Ahhhh, Contentment

When I was in Iraq during the first part of the war in 2003, I learned to appreciate the little things in life. After a week of guard duty in a watch tower looking over the front gate of a camp in the southern dessert of Iraq, a Marine convoy showed up from Kuwait. A friend of the Marine that I was on guard with climbed up the tower we were in and gave his buddy a Burger King cheeseburger and a glass with crushed ice in it. Before the Marine took a bite of the hamburger he tore off a piece and handed it to me, then he took an empty water bottle cut it in half and put some ice and a little Gatorade in it and gave it to me. Those two Marines and I, being in that tower looking over one of the most inhospitable places I have ever seen, knowing the enemy was ready to take our lives at the first chance they got, sat back and ate those few pieces of stale cheeseburger and drank the first cold drink we had since being in the country, and we just generally enjoyed our lives. At that moment in my life I was content; I had everything I needed, and even some things that I wanted. Now after being back in the States for a few years, that small meal that I shared with those two leathernecks does not seem like much. In fact if it was sitting before me now, I would probably throw it away, but at that time and in that moment, it was a meal fit for a king. It is amazing how much it takes to make us content these days, especially for those of us living in the United States. I have come to find that contentment in life has nothing to do with external stimuli. It has everything to do with self contentment, with the realization that we can be content in any situation that we are in as long as we have just one thing, God.   

Contentment Defined

Before we get into a discussion about contentment we must first define it. Contentment is to be in a state of peaceful happiness or satisfaction, or to accept (something) as adequate despite wanting something more, or better. Paul said in Philippians 4:11-13, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The word “contentment” that Paul uses in the original Greek means to have self-contentment, or self-satisfaction. He did not let external situations that he could not control determine whether or not he would be content. Instead, he focused on what he could control, his faith in God, this is what allowed him to endure the hard times that constantly beset him. The second part of the definition I gave, says that contentment can be achieved despite a longing for something better. Paul understood this and that is what made it possible for him to be content. There is something so much better, so far greater waiting for us, that no matter what happens in this life, the life that is to come is a reward far surpassing any suffering endured in this life.  

Contentment Found

Unfortunately, Paul is the exception, not the rule. We struggle over and over to find satisfaction in the things of this world, often getting caught up in the lusts and unrestrained desires of the flesh. For many people, life does not seem to offer the things that will constantly keep us content. We can find that momentary pleasure satisfies for a time, but then grows old more sooner than later. The problem is that the things of this world are temporary and, therefore, all satisfaction derived from them can only be temporary. It is only the eternal things that can give us that long term contentment that we so long for. “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition” (1 Tim. 6:6-9). Putting God first in our life is the solution to this and all problems that we have. We can have contentment in this life despite the hardships that might arise, if our contentment comes from the hope of eternal life through Christ.

Conclusion

When we come to the realization that there is a whole lot in this life that we do not need, we can be content. Sometimes it may take us being deprived of the things of the world to make us stop and take measure of what is truly important. It is my prayer that God might allow us all to suffer some small inconvenience in this life so as to keep our eyes on the prize. Let us always remember that without the hard times in life, the good times just don’t seem that great.