Overcoming Discontentment

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By Tom Moore November 16, 2018

Sermon on Contentment
INTRODUCTION:
A. “Contentment is a pearl of great price, and
whosoever procures it at the expense of ten
thousand desires makes a wise and happy purchase”
(John Balguy).
1. Contentment is a very precious commodity to
possess in this life of disappointments and
heartaches.
2. All Christians should join with King David and
say, “He maketh me to lie in green pastures”
(Psa. 23:2) – That’s a great picture of
contentment
B. Many today are like the two little teardrops
floating down the river of life. One tear drop
asked the other, “Who are you?” “I am a teardrop
from a girl who loved a man and lost him. But who
are you?” The first tear drop replied, “I am a tear
drop from the girl who got him.”
1. Life is like as is seen in these teardrops.
2. We all too often cry over the things we can’t
have, but we might cry twice as hard if we had
received them.
DISCUSSION:

A. DEFINITION OF CONTENTMENT?
1. Viewed negatively
a. Contentment is not insensibility.
1) The Stoics strove to eliminate all feeling
and all emotion until they could say, “I
don’t care” if a plate has broken, or if
some bodily injury happened to them.
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 2) Contentment does not destroy all
possibility of caring.
b. Contentment is not self-satisfaction, to be
so happy with yourself that you never try
improve yourself.
c. Contentment is not apathetic indifference.
2. Viewed positively
a. To be content means to rest satisfied, to be
well-pleased; not to be disgruntled or
disheartened.
b. Webster says that contentment means “freedom
from care and discomfort.”
c. Content comes from autarkhs and means:
1) sufficient for one’s self, strong enough or
processing enough to need no aid or support
2) independent of external circumstances
3) contented with one’s lot, though the
slenderest

B. WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES SAY ABOUT CONTENTMENT?

1. “Be content with your wages” (Lk. 3:14).
a. Such was the teaching of John the Baptist to
the soldiers.
b. Such contentment would prevent them from
intimidating others, and practicing blackmail
because of their low wage scale.
2. Philippians 4:11
a. Paul penned this while he was in prison! Yet,
he was content!! How could this be???
b. Well, Paul had learned that contentment and
happiness are not dependent on external
circumstances, but inner qualities of the
heart, and upon a right relationship with the
Lord.
3. 1 Timothy 6:6-8

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 a. Someone once said, “The poorest man in the
world is the man who has more than he needs
but feels like it isn’t enough.”
b. In godliness and contentment there is GREAT
gain.
4. Hebrews 13:5
a. This text is not teaching that we should not
try to improve our status in life; but, rather
that we should avoid a misplaced emphasis on
the material things.
b. This verse does not forbid all lawful efforts
to improve our own condition and that of
others, for that would be inconsistent with
Bible teaching.
1) Ephesians 4:28 … work to be able to give to
others
2) Romans 12:11 … diligent working is serving
the Lord
c. What Paul sets forth in this verse in Hebrews
is, that no matter what the circumstances, put
your trust in the Lord, and things will work
together for our good.

C. FOES OF CONTENTMENT
1. Covetousness
a. In Hebrews 13:5 covetousness is put over
against contentment as the antithesis of
contentment, and even as an enemy of
contentment.
b. The secret of contentment is knowing how to
enjoy what you have and being able to loose
all desire for things beyond your reach.
2. Unbelief
a. The Lord’s instruction to be content is based
upon His promises that He will not forsake
us, that He will never leave us, that He will
help us and that we need not fear what man
may do … Hebrews 13:5-6
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 b. He promises to sustain us with the physical
necessities of life …. Matthew 6:24-34; Psalm
37:25
c. If we believe God how can not help but be
content?
3. Envy
a. Envy is the chagrin or discontent at the
excellence or good fortune of another.
b. Saul was content with the praise he was
getting until he saw David getting more (1
Sam. 18:8-9).
c. The Philistines were content with their lot
until they saw the possessions of Isaac (Gen.
26:14).
d. Haman was contented until he saw Mordecai sit
in the king’s gate (Est. 5:9-14).
e. Envy is an insidious evil which must be
eradicated from our hearts.
4. Pessimism
a. Illustration …. shoe salesmen in Africa
b. The discontented pessimist when asked how
things are will reply, “They are so much more
worse than yesterday, and so much better than
I expect them to be tomorrow.”
5. Self-pity
a. The prodigal son was discontent personified,
and he was guilty of self-pity (Lk. 15:29).
b. Too many cry, “Life has cheated me,” or “I’m
so unfortunate.”
c. Pity is good, but it ought not be wasted on
one’s self.
6. Complaining
a. The discontented person is seldom willing to
keep his discontent to himself.

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 b. “I complained about having no shoes until I
saw a man who had no feet. I complained about
no one visiting my family until I found a
person who had no family. I complained about
the members until I mover where there were
none. I complained about the Bible teacher
until I tried teaching. I complained about not
having fine clothes until I saw one in rags.”

D. HOW DO WE CULTIVATE CONTENTMENT?

1. Work at it!
a. Paul had to “learn” contentment (Phil. 4:11).
b. If we close the doors to the foes of
contentment and develop the things which
cultivate it.
2. Count your blessings
a. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
b. Ephesians 5:20
3. Transfer your attention and affection to higher
and holier matters
a. Matthew 6:33
b. Christ was contented; and, His meat was to do
the will of His Father (Jn. 4:34).
c. You will seldom find a discontented person
who is not also materialistic
4. Keep busy
a. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop
b. Be like Jesus who went about doing good (Acts
10:38).
c. Then we will not have time to enlarge our
bruises…
5. Think about how bad it could be
a. Things can always be a lot worse
b. You do not have to look far to find someone
worse off than you

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6. Learn that happiness is not tied to things
a. Luke 12:15
b. Our society does not believe this … thus,
many are discontent

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