Since profession of the truth generally has an adverse effect upon one’s temporal belongings, and since this impedes so many in being bold in their profession, it is therefore necessary that we endure such adversity by being content with the will of God in regard to temporal circumstances. This we shall now discuss.
The word “contentment” in Hebrew is די (dai), that is, fullness, abundance, and sufficiency. Frequently this word is attributed to God. The Lord calls Himself אל שסי (El Shaddai); that is, the God who possesses everything and who is able to bring forth everything out of His fullness. It is generally translated as “the Almighty One.” In Greek the word is αὐτάρκεια (autarkeia) which is a coalescence of two words: “being sufficient” and “self.” This is indicative of having sufficiency for ourselves or with ourselves, for no one can be content unless he has enough, and we have enough if we no longer desire anything. Thus, contentment does not consist in the multitude of possessions, but in the fulfillment of desire. If the desire is great, then much is needed for the fulfillment of this desire; if it is small, only a little will suffice. A little will fill a little bottle and much is needed to fill a large barrel. Man needs but little to live in the service of God, and if his desires are commensurate with what he needs, a little is sufficient to fill his desires and his stomach.
Contentment is a Christian virtue consisting in a correspondence between the desire of God’s children and their present condition—this being true because it is the will of their God in Christ and according to His sovereign determination. In this they rest with delight, in quiet confidence, joyfully, and with gratitude, trusting that the Lord will cause the present and the future to turn out to their advantage. This causes them to utilize their present condition to the advancement of their spiritual life and to the glory of God.
Contentment is a Christian virtue of God’s children. The unconverted are to all good works reprobate and are not acquainted with the nature of this virtue. When they perceive it in God’s children, they despise it as a low level of intelligence, day-dreaming, stoic insensitivity, and deem them unfit for loftier matters—this being a treasure which is hidden for them. God’s children, however, have this virtue in principle, and they, perceiving the beauty of this virtue, make diligent effort to possess this in greater measure. The heart is the true seat of this virtue. Contentment is not a matter of words. It is not of a compulsory nature, nor does it consist in refraining from pursuing the goods of this world. It is not a mental determination to keep ourselves satisfied, but it is a disposition of the soul. The intellect, the will, and the affections are in a contented disposition, and out of this propensity actions issue forth which are consistent with this disposition. This disposition is only to be found in the children of God—in the godly. “But godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim 6:6).
The Object of Contentment
The object of contentment is our current condition. Believers, being and remaining in the state of grace, encounter many things according to soul and body. Sometimes the condition of both agree in a general sense with their desires, and sometimes there is a very great discrepancy between the two. It is easy to be content if the Lord grants the desire of the heart. If, however, our circumstances do not agree with our desires, it will be a difficult task to bring our desires in harmony with our circumstances. The Christian is exercised about this. Possessions do not yield contentment. Man can be either discontented or contented, irrespective of whether he is rich, of average means, or poor. One who is rich or one of average means must strive just as much to be contented with his state as the poor person in his. We may not strive to be in different circumstances, thinking that we shall then be better off. Rather, we must labor to conduct ourselves well in the condition in which we are. A poor person thinks, “If I were only of average means”; one of average means thinks, “If I were only rich”; a rich person, “If only I had more”; a single person, “If only I were married; “ a married person, “If only I were single”; a sailor, “If only I had an occupation on shore”; a craftsman, “If only I were a businessman”; etc. These are foolish thoughts. Contentment does not consist in this, but in a being contented that the condition in which we are is best for us. The exhortation is as follows: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have” (Heb 13:5).