Contentment is not a feeling, it is a decision.

Scripture Read: 1 Timothy 6:7-8 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

Application: After facing the truth that we leave this earth the way we came in, only possessing our self, Paul brings a challenge we all should evaluate and assess where we are on the contentment scale. The state of contentment is when we feel completely at peace where we are at. It does not mean that we cannot desire things to change or hope to see certain circumstances in our life to improve. What it does mean is that there is a calm in our life and no urgent change needs to happen. We accept where we are in life and can remain there if that is what the Lord desires. What is so shocking to most individuals is how simplistic the Scripture makes the contentment scale. I know that  before I knew the Lord my scale would have had numerous points on it, ranging from career, position, wealth just to name a few. The more points a person has the more frustrated they will walk through this life and the chances of ever sensing true contentment is not very likely. The Lord boils all this stuff down to two simple needs -  food and shelter. When God supplies these two things in our life, we should sense a calm in life. Does this mean we cannot desire a better roof, or more exquisite food? Are we not right to seek a career we find fulfilling and that makes life more comfortable? Nowhere in Scripture does it state that we are wrong to desire such things. 

Instead, the Scriptures challenge two aspects of those desires. What intensity do we carry these desires at? Are we consumed with getting to where we want? That opens the second door of concern, at what cost are we willing to pay to get what we want? Integrity? Our family? The Truth? I have met businessmen in India, who will not allow their testimony as a Christian to be known because it would cost their family certain “perks” with the government. It is worth it? Only they can answer that, and only they WILL answer for that. I have found a tremendous principle in Scripture that I hope will help. When we are content where we are, if we desire more, then and only then does God open the door for that. This will not happen through emotions, it is a matter of the will. When we decide to thank God for where we are, no matter what our emotions are saying, in time our emotions catch up to where our will has taken a stand.  Many times our attitude about our present circumstances hinders what God would like to give us, because He sees that our heart is not ready to move to “more” because we are not even handling the “little” properly. Father, leads us to contentment where we are at!

Meditation Questions: How much time do you spend wishing things were not the way they are? How much time do you spend thanking God for where you are right now? What does your answer show you? What does God have to change to make you content? Why? Do you think it is possible that God has allowed all the circumstances in your life, even the ones you don’t like? How should your answer impact the way you look at your life? If you desire change in your life, what do you think you should do? What if you started by just thanking God for where you are right now? Do you have to feel thankful to be thankful? What does your answer show you?