Contentment is a state of satisfaction and peace, often associated with a sense of sufficiency and gratitude for what one has. In the Bible, contentment is portrayed as a virtue that believers are encouraged to cultivate, reflecting trust in God's provision and sovereignty.

Biblical References:

1. Philippians 4:11-13: The Apostle Paul provides a profound insight into contentment in his letter to the Philippians. He writes, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" . Paul emphasizes that contentment is not dependent on external circumstances but is rooted in the strength provided by Christ.

2. 1 Timothy 6:6-8: Paul advises Timothy on the value of contentment, stating, "Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these" . Here, contentment is linked with godliness and is seen as a source of great gain, highlighting the transient nature of material possessions.

3. Hebrews 13:5: The author of Hebrews exhorts believers to maintain a lifestyle free from the love of money, saying, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you'" . This passage connects contentment with trust in God's constant presence and provision.

4. Proverbs 19:23: The wisdom literature of the Old Testament also speaks to contentment. "The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, untouched by trouble" . This verse suggests that a reverent relationship with God leads to a life of contentment and peace.

Theological Insights:

Contentment is deeply tied to one's relationship with God. It reflects a heart that trusts in God's goodness and provision, regardless of external circumstances. The Bible presents contentment as a counter to greed and materialism, urging believers to find their satisfaction in God rather than in worldly possessions.

The pursuit of contentment is seen as a spiritual discipline, requiring believers to focus on eternal values rather than temporal gains. It involves a conscious decision to rely on God's strength and promises, as exemplified by Paul's declaration in Philippians 4:13.

Practical Application:

Believers are encouraged to cultivate contentment by practicing gratitude, focusing on God's faithfulness, and prioritizing spiritual over material wealth. Contentment is not passive acceptance but an active trust in God's plan and timing. By embracing contentment, Christians can experience peace and joy, even amidst life's challenges and uncertainties.(a.) Content; easy in mind; satisfied; quiet; willing.842. autarkes -- self-sufficient, sufficient
... Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: autarkes Phonetic Spelling:
(ow-tar'-kace) Short Definition: self-sufficient, contented, satisfied Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/842.htm - 7k5315. nephesh -- a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire ...
... a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental) -- any, appetite,
beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire, X (dis-)contented, X fish ...
/hebrew/5315.htm - 7k

Be Thou Contented.
... Songs of the Cross and Consolation. BE THOU CONTENTED. Be thou contented! aye
relying On thy ... setteth never. Be thou contented! He lightens ...
/.../gerhardt/paul gerhardts spiritual songs/be thou contented.htm

Rest of the Soul.
... It is the will of God that you be always happy. If you are not contented with such
things as you have, you would not be contented had you ever so much. ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/rest of the soul.htm

Abandonment to God --Its Fruit and Its Irrevocability --In what it ...
... This conviction will render us contented with everything, and will make us
see the commonest events in God, and not in the creature. ...
/.../chapter v abandonment to godits.htm

Of the Three Perturbations, which the Stoics Admitted in the Soul ...
... According to them, therefore, none but the wise man wills, is contented, uses caution;
and that the fool can do no more than desire, rejoice, fear, be sad. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 8 of the three perturbations.htm

The Heath in the Desert and the Tree by the River
... There is the explanation of the fact that men are contented with the partial and
evanescent blessedness that may be drawn from human loves and companionship ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the heath in the desert.htm

Cholera, 1866
... But there is not a sufficient supply; because too many of the labouring classes
in towns, though they are earning very high wages, are contented to live in a ...
/.../kingsley/the water of life and other sermons/sermon xvii cholera 1866.htm

What the Flowers Say.
... Next, the flowers say to us, "be contented." They are quite satisfied to grow, and
smell sweet, and look pretty, in the place where God puts them. ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon lxi what the flowers.htm

Sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Lent
... I was before." And thus they turn away themselves and others from the truth, just
as if it in no wise concerned them, and sit down quite contented with their ...
/.../xii sermon for the fourth.htm

Of the Recollection of God's Manifold Benefits
... loveth Thee and knoweth Thy benefits, as Thy will in him, and the good pleasure
of Thine eternal Providence, wherewith he ought to be so contented and comforted ...
/.../kempis/imitation of christ/chapter xxii of the recollection.htm

Of the Union of the Blessed Spirits with God, in the vision of the ...
... substance itself, taken into our soul by the mouth of our understanding, and what
surpasses all sweetness is, that as mothers are not contented with feeding ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xi of the union.htm

Contented (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Contented (1 Occurrence). Daniel 4:4 I, Nebuchadnezzar,
was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace. (See NIV). ...
/c/contented.htm - 6k

Content (30 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Contained within limits; hence, having the desires limited by that which
one has; not disposed to repine or grumble; satisfied; contented; at rest. ...
/c/content.htm - 17k

Quiet (167 Occurrences)
... quiet conscience. 4. (a.) Not giving offense; not exciting disorder or trouble;
not turbulent; gentle; mild; meek; contented. 5. (a ...
/q/quiet.htm - 37k

Fain (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Well-pleased; glad; apt; wont; fond; inclined.
2. (a.) Satisfied; contented; also, constrained. 3. (adv.) With joy; gladly. ...
/f/fain.htm - 9k

Things (10975 Occurrences)
... high," "lofty," "elevated" (Romans 12:16, "Mind not high things, but condescend
to men of low estate," the King James Version margin "be contented with mean ...
/t/things.htm - 10k

Paid (86 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp., pp, & a.) Receiving pay; compensated; hired;
as, a paid attorney. 2. (imp., pp, & a.) Satisfied; contented. 3. (imp. ...
/p/paid.htm - 30k

Contentment (4 Occurrences)
... hereafter (Romans 5:2). Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) The state of
being contented or satisfied; content. 2. (n.) The act or ...
/c/contentment.htm - 9k

Comfortable (2 Occurrences)
... 4. (a.) In a condition of comfort; having comforts; not suffering or anxious;
hence, contented; cheerful; as, to lead a comfortable life. ...
/c/comfortable.htm - 7k

Contenting (1 Occurrence)

/c/contenting.htm - 6k

Complacent (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Self-satisfied; contented; as, a complacent temper;
a complacent smile. Multi-Version Concordance Complacent (5 Occurrences). ...
/c/complacent.htm - 8k

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