Are you content?

What makes you content?

Being content is different from being happy or fulfilled. Being content is being satisfied with what you've got. Yes, things could be better, you could have; newer, better, more technological gadgets or better health, more money, nicer house etc, but are you content? 

Contentment is more about a state of mind than a state of finances or health. It's more to do with our mindset and what we focus on. I know our kids can be in a mood all day if they don't get to do one simple thing when in fact they've had multiple thins they've enjoyed that day. They miss out on the joy of what they have got and done because they are focussed on the fact they didn't get to do one thing. When the one missed thing or the one thing that isn't good enough clouds your vision, you will not be happy. You will be miserable and definitively not content. 

The most content people I have met have generally been the older generation, particularly those that have lived through war. Do you know why? Because they are content. They are satisfied with what they have, even if it is not much. They recognise the value of life, of peace, of the few possessions they have. Sometimes they are grateful for being able to wake up each day and see the sunshine. I remember visiting one man who was very ill, it was sad to see him so unwell, but when we asked him how he was, he replied, "I'm alright mate, how are you?". He had a completely different perspective to us. He may of y I'll (and he dies a little while after), but he was content. Even though he'd had a stroke, couldn't control his body, his mind was on something else. He was a brilliant example of living out a contented life. He must of had the mindset described in these verses;

1 Timothy 6:7-9

we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

We have so much, so much that we aren't even entitled to really. It's true, we came into the world with nothing, not even clothing! However we expect to have clothing, and food as a minimum. If we have these, we have all the ingredients for contentment. Don't be wrapped up in what you could have, but look around at what you do have. If we always have an attitude of wanting more, bigger, better, then we can 'fall into temptation' which leads to ruin. 

It is nice to have nice things, but don't be one that desires more all the time, look around and be content with what you have. Most of us will have food and clothes, whatever else we have isn't going to be ours when we die anyway, so why bother collecting loads of stuff on Earth? It'll be someone else's once we are not around anymore. 

'if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content'