Godly Contentment

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” – Philippians 4:11

Contentment is an interesting concept in an entrepreneur’s world since all entrepreneurs are looking for more business, more customers, and more money.

How do we remain content in a process that rewards the pursuit of more and views lack as defeat and failure?  We find ourselves in a market place environment that rewards the pursuit of more and puts no limitation on how to achieve it except to not get caught.  The reality is that in order to understand godly contentment, we must first change our paradigm of business.  It is impossible for us to be content with the world’s approach to business because it uses discontentment as a tool to motivate people to be innovative and productive.

A new Biblical Entrepreneur Certified Instructor told me that his supervisor in a company he once worked for took him to a dealership to finance a brand new car in order to motivate him to increase his sales.  TV advertisements are full of images that are designed to cause us to be discontent with our current circumstances so that we want more.  Contentment is not something we are born with, nor does it come automatically with the born again experience.  It is a learned behavior.  I read of a Quaker who placed a sign on his house that stated, “I will give this house to any man who can prove to me that he is content.”  After some time, someone came knocking at the door and said he saw the sign and wanted to claim the house, he stated that he was perfectly content. The Quaker asked what he meant.  He said, “I have everything I want, all the money I need, everything in life that could satisfy me. I am perfectly content. “The Quaker said, “Friend, if thee so content what does thee want with my house?”  Many of us are like that man; we claim to be content while still seeking for more.

What does it really mean to be content?  Contentment is the Spirit-led ability to accept God’s will for our lives no matter our circumstances.  It is a learned behavior that gives us the ability to achieve great gain in Christ.  I love the definition Ray C. Stedman gives; he defines contentment as only wanting what you have.  This is a great way to view contentment.  Since most of us are always looking to get what we do not have, Stedman reverses it and gets our focus on what we do have.  How do you achieve godly contentment?  How do you get to the point where you only want what you have and no longer focus on trying to keep up with the Jones’ or the Gates’, especially as an entrepreneur.   To achieve godly contentment you must keep the following seven things in mind:

1.     Recognize that you have brought nothing into this world and you will carry nothing out.  I Timothy 6:7, Job 1:21

2.     Recognize that both riches and poverty are from God. I Samuel 2:7

3.     Learn the lessons taught in the times of lack.  James 1:2-4

4.     Master the art of stewardship.  I Corinthians 4:2, Luke 16:1-13

5.     Learn to appreciate every blessing no matter how great or small.  I Thessalonians 5:18

6.     Put your trust in Christ and not on your resources. Matthew 6:33

7.     Guard against the love of money.  I Timothy 6:10, Luke 12:15-21

Recognize that implementing these things cannot be done by might but must be done by the Spirit.  You cannot will yourself to be content; Christ must empower you and give you the grace to achieve contentment.  The dangers of not aspiring towards this virtue are great.  I Timothy 6:9-10 explain it best: “people who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”   Therefore, pursue contentment and with it, godliness and you are assured to avoid great failure and have great gain in Christ.