Some people are not contented with their lot in life. Even though they have enough, they still want more. These people fall to the category mentioned in this ancient adage: "A mere lover of silver will not be satisfied with silver, neither any lover of wealth with income. This too is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
A person constantly desiring for more always finds himself dissatisfied all the time, thus leaving him no room to enjoy what he has. In connection with this, Benjamin Franklin said, "Contentment makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor." When a person is content with what he has, no matter how little it may be, he is rich in the sense that he is always happy with his lot. And happiness is a treasure that truly matters in our pursuit of our basic necessities.
The following are the secrets of contentment found in God's Word, the Bible.
1) Love people, not money and possessions
1 Timothy 6:10
"The love of money is the root of all injurious things."
Acts 20:35
"There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving."
1 Timothy 6:7-9
"For we have brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out. So, having sustenance and covering, we shall be content with these things. However, those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and hurtful desires, which plunge men into destruction and ruin."
2) Resist the urge to compare yourself with others
Galatians 6:4
"Do your own work well, and then you will have something to be proud of. But don't compare yourself with others."
Ecclesiastes 4:4
"And I myself have seen all the hard work and all the proficiency in work, that it means the rivalry of one toward another; this also is vanity and a striving after the wind."
1 Samuel 16:7
"For not the way man sees [is the way God sees], because mere man sees what appears to the eyes; but as for Jehovah, he sees what the heart is."
Proverbs 11:2
"Has presumptuousness come? Then dishonor will come; but wisdom is with the modest ones."
3) Maintain an appreciative attitude
1 Thessalonians 5:18
"In connection with everything give thanks."
Psalm 143:5
"I have remembered days of long ago;
I have meditated on all your activity;
I willingly kept myself concerned with the work of your own hands."
James 1:17
"Every good gift and every perfect present is from above, for it comes down from the Father of the [celestial] lights, and with him there is not a variation of the turning of the shadow."
Philippians 4:6,7
"Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God; and the peace of God that excels all thought will guard your hearts and your mental powers by means of Christ Jesus."
4) Choose you friends wisely
Proverbs 13:20:
"He that is walking with wise persons will become wise."
1 Corinthians 15:33
"Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits."
Jude 16
"These men are murmurers, complainers about their lot in life, proceeding according to their own desires, and their mouths speak swelling things, while they are admiring personalities for the sake of [their own] benefit."
Proverbs 17:17
"A true companion is loving all the time, and is a brother that is born for when there is distress."
Philippians 2:3,4
"Doing nothing out of contentiousness or out of egotism, but with lowliness of mind considering that the others are superior to you, keeping an eye, not in personal interest upon just your own matters, but also in personal interest upon those of the others."
5) Satisfy your spiritual need
Matthew 5:3
"Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need."
Romans 1:20 : Examine the evidence that God exists.
"For his invisible [qualities] are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship, so that they are inexcusable."
Romans 12:1,2
"Consequently I entreat you by the compassions of God, brothers, to present your bodies a sacrifice living, holy, acceptable to God, a sacred service with your power of reason. And quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
1 Timothy 6:6
"To be sure, it is a means of great gain, [this] godly devotion along with self-sufficiency."
(Based on Watchtower magazine, November 1, 2010)
