Scripture Reference
"Godliness with contentment is great gain." [I Timothy 6:6]
A thought on contentment
Here lies the deep and precious rest of one's heart. It is the simple ability to thank God for everything, be it ever so contrary to our own will and plans.
Contentment is a characteristic of the Christian
The Christian is content with his situation, because the Lord chooses it for him; his spirit is not eager for alterations in his circumstances. If Divine providence points out and leads to a change, he is ready to follow, though it should be what the world would call from a better to a worse; for he is a pilgrim and a stranger here, and a citrizen of heaven. As people of fortune somtimes, in travelling, submit cheerfully to inconvenient accommodations, very different from their homes, and comfort themselves with thinking they are not always to live so; so the Christian is not greatly solicitous about externals. If he has them, he will use them moderately. If he has but little of them, he can make a good shift without them: he is but upon a journey, and will soon be at home. If he be rich, experience confirms our Lord's words (Luke 12:15); and satisfies him, that a large room, a crowd of servants, and twenty dishes upon his table, add nothing to the real happiness of life. Therefore he will not have his heart set upon such things. If he be ina humbler state, he is more disposed to pity than to envy those above him; for he judges they must have many encumbrances from which he is freed. However, the will of God, and the light of His countenance, are the chief things the Christian, whether rich or poor, regards; and therefore his moderation is made known unto all men. [Newton, 1725-1807]
Contentment and the example of St. Paul
God had brought St. Paul into as great a variety of conditions as ever we read of any man, and yet he was content; else sure he could never have gone through it with so much cheerfulness. See into what vicissitudes this blessed Apostle was cast: "we are troubled on every side," there was the sadness of his condition; "but not distressed," there was his content in that condition: "we are perplexed," there is his affliction; "but not in despair," there is his contentation. And if we read a little further, "In afflications, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults..." -- there is his trouble: and behold his content, "As having nothing, yet possessing all things." Wen the Apostle was driven out of all, yet in regard of that sweet contentment of mind (which was like music in his soul) he possessed all. We read a short map or history of his sufferings, (II Corinthians 11:23-25): "In prisons more frequent, in deaths oft." Yet behold the blessed frame and temper of his spirit, "I have leared in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content." Which way soever providence did blow, he had such heavenly skill and dexterity, that he knew how to steer his course. For his outward estate he was indifferent: he could be either on the top of Jacob's ladder, or at the bottom; he could sing either the dirge or the anthem; he could be anything that God would have him: "I know how to want, how to abound." Here is a rare pattern for us to imitate. Paul, in regard of his faith and courage, was like a cedar, he could not be stirred; but for his outward condition, he was like a reed bending every way with the wind of providence. When a prosperous gale did blow upon him, he could bend with that, "I know how to be full:" and when a boisterous gust of affliction did blow, he could bend in humility with that, "I know how to be hungry." St. Pauls was (as Aristotle speaks) like a die that hath four squares: throw it which way you will, it falls upon a bottom: let God throw the Apostle which way He would, he fell upon this bottom of contentment. A contented spirit is like a watch: though you carry it up and down with you, yet the spring of it is not shaken; nor the wheels out of order, but the watch keeps its perfect motion: so it was with St. Paul, though God carried him into various conditions, yet he was not lift up with the one nor cast down with the other; the spring of his heart was not broken, the wheels ofhis affectiosn were not disordered, but kept their constant motion towards heaven; still content. [Watson, 1696]
From where contentment arises
Content is the gift of heaven, and not the certain effect of anything up on earth; and it is as easy for Providence to convey it without welath as with it; it being the undeniable prerogative of the first cause, that whatsoever it does by the mediation of second causes, it can do immediately by itself without them. The heavens can and do every day derive water and refreshment upon the earth without either pipes or conduits, though the weakness of human industry is forced to fly to these little assistances to compass the samee effects. Happiness and comfort stream immediately from God Himself, as lgiht issues form the sun, and sometimes looks and darts itself into the meanest corners, while it forbears to visit the largest and the noblest rooms. Every man is happy or miserable, as the temper of his mind places him, either directly under, or beside, the influences of the Divine nature; which enlighten and enliven the disposed mind with secret, ineffable joys, and such as the vicious or unprepared mind is wholly unacquainted with. "We have nothing, and yet we possess all things," says the Apostle (II Corinthians 6:10). And can a greater happiness be imagined, than that which gives a man here all things in possession, together with a glorious eternity in reversion? In a word, it is not what a man has, but what he is, which must make him happy. [South, 1633-1716]
How contentment is to be attained
Be content: and the best way to be contented is, believe that condition best which God carves out to you by His providence. If God had seen it fit for us to have more, we would have had it: but His wisdom sees this best for us. Perhaps we could not manage a great estate, it is hard to carry a full cup without spilling, and a full estate without sinning. Great estates may be snares; a boat may be overturned by having too great a sail. The believing that estate best God carves for us makes us content. [Watson, 1696]
Reasons for contentment
God will place us as an architect places the stones of a building, each one in the spot to which it is adopted. [Vianney]
The wisdom of contentment
That happy state of mind, so rarely possessed, in which we can say, "I have enough," is the highest attainment of philosophy. Happiness consists, not in possessing much, but in being content with what we possess. He who wants little always has enough. [Zimmermann]
The blessedness of contentment
One observes concerning manna, when the eople were contented with the allowance that God gave them, then it was very good; but when they would not be content with God's allowance, but would be gathering more then says the text, "there were worms in it." So, when we are content with our conditions, and that which God disposeth of us to be in, there's a blessing in it; but if we must needs be reaching out for more than God hath allotted, or to keep it longer than God would have us to have it, then there will be worms in it, a canker to eat it, a moth to fret it -- nothing at all that is good. [Burroughs, 1599-1646]
The soul which is possessed of this rich treasure of contentment, is like Noah in the ark, that can sing in the midst of a deluge. [Watson, 1696]
Contentment is a pearl of great price, and whoever procures it at the expense of ten thousand desires makes a wise and happy purchase.[Balguy [1686-1746]
