I’m Looking for Contentment
There are many stories throughout history that remind us that contentment is not found in gaining possessions, status or power.
Grimm’s Fairy Tale
A classic Brothers Grimm story illustrates how unending selfish desires lead to an inability to be content. A fisherman catches a flounder, a magical talking fish that is actually an enchanted prince. The flounder explains that he can can grant wishes but also begs to be released. The fisherman, being a kind man, lets the talking fish go, but his greedy wife insists he return to ask for a house, then a castle, and eventually, to become like God. The flounder grants the wishes, but as the wife's greed grows, the sea turns turbid, and the flounder's patience wears thin until finally the family is returned to their wretched hovel. The tale is stressing that contentment is never found in gaining more and more possessions, such greed becomes a trap that destroys people.
King Midas
King Midas's selfish greed is famously illustrated in Greek mythology. When granted a wish by the god Dionysus, Midas foolishly wished that everything he touched would turn to gold. The wish was granted, but his joy quickly turned to despair. He couldn't eat or drink, as his food and wine transformed into solid gold. Worse still, when his beloved daughter rushed to comfort him, she too was turned into a golden statue. His uncontrolled, selfish ambition for wealth resulted in his greatest sources of happiness being permanently destroyed. Only through humbling himself and following the god's instructions was he able to reverse the wish.
Friedrich Nietzsche: "To forget one's purpose is the commonest form of stupidity".
Frank Leahy (legendary American football coach): "Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity".
Seneca: "No man can live happily who regards himself alone, who turns everything to his own advantage. Thou must live for another if you wish to live for yourself".
Oscar Wilde: "Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live. It is asking others to live as one wishes to live".
James, in the Bible: "For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice".
Proverbs 18:1 (Contemporary English Version): "It’s selfish and stupid to think only of yourself and to sneer at people who have sense”.
When I was at primary school I was longing to get into the school soccer and cricket teams. At my secondary school I longed to get into the tennis team and then to be made a school monitor. Then I wanted to get to a good university. It was at university that the penny dropped that life was more than achieving my next goal. Eventually the next aspiration doesn’t come and that can cause problems. I discovered that the purpose of life is becoming what God wants, accepting that life is for him. This is a major change of direction, it is no longer ‘me’ centred but ‘God centred’. Selfish ambition is a form of foolishness that focuses on personal pleasure at the expense of others, often leading to self-destruction and misery. This myopic pursuit of power, status, or wealth is destructive because it blinds individuals to their own flaws, alienates potential allies, and inevitably fails when confronted with reality. The pursuit of power, drugs or alcohol can be a cover for a deep dissatisfaction with life.
How to be Content
Its is not uncommon to meet people who have stopped believing in God because of some tragedy - when God has not done what they asked.
There was a shepherd on Salisbury Plain who was asked by a hiker,
“What weather do you think we are likely to have?”
“It will be what pleases me.”
“How do you know that?”
“It will be what pleases God and what pleases God pleases me.”
In Paul’s letter to the Philippians there is an underlying theme about what brings contentment. Paul could write:
“. . . for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.” Philippians 4:11
A dictionary definition gives ‘Contentedness is the feeling of satisfaction with one’s possessions, status or situation’. But for Paul contentedness is independent of circumstances, it is something much deeper. Do we all understand this?
I well remember a patient called Alice, a patient in my ward who had advanced cancer.. On a teaching ward round we came to her bed. I always determined not to just walk by such patients so sat on her bed, held her hand and asked how she was coping. Her reply surprised me:
“Mr. Palmer, when am I going home?”
“Alice, you aren’t well enough to cope on your own, this is why we are trying to make some suitable arrangements to care for you.”
She looks at me with a smile on her face and said:
“I don’t mean that. When am I going home to be with the Lord Jesus?”
At the coffee break after the ward round everyone was talking about Alice and the contentment that she had as a result of her obvious faith
Alice could say with Paul.
“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12-13
This last phrase is often ripped out of context and applied to earthly ambitions. It is not saying ‘Set your heart on getting a red Lamborghini or becoming Prime Minister and you will get it’! No this is a challenge for us to live all out for the Lord Jesus and then all he has in plan for us will be ours. He is thinking in terms of eternity. God wants Christians to proclaim the Lord Jesus even in the face of hostility or adverse circumstances. Alice gave that reply because her mindset was on her Lord Jesus.
Wrong answers
Today there are many who teach that the future is all up to us. We each have to find strength from within. We are told that we alone have the resources.
The American Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote an essay, ‘Self-Reliance’, which portrays a person, who is trusting in his own thoughts and intuition, as someone who is in tune with the "Divine" within themselves. In this view, prayer is not begging for outside help from an Almighty god but a solitary contemplation of one's own power. He wrote:
"A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the lustre of the firmament of bards and sages."
Friedrich Nietzsche, the German philosopher, had a concept of the Übermensch (Overman or Superman) as a direct answer to his declaration that "God is dead." The Übermensch is a self-mastered individual who creates their own values and meaning in a world without God.
“Dead are all the Gods; now do we desire the Overman to live.”
Both Hitler and Stalin regarded themselves as being Nietzsche’s ‘Overman’ with disastrous consequences!
Harold Kushner, a Boston rabbi, wrote a book in 1978 entitled ‘When Bad things Happen to Good People’. It became an instant success and appeared in the New York Times Best Seller list. His thesis was that God is all-loving and good but not sovereign over his creation. Consequently when bad things happen to good people, whoever they are, it is because events are out of God’s control. Kushner argues that in such circumstances we have:
“. . . to learn to love (God) and forgive him in spite of his limitations.”
The Bible’s answers
The Book of Life
The Bible’s message is very different. This teaches that it is God, and he alone, who ultimately controls our destiny. People forget God to their peril. When Jesus’ disciples returned from their first missionary excursion they were thrilled at the miracles they had managed to do. Jesus warned his disciples:
“ However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20
The secret of contentment is to see ourselves as heavenly citizens, to be thrilled that our names have been written in God’s ‘Book of Life’ He reminds the Philippians what really matters:
“. . . help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.” Philippians 4:3
The "Book of Life" is a Biblical concept representing God’s record of those who will receive eternal life; The apostle John emphasises this in the book of Revelation:
Revelation 3:5 Jesus assures those who ‘overcome’ that their names will not be blotted out of the book.
Revelation 13:8 and 17:8 calls this ‘the Lamb's Book of Life,’ whose names were written ‘from the foundation of the world.’ This reveals God's eternal plan for salvation through Jesus Christ.
Revelation 20:12–15 cals it ‘The Book of Life’ which will be opened at the final judgment. Alongside other books that record people's deeds, this book determines eternal destiny. Anyone whose name is not found in it is "cast into the lake of fire”.
Revelation 21:27 describes the New Jerusalem and reminds readers that only those “whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life” will be allowed to enter the city, emphasising that it is the list of those destined for eternal communion with God.
This is Paul’s mindset. We have been given a great gift to be followers of Jesus and members of his Kingdom. Now we have to learn to be content, not with things of this world but in living for Jesus. This is what it means ti have the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, living in us. Only then will we experience ‘Peace of god that passes all understanding’.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
Have we all understood this. The peace of God, real contentment, only comes when we realise that God is in control. This is the clear teaching of the whole of Scripture.
Job
In this, possibly the oldest book in the Old Testament, Job suffered immensely, losing his family and wealth. Yet in his misery he could say:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Job 1:21
This book teaches us where real contentment can be found:
“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:2
No wonder Paul could say ‘I can do all things through Christ’ (Philippians 4:13). He also recognised that the power was God’s.
Joseph
Joseph’s life started well, his parents, Isaac and Rachel, loved him dearly. However his older brothers sold him as a slave and he was taken captive to Egypt. His integrity was obviously recognised so he was given the responsibility of being the Senior slave in a prestigious home. However the lady of the house made improper advances to him. He rejected this temptation saying:
“No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” Genesis 39:9
He paid a high price for his stand and spent two years in prison before being called to interpret Pharaoh’s dream and being highly rewarded. He became Prime Minister to the Pharaoh. There was a famine in the whole region and as a result his brothers came to Egypt to buy food. When Joseph eventually revealed who he was to them, his response was remarkable. He recognised that God was in control of everything that had happened to him, all the ups and downs of life were for the glory of God. He said:
“And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt.” Genesis 45:5-9
God longs for all of us, his people, to be content both in this life and in eternity but this can only be found in a living relationship with him.
This state of contentment is what Paul longs for the Philippians and all other Christians to experience. It only comes when our minds are truly committed to living for Jesus Christ:
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
No passivity
This teaching must never be interpreted as an excuse for doing little. We have been saved for a purpose. Jesus told the Parable of the Talents for this reason (Matthew 25:14-30). The Greek word for ‘talent’ is ‘talanton’ (τάλαντον), which originally referred to a unit of weight and then a large sum of money. While ‘talanton’ itself primarily means money, the parable's message about investing and developing what the master has entrusted to the servants has led to the English word "talent" taking on the meaning of a natural skill or ability. The one given five talents and the one given two talents used these for their master’s benefit and were both told:
“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Matthew 25:21 and 23
The one given one talent hid this talent and he was told:
“‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.’
So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:26-30
All Christians should be actively involved in sowing and reaping for our Master in some way or another. Didn’t Jesus say to his followers:
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19
The heroes of the Bible were never passive, they led people strongly, they courageously took the gospel to people. Paul encouraged all Christians to ‘run the race’ of life with determination as the finishing line is ahead. He was always seeking opportunities to proclaim the message of the Lord Jesus to others. There is only one goal that ultimately matters so we should be able to say with Paul:
“To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.” Colossians 1:29
Old Testament references on how God’s people should live
Several passages in Proverbs highlight the importance of diligence and the negative consequences of laziness.
Proverbs 6:6–11 encourages learning from the ant's industriousness.
Proverbs 10:4 links a diligent hand to wealth and a slack hand to poverty.
Proverbs 12:24 states that diligence leads to leadership, while slothfulness results in forced labor.
Proverbs 14:23 contrasts the profit in toil with the poverty resulting from mere talk.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 advises doing whatever your hand finds to do with all your might.
New Testament references on how Christians should live
The New Testament also provides clear instructions on the need for Christians to work hard.
Colossians 3:23–24 urges working heartily as for the Lord, not for men, with the understanding that the reward comes from Christ.
2 Thessalonians 3:10–12 gives a direct command that those unwilling to work should not eat, condemning idleness and urging self-support.
1 Thessalonians 4:11–12 encourages quiet diligence and working with one's hands to be independent and have a good testimony to outsiders.
Philippians 2:12 speaks of "working out your own salvation" with fear and trembling, which implies diligent effort in spiritual growth.
Ephesians 2:10 mentions that believers are created in Christ Jesus for good works.
William Carey came from a very ordinary home but he had a longing to share the gospel with others. He suggested the formation of a missionary society and asked a senior church committee:
“Whether the command given to the apostles to teach all nations was not binding on all succeeding ministers to the end of the world.”
“Young man, sit down, sit down!” was the reported response of one minister. “You are an enthusiast. When God pleases to convert the heathen, he'll do it without consulting you or me. Besides there must be another Pentecostal gift of tongues!”
Contentment comes from being Christ centred, looking forward to the next life, but doing all we can for our Lord in this. What better summary can there be than what Paul said:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7
BVP
This article has been posted on the website www.bvpalmer.com where there are many other helpful articles and videos.
Christchurch Baldock is a Bible teaching gospel centred local church. More details can be found on its website. It meets every Sunday morning at 10.30 am in Knights Templar School, Baldock
Bernard can be contacted at berniepalmer1@sky.com
