What is Christian Contentment?

Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition. Jeremiah Burroughs

Lay Aside the Weight of Discontentment

by Jon Bloom | November 1, 2013

I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11–13)

In the race of faith, it is crucial to remember that our contentment is not determined by our circumstances. We often want to blame circumstances for our discontent, but that’s barking up the wrong tree.

Contentment is determined by what we believe. And our belief is fueled by what we’re seeing. So if you need to lay aside the weight (Hebrews 12:1) of discontentment today—the sinful kind that stems from disappointment and leads to grumbling—begin by looking at what you’re looking at.

Contentment Comes by Seeing the Treasure

When Paul wrote the words above, he was in prison (again). Prisons were nasty places in Paul’s day and he knew he could potentially die. The death he contemplated would not be pleasant. That’s why he wrote,

…it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. (Philippians 1:20)

How could Paul sit in prison, suffering regularly from hunger and exposure, knowing he might be killed, and say, “in whatever situation I am… content”? Because he saw the Prize:

I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:8)

Jesus was a treasure to Paul. What Paul saw in Jesus was what the man in Jesus’s parable saw in the field:

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew 13:44)

Fifteen minutes before the man saw the treasure, would he have been content to sell everything and buy the field? No way. Fifteen minutes after he saw it he was off to the auctioneer. What was the difference? He saw the treasure.

The secret to contentment in “whatever situation” is seeing the Treasure that trumps them all.

Three Steps to Get Your Eyes on the Prize

Sinful discontentment is a weight to lay aside. But you can also think of it as a gauge in your heart that tells you when your spiritual eyes have strayed from the real Prize. When it shows up, stop what you’re doing, look at what you’re looking at, and redirect your mind to the real Treasure.

1. Stop

When you recognize discontentment, the first thing to do is stop what you’re doing. Stop grumbling and complaining. Stop sulking or stomping around the house. Stop the critical tongue toward others that often comes from the abundance of a discontented heart. Stop looking at the covetousness-producing catalogs, Tweets and Facebook pages. Stop and…

2. Look

Look at what you’re looking at. You’re discontent because you perceive an obstacle between you and your prize. Name the prize you want. It’s probably not Jesus since Romans 8:38–39 tells us that nothing can separate us from him.

3. Think

Getting our spiritual eyes back on the right prize only comes by thinking. What we ponder is what we perceive. We’re discontent because we’ve been meditating on the wrong things and become weighed down with lead-like frustration. It’s time to pick up the easy yoke (Matthew 11:30) of delight in Jesus by doing what Paul instructed the Philippians to do:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Don’t let discontentment govern you today. Lay aside this heavy weight by fixing your eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2), whose surpassing worth, when you see it, makes the worst circumstances this world can throw at you nothing but rubbish.

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Recent posts from Jon Bloom:

• What to Neglect to Have a Rich Life
• How to Humbly Give and Receive Correction
• God’s Bright Design for Your Bitter Providences

Topic: Killing Sin  

Jon Bloom (@Bloom_Jon) is the author of Not by Sight: A Fresh Look at Old Stories of Walking by Faith and serves as the President of Desiring God, which he and John Piper launched together in 1994. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife, Pam, their five children, and one naughty dog.

Restless Pursuit

We are in a constant state of pursuit. We are never at ease, always in constant search of that one thing that will truly satisfy or that perfect relationship that will bring true happiness. In reality, it is like grasping for the wind that is nothing more than an illusion.

Why is this so?? The moment I get that job, I find myself complaining or grumbling stating that, ‘If only I had that…would have I been completely satisfied??” Am I missing something? Why is it that I am never satisfied? Or is it because I am seeking satisfaction in the wrong place or in the wrong thing/person/situations??

This search of understanding leads me to ask the basic question, “Why was I created and what is my ultimate goal in life? For that I need to look to the One who created me, the Creator who alone knows the reason for my existence!!

I love the definition given by Westminster Shorter Catechism.

Question: What is the chief end of man? 

 Answer: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and enjoy Him for forever.

Wow!! The reason for my constant state of restlessness and discontentment is that I seek my purpose and satisfaction in creation and not in my Creator. No wonder, I am so discontent. But, no matter how much I disagree or deflect from this truth, it is God alone who will satisfy me.

That’s why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to show us the way and how to live that life, finding joy in God. “I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10 b).  It is abundant life that Jesus is talking about. He also says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”(John 14:6)

To be continued…..

Oh How I Wish...

Every time I watch Jim Carey complain and murmur about his pitiable condition in 'Bruce Almighty', it brings a smile on my face. The makers of this movie were able to capture the universal disease of us human beings, “complaining”. It is not an unique disease that plagues a few, but is prevalent among the rich and poor alike!!

One statement from Jim Carey that stuck me was this, “I hate my mediocre life.”. Wow!! Mediocre, eh? Well, the movie has a humorous undertone where in the end, Jim Carey a.k.a Bruce Nolan realised that what he had, was so much better and well satisfying than what he wished for!!

So, readers what are you wishing for today?? A better comfortable life, a spectacular job, great loyal friends, understanding spouse who is able to read your mind and respond instantly?? For starters, this post isn't meant to give any advice for I have none!! Sorry folks!! What I am trying to do is think through the issue of complaining. Why do I complain? Tell me, why are you complaining?

The main reason I complain is because I feel I deserve better than what I have. Instead of being thankful for what I have, I look at what I don't have and become unhappy!! And my heart is so deceitful that it will coax me to find satisfaction in the things around me, when there are just supposed to point me to the One, the Giver of all things! It is God alone who can satisfy me! Period.

I like what my pastor said during one of his sermons, “If you don't have something in your life that you desire, probably it is not something you need at the moment.” Every time we complain, we are actually raising our fists against God telling Him, “You aren't doing a good job.” Of all creation, the animals and birds pay their respects better to their Creator by not complaining.

No wonder, in the Bible, Jesus Christ talked about the lilies of the field and the birds of the air in Matthew 6: 25-35. If God can take care of the birds who neither sow nor reap, how much more for those believe in God through Christ Jesus??

By God's grace, my complaining has reduced quite a bit and there is so much to thank God for!! For a job in this recession, for a roof over my head, for a healthy body and kind friends too.

Coming back to the statement about a mediocre life mentioned by Bruce Nolan in Bruce Almighty is that maybe, if I don't have a great life as wanted/fancied is probably because I can't handle it. More often than ever, we overestimate ourselves. We think we can handle everything. Never envy somebody else's life, coz we don't know what their secret troubles are! In the process of coveting their so-called prosperous lives, you might inherit their troubles too!

Being content is the key!!

Kill monotony...

Monotony kills!! How much do we cry when faced to do the same things over and over again. Wake up every morning, have the same kind of breakfast, do the same kind of work and live a viscous life. Grumbling slowly ensues and we start to resent the daily mundanes of life. Statements like, "Oh! How I wish I could run away."...or sing songs like, "I want to break free" :) .What am I getting at??

I hate when monotony sets in, but I am beginning to cherish the simple mundanes of life. We always crave for some adventure hoping it will brighten our dull lives.. But when it does happen then how do we react : like unexpected guests crash in or your vehicle breaks down in the middle of a busy road? Then how do we respond? I ask this question myself....I would love to have an adventure packed, action filled life....but on second thoughts I prefer to be content with what I have....Just learning to be grateful for every aspect of my life will help kill the creeping monotony rising within me......
P.S. If I had such a breakfast table set for me every morning, what pleasure...ah!!

Blessings..

My weekend was good as it was not too hectic. Got some time to relax and spend time with my friends. I am very grateful to God for the kind of friends I have at this phase of my life. Few but precious- really a gift from God.

The start of the week was not too bad either, which is a surprise. I guess my attitude's beginning to change as I realise it's a sheer blessing to work, so why grumble. My day's almost done and I will wrap within few minutes to leave. Contentment is a gift where you learn to be satisfied with what you have and not complain like the Israelites. Hahaha....That's all for today...Hope to write few posts in the coming days...Chow!!