CONTENT, BUT NOT CONTENT
The word “content” is defined as, “to be sufficient
or adequate for a particular purpose, with the implication of leading to
satisfaction.” (L&N, 59.46)
Vine’s translates the word “enough” as “sufficient.”
Thus the idea of contentment is being satisfied with what we
have or our station in life.
The word “content” is found 5 times in the New Testament (NKJV) and once
we find the word “contentment”.
However, the various words translated “content” are also found in
texts as “sufficient” (Jn. 6:7, 14:8, 2 Cor. 12:9) or “enough” (Matt.
25:9).
As Christians, it is absolutely necessary that we
be content! Paul said, “I
have learned in whatever state I am in to be content.”
(Phil. 4:11). This is
in a context where Paul describes various circumstances he had faced as
a Christian, some good and some bad (hunger & fullness, to abound and to
suffer need). In 1
Timothy 6:6 Paul said to Timothy, “Now godliness with contentment is
great gain.” He would then
elaborate on this noting that we brought nothing into this world and we
will leave the same way. In
6:8 we read, “And having food and clothing, with these we shall be
content.” The idea being to be satisfied with whatever we have, even if
it is only minimal sustenance. The
antithesis of this is described in vs. 9 & 10 which say, “But
those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into
many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and
perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for
which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced
themselves through with many sorrows.”
In Hebrews 13:5 we read, “Let
your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you
have. For He Himself has
said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”
John the Baptist instructed soldiers to not intimidate anyone and
to “be content with your wages.”
(Luke 3:14).
We understand the importance of contentment and our
need to be content as Christians.
Yet, I suspect for many of us, if we were to honestly examine
ourselves, we would find it as something we could work on more in our
lives – materially, socially and in other matters.
But what is interesting is that while contentment
is imperative to our lives, there are matters where we should NOT be
content. I am speaking of
spiritual matters which lead to complacency.
We should NEVER think that we have attained our salvation and
therefore we can “retire from service to the Lord.”
Paul himself said in Philippians 3:12-14, “Not
that I have already attained (to the resurrection of the dead-11), or am
already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which
Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one
thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching
forward to those things which are a head, I press toward the goal for
the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
To the Corinthian brethren, Paul said, “But
I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have
preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (1 Cor.
9:27) Notice in these verses
that even Paul saw that where he was, was not the stopping place in his
life. In fact, it was only
at the conclusion of his life when he knew, “the
time of my departure is at hand” (1 Tim. 4:6) that he expressed in
confident faith that he was done.
Notice it is after this that he says, “I
have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith. Finally there is laid
up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
Judge, will give to me on that day, and no to me only but also to all
who have loved His appearing.”
(1 Tim. 4:7-8)
The Hebrew writer warned us, “Therefore,
since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of
you seem to have come short of it.”
(Heb. 4:1) We
also read, “Let us not grow weary
while doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose
heart.” (Gal. 6:9).
Even the seven churches of Asia give warnings to
this degree. We read in Rev.
2:10, to the church at Smyrna, “Be
faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
And the lukewarm church at Laodicea was told that because it was
lukewarm, God would vomit (spew) it out of His mouth (Rev. 3:16).
The church at Sardis was rebuked because thought it had a name
that it was alive, it was dead. (Rev. 3:1)
And Ephesus was rebuked because it had left its first love (Eph.
2:4). All these examples
show us churches in which the wrong type of contentment had crept in.
Friends, as Christians let us continually strive to
move forward. We should
never be content with the amount of knowledge we have of God’s word
(There is always more to learn – Ac. 17:11, 2 Tim. 2:15); we should
never be content with our present spiritual condition; we should never
be content the work we have
done thus far, for there is always more to do (John 9:4 says, “I
must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is
coming when no one can work”).
So we can see there is a sense in which we must be
content and another sense in which we must never be content in this
life. And the two go
together. Faithful service
to God will include contentment of our worldly possessions.
And on the contrary, if we are NOT content with this world’s
goods, we will NOT be fully devoted to putting first the kingdom of God.
As Jesus Himself said, “You CANNOT serve God and mammon.” (Matt.
6:24)
And so I ask, are you content?
When it comes to the things of this world, the ONLY acceptable
answer is yes! But when it
comes to preparing for eternity, let us never be content until we stand
before our God and hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant,
enter into the joys of your Lord.” (Matt. 25:21)
Think about it!