What Is Christian Contentment

‘I have learned, in whatsoever state I am,

therewith to be content.’ Philippians 4:11

‘But godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6:6

My Summary Statement: Through faith in God that is based on the right understanding of God's Word, contentment is resting in God’s eternal will, which encompasses His predestination and particular providence in this life.

What It Is and What It Is Not

1. It is not an outward, but an inward quietness. Many might be quiet and calm outside but inwardly are filled with all kinds of vexations and unrest.

2. It needs to be learned and it is an art that can be mastered well.

3. Contentment does not mean we desensitize ourselves from the sense of afflictions. The cross we must bear is still to be taken as a cross, not as nothing. But we bear it with faith.

4. We should not murmur and repine against God in unbelief, but with faith in His love and care for us, we can lawfully pour out all our complaints to Him.

The Fruits of Contentment

1. The love of God’s Word is to be so cultivated in our hearts that we will hold it dearly even when it purges and divides our soul and spirit so sharply within. But we will not allow outward cares and worldly pursuits to come in and cause contention therein.

2. We should prize our duty before God so highly that we would not allow ourselves to be laxed when cluttered with a lot of cares. At all times, we would still fulfill our responsibilities before God, ourselves and men with all of our hearts.

3. When outward things do not seem to support our hopes and desires, we would not sink into faithless discouragement, or take things into our own hands or shriek, vent and rebel before God. But with the eyes of faith, we trust in God's wisdom and particular guidance upon our lives.