A Closer Walk

Contentment. Being content. The American Heritage Dictionary defines contentment as: “That degree of happiness which consists in being satisfied with present conditions; a quiet, uncomplaining, satisfied mind; content. Synonyms: gratification, relish, enjoyment, happiness, satisfaction. Contentment is an attitude. A state of mind so to speak. A few quotes. “Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty,” Socrates, Greek philosopher, 470 B.C.-399 B.C. “The greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances,” Martha Washington, 1731-1802, wife of our country's first president, George Washington. “Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants,” Epictetus, Greek Stoic philosopher, 50 A.D.-135 A.D. “He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have,” Socrates.
Contentment comes out of a heart of gratitude. Giving thanks for what our Heavenly Father has already done for us is not only the fertile soil from which contentment can grow, but also reminds us of where those blessings come from, and Who they come from. An example: “But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from Thee, and from Thy hand we have given Thee,” 1 Chronicles 29:14 NASB. This comes from the prayer of ancient Israelite King David after he and the nation had given from their individual resources to assemble the materials that David's son and future King Solomon would employ in building the Temple of God in Jerusalem. “For all things come from Thee, and from Thy hand we have given Thee.”
We are able to give because our God has first given to us. Think about it. We cannot give what we do not have. Agreed? Acknowledging that our Lord is our supply puts us on the track to contentment. Why? Because all things come from Him. Here is what the Old Testament Prophet Jonah said about our God. “...for I knew that Thou art a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity,” Jonah 4:2 NASB. Our God is gracious. He is compassionate. He is slow to anger (praise the Lord!). He is abundant in lovingkindness. Some translations use the words steadfast love rather than lovingkindness, notably the ESV.
To be content means to be grateful for what we already have. Have a warm, or cool house to live in? Some people don't. Have a soft bed to sleep in? Some don't. Have enough to eat? Some don't. You get the idea. We in this country are well and truly blessed. Some people in other countries can only dream about living in such comfort. If you aren't sure about this take a mission trip to a third world country such as Haiti. You will immediately recognize the difference. Contentment begins with offering gratitude for what we already have. Trying to keep up with the Jones's is not the path to contentment. One person put it this way, “Keeping up with the Joneses means spending money you don't have to buy things you don't need, to impress people you don't like.” That's trying to keep up with the Joneses. Trying to be the Joneses is even worse.
Someone once said, “Here's how to get everything you want all the time. Want less!” We often want things we don't have. Or we want things that others have. Is that the path to contentment? Each human being has three basic needs: food (including water), clothing, and shelter. But we can have wants beyond those basics. Some pastors call this, “Needs and greeds.” The things we need to survive our God promises to provide. “Do not be anxious then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘With what shall we clothe ourselves?’ For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own,” Matthew 6:31-34 NASB. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these earthly needs will be added to you. Our God promises to provide our daily needs. And sometimes He even provides for some of our wants.
So “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:31-32 NASB. Our Heavenly Father delivered up His Only begotten Son for us to pay the penalty for our sins. Can He not also provide a loaf of bread, some lunch meat, and fresh fruit and vegetables? As well as a roof over our head and clothes for our bodies. Why worry when we can pray?
“Standing on the promises of Christ my king, through eternal ages let his praises ring; glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, standing on the promises of God. Standing on the promises that cannot fail, when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, by the living Word of God I shall prevail, standing on the promises of God. Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, bound to him eternally by love’s strong cord, overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword, standing on the promises of God. Standing on the promises I cannot fall, listening every moment to the Spirit’s call, resting in my Savior as my all in all, standing on the promises of God. Refrain: Standing, standing, standing on the promises of God my Savior; standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God.” Four verses and refrain from the hymn “Standing On The Promises,” words and music by Russell Kelso Carter, 1849-1928.