How Do We Find Contentment in a Self-Serving World?
In our culture today, many people are searching hopelessly for contentment by chasing material things, status, wealth, or their own selfish desires and pleasures. They might focus on making a name for themselves, pouring themselves into their career, pursuing a bigger house, better cars or vacations.
We have so much compared to the rest of the world, yet many people are still unhappy and unfulfilled.
“I’ll feel content when I receive public recognition for my accomplishments, or when I get the big promotion at work.” “I’ll feel content if I buy a bigger house or get a luxury car, sports car, or boat as my neighbor did.”
Will you, though? Let’s take a closer look at this idea of contentment. I would challenge the idea that contentment is something we can obtain through our actions. Rather, contentment is an attitude.
Have you ever heard the phrase “God-shaped hole?” It refers to an innate longing of the human heart for something beyond itself. Specifically, it’s a “hole” that can only be filled by a relationship with the One who created us. Ecclesiastes 3:11 refers to God’s placing of "eternity in man’s heart." God made humanity for His eternal purpose and only God can fulfill our desire for eternity.
Also, the Bible tells us in Genesis 1:26 that He made us in His image, and He wants a personal relationship with us. Without Him, we will never be truly happy.
We can learn a lot from the Apostle Paul, who was content no matter what his situation because his faith was in God. He didn’t draw his sense of security from what others thought about him or whether he had more material possessions than his peers. Even while he was unfairly chained and imprisoned, he reminded us that we can’t take anything with us when we die. Paul found his peace in knowing he was doing God’s will on this earth, he was exactly where God wanted him, and would have eternal life with Jesus. Paul was content in every situation because he trusted in the Lord, and he know God was with him.
In 1 Timothy 6:6-12, Paul wrote:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people 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. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Paul is teaching us that living the life God intends for us does not involve seeking self-promotion or acquiring material possessions. Of course, we should work to provide for our family, and saving money is wisdom. Sadly, though, too many people spend their lives looking for something other than God to fill their longing for a sense of success or esteem. In pursuing things that are not eternal, they remain unfulfilled and wonder why they never feel satisfied.
The promotion at work or the new car might provide us with a measure of happiness for a time, but it will be fleeting. Consider King Solomon, who had great riches, success and status — yet none of it fulfilled his heart. He declared it all “vanity,” meaning that he sought after those things in vain because they did not satisfy him. “Now, all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of all mankind.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
On the flip side, what does discontentment look like in our lives? Whining, grumbling, complaining all the time, thinking life is not fair, wanting things you don’t have, being envious of what others have and worst of all — not being thankful for what God has given us and not placing our trust in Him. Discontentment means that we really don’t trust God. It shows that we don’t recognize that everything we have is from God, and we don’t really deserve all that He has given to us.
How do we avoid a heart that is discontent in a world that is generally selfish and competitive by nature? Paul answers this in 1 Timothy 6:11: “But you, man of God. . . pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”
In doing so, our relationship with God will grow deeper, our attitudes will begin to shift and our sense of contentment will increase. As we begin to trust God in every circumstance, and begin to notice all the good that He has done in our lives, we will begin to have true joy and contentment.
Our human nature is to whine, complain and want more than what God has given to us. It will be an ongoing decision to depend on God more than ourselves, but by placing our trust in Him again and again, a peaceful, content spirit can become a familiar feeling that offers refuge, strength, peace and joy.