Looking for what the Bible says about contentment? You're in the right place. This page brings together key Scripture and principles on contentment from across many different books of the Bible, along with practical commentary and everyday applications that can transform your life. Because this commentary is excerpted from Study and Obey's verse-by-verse book studies, every verse here has already been interpreted in its full context. As you study God's Word on contentment, we encourage you to reflect on how to apply what God is teaching you. Enjoy!

Learning the Secret of Contentment

Philippians 4:12-13 — "I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Paul had many experiences in his life of service to Christ, most of them difficult. Shipwrecks, imprisonments, scourging, stoning, beating, and many more hardships were routine. So, it could be said that his circumstances taught him how to be content. But this would not accurately show the whole picture because many people go through hardships and yet never learn how to be content. A more accurate statement is that God used the trials Paul faced to teach him about contentment. Yet Paul still had to learn this lesson.

He counted all the things in this world as rubbish and set his heart completely on pursuing Christ. That is the key to contentment.

There are two possible outcomes when a person sets his heart on things in this world:

A. He gets what he wants. But then he finds out that it cannot make him happy and is therefore discontent. If a person chases after marriage, money, achievement, or fame (or any other thing in this world), he will find that it cannot satisfy him.

B. He doesn't get what he wants. And then he is discontent because he doesn't get what he hoped for.

Psalm 37:4 — "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

Contentment does not depend on circumstances. It is a mindset. It comes from a relationship with and a reliance upon God. It is possible to be content, and even joyful in every circumstance (Habakkuk 3:17-19).

Application — Are you generally content? Is there something which you want but don't have, which you are unhappy about? Spend some time in prayer and tell God that He is enough for you. Ask Him to satisfy you and change the desires of your heart to match His.

It is learning to be content. Paying attention to the context it shows us that verse 13 means, "I can be content in any situation through him who strengthens me." The contentment does not come from his own willpower but from trust in God.

— From our Bible study on Philippians 4:10-23

Contentment in Weakness

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 — "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' 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."

Here is an amazing promise. God's grace was sufficient. Note that God did not take away Paul's affliction. He did not deliver Paul out of it right away. But He promised to give Paul the grace he needed to get through it and continue serving Christ to the glory of God. It is not a pool which we can drink dry. Rather it is a continuous state of provision.

One example of a believer with weaknesses who has used these to the glory of God is Joni Eareckson. When she was 18 years old, she dove into the Chesapeake Bay. Misjudging the depth of the water, she became paralyzed from the neck down. She became angry and depressed. Eventually, she was able to turn this disaster into an opportunity for testimony. Now she gives God glory in this situation. She has written more than 40 books and has inspired many who are disabled to put their confidence in the Lord.

Paul accepted all of the disasters, within and without, he faced. He was content with all these things because they brought attention to God's power.

Reflect — What affliction do you face that you can turn into a testimony for God? God's grace is magnified when we serve Him even in the midst of debilitating afflictions. Rather than growing bitter when experiencing such "thorns," let us instead learn to depend on God.

— From our Bible study on 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

The Sin of Coveting

Deuteronomy 5:21 — "And you shall not covet your neighbor's wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's."

This is the only one of the six person-to-person commands that refers directly to the mind and not an action. Coveting is something that happens in our minds. Nobody else sees or knows it. Therefore this command clearly shows us that God is concerned with our thought lives.

Reflect — Why is this wrong? Also, what is the opposite of coveting?

Coveting is wrong because it stems from discontent. The person who covets is, in essence, telling God, "What you have given me is not enough. I will only be happy if I have this other thing." Coveting is a desire for something that God, in His perfect will, has not chosen to give us. Therefore at its root, coveting is a sin against God. It is equivalent to ingratitude. We should not just tell ourselves, "Do not covet." While we should flee from this sin, we should pursue its righteous opposite (2 Timothy 2:22). That is contentment and gratitude. The best way to fight against coveting is to actively meditate on God's goodness and faithfulness. Do not spend your time mulling over what you don't have. Instead, count your blessings.

Reflect — What are some Biblical examples of people who coveted and the results?

The most notorious example of coveting in the Bible is Ahab. He was the king of Israel, the richest person in the land. But what he had was not enough for him. He coveted his neighbor's vineyard even though he had many of his own (1 Kings 21). While some may think that "If I just had more, I would be happy and not covet," Ahab proves that this is not the case. Coveting is not limited to poor people. No matter how rich you are, discontentment can seep in. Rockefeller once answered the question of "How much money is enough?" by saying, "A little more." That accurately reflects the human condition. When you desperately desire to have the latest iPhone, getting it may satisfy you for a while. But there will always be a new version coming out. If you are not content with an iPhone 10, why would you be with an iPhone 11?

Application — Intentionally ward off coveting by meditating on God. Consider His goodness to you. Count your blessings. Place your hope in Him and not in things.

— From our Bible study on Deuteronomy 5:16-33

Content With Daily Provision

Exodus 16:1-3 — "They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, 'Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.'"

Israel had reverted to moaning and groaning, looking only at the natural, and completely forgetting the gracious and miraculous provision that God had repeatedly made for them. You will also note that they were even starting to exaggerate as to how good it really was back in Egypt! The moral of the story? Always remember God's goodness and be confident of His future grace.

Exodus 16:17-18 — "The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little... he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."

Notice these little verses. For an application of this verse, it could be said that the amount of feeding on Christ and His word isn't the main emphasis. The need for a daily feeding is. Those who gathered a little did not have too little, and those who gathered a lot didn't have too much!

Reflect — How does the manna point to Christ? List all of the similarities between manna and Jesus.

— From our Bible study on Exodus 16

Envying the Wicked

Psalm 73:2-3 — "But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked."

Here in a nutshell is the struggle which Asaph faced. Wicked people around him were successful, perhaps even because of their wickedness. Seeing them seemingly escape justice and be rewarded for their sins made Asaph jealous in that a part of him wanted the same easy life which they had.

Asaph felt that he did what was right for nothing. Asaph says, "Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence." Asaph, at least for the moment, was focusing on material wealth and prosperity, which does not satisfy. Money and materials do not bring contentment or happiness. These come from a proper relationship with God, nothing else.

The wicked will perish in the end. Those who are far from You will perish.

Application — Do not be jealous of the wicked, their lives, or what they own! They and all they own will perish in the end!

— From our Bible study on Psalm 73

God Is Enough

Psalm 16:2 — "I say to the LORD, 'You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.'"

Psalm 16:5-6 — "The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance."

This is similar to David's statement in Psalm 23, "I shall not want." In that verse "want" is a synonym for "lack." God's people do not lack any good thing. Whatever is good, whatever is beneficial, He will provide it for us.

Some people go through their life being discontent. They wish away their present while dreaming of the greener grass on the other side of wherever they are now.

• If only I could get a promotion, then I would be happy.
• Once I get my degree and get a job and reach independence then I will enjoy my life.
• If I could just travel more, I could be happier in my job.
• If I could just upgrade to the iPhone X then I would never need another phone again... until the iPhone 11 comes out.
• If I could just get married and have a family, then my life will be perfect. For the singles out there, let me tell you something. I have four kids and a lovely wife. I love my kids to death and would not trade them for anything. I heard a few of our students tell me that their hobby is sleeping. After you have children, you can forget about this hobby. In the last week, about four different times my wife and I finally laid down very tired and started drifting off to sleep... like a perfectly set timer one or another of our kids woke up crying. Being single is wonderful and has its own challenges. Being married with kids is wonderful and has its own challenges.

Brothers and sisters, the grass is always greener on the other side. If you are not content with what God has given you now, you will not be content in the future either.

Application — Next time you struggle with discontent, and we all do sometimes, remember that you don't lack. God has already given you everything you need. Change your complaining into thanksgiving and count your blessings.

Application — Share about what good things God has given you lately. What is something good God has done for you even in the midst of a trial?

— From our Bible study on Psalm 16

A Quiet, Content Life

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 — "And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one."

Believers are to have ambition. Our ambitions are not the same as in the world where status, position, career, money, and achievement are the driving forces of life. Our highest aim is to serve and obey God and to be content and satisfied with what He leads us to do. This can be shown by the homemaker who quits a very high-paying job to care for her family and children or the businessman who refuses a promotion that would separate him from his family.

We should be content with a simple and calm lifestyle. We don't need lots of things to make us happy. People place so much importance on the latest and greatest technology. iPhone 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10. How many upgrades are there? Is an iPhone 6 really that much better than an iPhone 5? How much is enough? What will it take to make you happy?

A friend recently came to my house to visit. He told me about a missionary family in Asia. The family blamed him for buying an air conditioner for his home and said that missionaries should have a lifestyle that is lower than everyone they serve. This family tried very hard to keep their lifestyle very simple so that they would not appear rich to any of the people they shared with. Is this wrong?

Well, no, and yes. It is not wrong to live simply, as we have seen. It is good to learn contentment. But this family was also poking their noses into others' business and trying to spread their "doctrine of appearing poor" everywhere around them. If they were led to live that way, fine. But they shouldn't push others to do it because it is not an explicit biblical principle.

These principles have a dual purpose. They show us how we should treat others and how to live a life in contentment without any need.

— From our Bible study on 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

Rejoice Always, Give Thanks Instead of Complaining

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 — "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

God is the giver of joy. It doesn't come from "inside us." He wants us to have complete, full joy in Him. True joy is not dependent on circumstances. We are to rejoice always.

John Piper said, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." That is true. We get our joy by enjoying God.

It is much easier to give thanks for things that seem good to us. It is much easier to give thanks if your stock investments triple than if they fall 70%. But in both cases, we need to thank God. We are commanded to. God is in control and has a reason for it. Money isn't everything. Although 70% is gone, we still have a relationship with God. We still have 30% left!

To be ungrateful is sinful. To have a complaining and negative spirit is sinful. Rejoicing and being thankful are connected.

Reflect and Application — Can you think of examples of any biblical characters who either did or did not follow the principle to rejoice always? Do you rejoice always? What do you need to do to grow in this area?

— From our Bible study on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-28

Do you think it is easier to complain or to be thankful? According to a study I read this week, the average person complains 15-30 times per day. While some think that complaining helps them to get their feelings out and feel better, the study showed that it does the opposite. Unsurprisingly, it decreases our joy, worsens our mood, and also negatively influences the mood of those around us. And it harms the brain and is bad for health.

One study concluded that optimists tend to live longer than pessimists. "Optimists were found to have a 55% lower risk of death across all causes and were 23% less likely to die of heart disease." Complaining can actually physically damage the brain as it shrinks the hippocampus. When you frequently complain, your brain develops those neural pathways and it becomes easier and easier to complain and harder to be thankful. Modern science is supporting what God has said in the Bible all along. It's a natural tendency of our sinful flesh to complain.

But God both tells us not to complain and to give thanks:

Philippians 2:14 — "Do all things without grumbling."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 — "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Notice the wording. First, we are told to never complain. Do "all things" without grumbling. Second, we are told to "give thanks in all circumstances." Every possible loophole was closed. These verses address every potential situation you will ever face.

We can thank Him for many things:

• The doctors that treat us.
• The medicine we received.
• Our spouse to take care of us while we are sick.
• Our general health and well-being.
• The opportunity to pray to Him during sickness.
• A comfortable bed to lay in.
• The finances to be able to take off of work.
• The character He is instilling in us.
• The hope of a glorified body in heaven one day.
• The joy He gives even in the midst of difficulties.

Being thankful in prayer will result in a more joyful, contented, fulfilled life. And most importantly, God commanded it!

Application — One practical way to develop a thankful heart is to keep track of your prayer requests. When God answers, write them down. Immediately thank Him for that answer. You can save your journal and go back over it from time to time as a memorial of God's work in your past.

— From our Bible study on Colossians 4:2-4, a sermon

Rich or Poor, the Same in Christ

James 1:9-11 — "Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits."

Although a person's economic position may be poor, his position in Christ is high (Galatians 3:28). He may be physically deficient but spiritually rich. Those who are poor in this world should not focus on their lack of material things. Rather they should focus on their abundant spiritual blessings.

The rich person should realize that, in the end, he is just like the poor person. His riches will fade away. His life itself will be as short as many of the poor people around him. His riches and materials cannot buy long life (or not eternal life, anyway). And yet this person, if he trusts in Christ, can also be spiritually rich and full of blessings.

Application — If you have little, don't focus on that, but set your mind on the things above. If you have much, don't focus on that either (though you should be thankful). Instead put your mind on things above and be thankful for your blessings in Christ.

— From our Bible study on James 1:1-11

Content Even With Little

Acts 2:44-46 — "And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts."

The believers were like a large and very sharing family. Going as far as selling their personal possessions, they then shared the proceeds with the group so that everyone had what they needed. Their love for the Lord and each other superseded their selfish desires for personal gain.

They were not rich. But they were happy and content. It is better to receive little with a grateful heart than consume an entire feast with bitterness or jealousy (Proverbs 15:17).

One good example of this is seen in The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Bob Cratchit's family had very little but was cheerful and content. Their happiness together is contrasted with Scrooge, who had everything in the world but happiness.

Application — Count your blessings. Let us set an example for our families in gratitude. In those times when you don't have much, receive it with a glad and generous heart. You and your family will be more joyful.

— From our Bible study on Acts 2:37-47

We hope you enjoyed this Bible study on contentment. May God use His Word to speak into your life and give you strength to follow it. Please take some time to reflect on the questions below and consider leaving a comment with your key takeaway or insight.

Reflection Questions

• Are you generally content? Is there something which you want but don't have, which you are unhappy about? Spend some time in prayer and tell God that He is enough for you.
• What affliction do you face that you can turn into a testimony for God?
• What are some Biblical examples of people who coveted and the results?
• Do not be jealous of the wicked, their lives, or what they own! They and all they own will perish in the end!
• Share about what good things God has given you lately. What is something good God has done for you even in the midst of a trial?
• How much is enough? What will it take to make you happy?
• Can you think of examples of any biblical characters who either did or did not follow the principle to rejoice always? Do you rejoice always? What do you need to do to grow in this area?

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