse, I would still have been much happier trusting Him with the matter rather than being miserable in my singleness.
My Second Lesson in Contentedness (Financial Hardship)
This lesson in contentment was much harder for me to learn. I had an idea how “things” were supposed to work out in the world. You work hard and get results. The Bible even taught this same principle. Proverbs 14:23 teaches that in all labor there is profit. Well I had been laboring for years writing about health from a biblical perspective. And I had not been making a profit. Plus, all the business ventures I tried seemed to fail no matter how hard I worked.
I really felt like God was against me. Everything I touched turned to stone when I wanted it to turn to gold. My frustration built up for years until I was face down on my bed, pounding my fists and screaming at God. WHY?
He had a reason. I needed to learn to trust Him and be content with whatever He provided. You see, I was trying to take the glory for myself. My hard work, my planning, my sacrifice, my dedication. It was all about me.
God wanted my life to be about HIM. His hard work, His planning, His sacrifice, His dedication.
How I Learned My Lesson on Contentment
I learned what the Bible teaches about contentment from a wonderful, dreadful, horrible, convicting, and blessed book called The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs.
Each day as I was driving 20 minutes to my sales job in a dank office with broken windows and dilapidated siding (where I was giving my all to sell storage sheds and steel buildings), I would listen to the audio version of The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment. Oh, it made me ever so mad listening to the narrator tell me how grievous my sins were before God. But I listened. Over and over, I listened to that book, pouring my heart out to God.
Eventually, the Word of God had its way with me. I could do nothing but repent in dust and ashes, calling out to God to change me — which He graciously answered.
Sometime later, He also gave me the success I so desperately was seeking financially. But this time, I knew all glory and honor belonged to Him. And I rejoiced that He did not give me any semblance of success any sooner. For if He had, I would have taken the glory for it — when it ALL belonged to Him.
What a gracious and loving God, marvelous in all His ways.
Are You Struggling with Contentment?
If so, please do not let another day go by without listening to The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs. And when you get angry at his words, push through. If you do, you will not come out the other side unchanged.
You may actually acquire “that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition” called Christian contentment.
I will not lie to you and say I have this whole contentment thing figured out. However, when it pops up its ugly head, I do know how to squash it down.
Below are a few versions of the Rare Jewel and other books by and about our Puritan fathers.
Contentment and Health
Living contented has more implications than just our own happiness. Discontentment can create an environment in our heart that can actually bring about poor health. If you struggle with contentedness, it would be a great idea to deal with it for the additional sake of your wellness.
Here are some practice methods you can employ to help turn your gloom into joy.
Disclaimer:
Reformed Health exists so you can take control of your own health and be all that God has designed you to be. The information shared on Reformed Health is the sole opinion of the author and is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness. None or our claims have been evaluated by the FDA or any other government organization. We are not medical doctors, nor do we have any medical doctors on staff. If you are having a health emergency, please call 911, contact your doctor, or visit a local emergency room. Always consult your doctor before engaging in any new exercise regime.
This page may contain affiliate links. Please refer to our affiliate policy.
Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.
Copyright:
© 2017 Mischelle Sandowich
All Rights Reserved