Debbie Swindell

The previous installment in this series delved into unbelief as the root cause of discontentment. Discontentment is viewed as a sin that disregards God’s authority to govern our lives and violates His promise to not allow us to go through unbearable afflictions (1 Corinthians 10:13). As followers of Christ, we are liberated from the grip of sin and can combat temptation and sinful desires.

This is the key to contentment: our assurance in God and His promises (Hebrews 13:5) is the bedrock of our happiness. Authentic contentment is not just about having faith in Jesus but also in what He has done for us in the past and what He has promised to do for us in the future.

Therefore, our contentment is derived from our trust in God and His promises of provision. True contentment is not rooted in self-sufficiency but rather in God-sufficiency. It’s not about what we have but Who has us. We can be content when we trust Christ (Philippians 4:10-12).

God's divine power has given us everything we need to live a pleasing and righteous life through our knowledge of Him, who called us by His glory and goodness. He has given us His precious and magnificent promises so that through them, we may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world caused by sinful desires. Therefore, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with perseverance, and perseverance with godliness… 2 Pet 1:3-6

The Scripture encourages us not to conform to the pattern of this world but to renew our minds and be transformed. This transformation enables us to test and approve God’s will – His good, pleasing, and perfect will (Romans 12:2).

We are living in a world where discontentment is rampant. However, everything we need to be obedient and content is already available. We must resist temptation and its corrupting desires (1 Timothy 6:9-11). The first step towards experiencing true contentment is to come to Christ. Christ is sufficient, and His promises are enough.

God’s gift of grace enables us to abound in hope and confidence because Jesus Christ is our example of righteousness and righteousness. Christ is the source of our strength (Philippians 4:13-14). We should pray that He would work powerfully in us so that we might walk out our salvation in obedience.

But He told me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.- 2 Cor 12:9-10

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.- 1 Cor 9:8

The Word of God overtly and calls us explicitly to contentment. To experience true contentment, we must first know and embrace the Bible’s truths about God. Learning and practicing contentment is crucial for a thriving life.

God has given us His written Word, which provides us with everything we need to trust in Him and resist temptation. We must immerse ourselves in the Word and surround ourselves with God’s people to faithfully live out a pattern of contentment.

For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. – Ps 107:9

Some people are content with their sins, but that is not the kind of contentment we should seek. Some people are content with less than God’s best, but we are talking about true and pure contentment. Contentment is found in pursuing godliness (1 Timothy 6:6-8), which stems from our relationship with Christ.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. - Phil 4:8-9

This series challenges us to seek contentment and acknowledge that Christ alone is sufficient. What we have is enough, where we are is enough, and ultimately, Christ is more than enough. With Jesus, we can be fully content and satisfied. Will you accept what God has given and be satisfied today?

As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.- Ps 17:15

1. According to the text, What is the root cause of discontentment?
2. How can we combat temptation and sinful desires?
3. What is the key to contentment according to the text?
4. Why is self-sufficiency not the root of true contentment?
5. What does the Scripture encourage us to do to experience true contentment?
6. What is the role of God’s grace in our pursuit of contentment?
7. Why is learning and practicing contentment crucial for a thriving life?
8. What is the difference between actual and pure contentment and contentment with our sins or less than God’s best?
9. What does the text encourage us to think about to experience true contentment?
10. How can we be fully content and satisfied with Jesus Christ?