Reference: Contentment
Easton
(1) a state of mind in which one's desires are confined to his lot whatever it may be (1Ti 6:6; 2Co 9:8). It is opposed to envy (Jas 3:16), avarice (Heb 13:5), ambition (Pr 13:10), anxiety (Mt 6:25,34), and repining (1Co 10:10). It arises from the inward disposition, and is the offspring of humility, and of an intelligent consideration of the rectitude and benignity of divine providence (Ps 96:1-2; 145), the greatness of the divine promises (2Pe 1:4), and our own unworthiness (Ge 32:10); as well as from the view the gospel opens up to us of rest and peace hereafter (Ro 5:2).
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For this reason I say to you, Be not anxious for your life, what you shall eat, and what you shall drink; nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not your life a greater gift than food, and your body than clothing?
Therefore, be not anxious about the morrow, for the morrow will have anxieties of its own. Sufficient for the day is its own evil.
through whom we have had access, by faith, into this grace in which we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Nor do you murmur, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
But godliness, with a contented disposition, is great gain.
Let there be no money-loving disposition; be content with such things as you have. For he has said: I will never leave you, nor will I ever forsake you.
For where envy and strife are, there is commotion, and every evil work.
through which things very great and precious favors that were promised have been given us, that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through desire:
Hastings
1. The word does not occur in the OT, but the duty is implied in the Tenth Commandment (Ex 20:17), and the wisdom of contentment is enforced in Pr 15:17; 17:1 by the consideration that those who seem most enviable may, be worse off than ourselves. But the bare commandment 'Thou shalt not covet' may only stir up all manner of coveting (Ro 7:7 f.); and though a man may sometimes be reconciled to his lot by recognizing a principle of compensation in human life, that principle is far from applying to every case. It is not by measuring ourselves with one another, but only by consciously setting ourselves in the Divine presence, that true contentment can ever be attained. Faith in God is its living root (cf. Ps 16:6 with Ps 16:5; also Hab 3:17 f.).
2. In the NT the grace of contentment is expressly brought before us. Our Lord inculcated it negatively by His warnings against covetousness (Lu 12:15-21), positively by His teaching as to the Fatherhood of God (Mt 6:25-32 ||) and the Kingdom of God (Mt 6:33, cf. Mt 6:19 f.). St. Paul (Php 4:11-13) claims to have 'learned the secret' of being content in whatsoever state he was. The word he uses is autark
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Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal.
For this reason I say to you, Be not anxious for your life, what you shall eat, and what you shall drink; nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not your life a greater gift than food, and your body than clothing? Observe the birds of the air, that they neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into granaries. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they? read more. Which of you, by his anxiety, can add one span to his life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow: they toil not, nor do they spin. But I say to you, That Solomon, in all his glory, was not clothed like one of these. If then, God so clothes the herb of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, you of little faith? Therefore, be not anxious, saying: What shall we eat? or, what shall we drink? or, with what shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you in addition.
And he said to them: Take heed and beware of covetousness; for a man's life depends not on the abundance of his possessions. And he spoke a parable to them, saying: The farm of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. read more. And he reasoned within himself, saying: What shall I do? for I have no place in which I can store my fruits. And he said: This will I do: I will pull down my barns and I will build larger ones; and there I will store ail my produce, and my good things; and I will say to my soul: Soul, you have many good things laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry. But God said to him: Senseless man, this night shall your soul be required of you; and who shall have the things which you have provided? So is he that lays up treasure for him self, and is not rich toward God.
What, then, shall we say? Is the law sin? It can not be. Indeed, I had not known sin, except through law. For I had not known evil desire, unless the law had said: You shall not have any evil desire.
and he said to me: My grace is sufficient for you; for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I boast in my infirmities, that the power of the Christ may abide upon me.
I do not speak in respect to want: for I have learned, in whatever condition I am, to be content. I know what it is to be in want, and what it is to have abundance. Everywhere and in all things, I have been fully instructed in being full and in being hungry, in having abundance and in being in want. read more. I am able to do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I am able to do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
And having food and raiment, with these let us be content.
Let there be no money-loving disposition; be content with such things as you have. For he has said: I will never leave you, nor will I ever forsake you.