The Result of Contentment

Ask a crowd of people, “Who wants to be content?” Even if they don’t understand what contentment is, likely everyone will, in some manner, say, “I do, I do!” For most, the desire for contentment is simply the self-serving wish to have everything their hearts desire; to be made happy by possessions. Some are simply seeking the emotion of feeling satisfied; that is, for the moment, not being worried or anxious.

Perhaps, some of the people will recall Paul’s words, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” Philippians 4:11. Paul, while thanking the Philippians for their concern, assures them that God’s provision for him is sufficient. Paul is content in the sufficiency of God’s supply. The contentment is not the result of material wealth. Rather, the contentment derives from Paul’s share of God’s grace, which is the source of his supply.

Man does not handle contentment quite as well as Paul did. For when man is content, he tends to forget the source of the supply, becoming not only sufficiently satisfied, but arrogant in the assumption of self-sufficiency. The problem is, man’s presumed self-sufficiency results in self-centeredness, being content only because his selfish needs were met. However, Paul’s awareness of sufficiency being a gift of God’s grace resulted in service to others.

Paul twice speaks of contentment in 2nd Corinthians; once concerning the giving of the Corinthian brethren, the other in finding contentment in his own suffering. From these, we learn that there ought to be an outward intention resulting from the sufficiency of God’s supply, which proves God’s gracious provision is sufficient for all. There is, in the original language, the implication that sufficiency is more than what is needed for one’s self, but is enough to meet the needs of others.

To those whom God’s grace has supplied the financial means to give, Paul wrote, “God is able to make all grace abound to you so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed” II Corinthians 9:8. The sufficiency being more than for Paul alone is evident through the emphatic language. God is able to make all, always, all, everything and all grace sufficient for good deeds.

God’s ultimate intention for His sufficiency to the Corinthians was not for their contentment, but for them to pursue every good work to others. “For he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will multiply your seed for sowing and increase your harvest of righteousness… [through] the liberality of your contribution to them and to all” II Corinthians 9: 10,13.

Concerning Paul’s persistent thorn in the flesh, God said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you [to be content,] for power is perfected in weakness. Therefore [Paul was] well content with weaknesses” II Corinthians 12: 9f. By Paul’s contentment the power of God would dwell within him, enabling him to proclaim the gospel. Thus, Paul’s contentment in weakness resulted in strength to serve others.

Paul understood the purpose for and the results of contentment. If we desire real contentment, we must also understand its purpose and intended result. God did not intend contentment for selfish ends, but for selfless service. The fruit of contentment is not self-satisfaction, but is service in every good deed, causing others to find contentment in the sufficiency of God’s grace. Thus, the realization of one’s contentment is not the cause for ease, but ought to be the cause for action.