This week I’m doing a message on contentment from Philippians 4:11-13. If you’ve got a minute, can you look at these questions and give me your thoughts in the comment section.
As concise as possible would be appreciated!
What causes discontentment?
What are people that you know discontented about?
What advice would you give to someone struggling with contentment?
Most people are discontented because their “expectations” are not being met. The issues range all across the map. In marriage-because their partner doesn’t do what they want. In life–often times because of a lack of having the financial resources they want.
I have found the antitdote to discontent is to really start counting ALL your blessings, and giving praise and thanks to God. It’s hard to be discontented when you focus on all He has done for us and the many ways He continues to bless us.
Comment by Vern — February 28, 2011 @ 11:36 am
I would say lack of trust that God has His best planned for me leads me to discontentment.
Among my friends, it tends to be a relational discontent: “I don’t have as good of friends as I would like” or “I’m still single” or “Marriage isn’t what I thought it would be.”
I would suggest he or she figures out what is at the root of the dicontentment. Is it a lack of trust? Is it unrealistic expectations? What is it?
Comment by Mel — February 28, 2011 @ 11:37 am
Dear Greg, To me the most essential element in accomplishing contentment is the realization that God has provided EVERYTHING I need. Notice I said NEED…..we only get what we want (our heart’s desires : Psalms37:3-4) Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.) when it is God willing to provide it for us. We have to align ourselves with His Will. Thy Will Be Done, Lord.
Comment by Christine Lawson — February 28, 2011 @ 11:38 am
it seems to be that discontentment stems from an “I” problem. ” I don’t have what I need, I don’t see results when I want it,I can’t do it, or I can’t do anything about it”.
People are discontent about government, their lives, their choices, spouses, ….anything and everything. I had a greeting card one time that said “Life is just a chair of bowlies” and for some reason that stuck with me. Might as well laugh and then give it to God and march on knowing He never lets us down.
Comment by suzanne owens — February 28, 2011 @ 11:41 am
What causes discontentment?
A desire for something that you do not have. This is the reason everyone has the potential to be discontent because there is always something else you don’t have.
What are people that you know discontented about?
Number 1 is Money, Number 2 is relationships or lack there of
What advice would you give to someone struggling with contentment?
Contentment is a learned behavior just like running is good for you body, contentment is a discipline that is good for your mind, it will give you peace, and if I were guessing, it will make you live longer because it will reduce stress in your life.
Comment by Nathan Halydier — February 28, 2011 @ 11:41 am
I think discontentment is more of a perspective than an actual condition. If you constantly try to focus on the positive and how you can make the situation better you will see the glass as half full. I recently struggled with a very unpleasant situation in my office and I focused daily on my drive in to work on the fact that I owned my day and it was my choice to be pulled down into my coworkers unhappiness or to choose joy. I chose joy each day until the situation resolved itself. I defer to a message you preached years ago-fake it til you make it. I apply it to many aspects of my life. Thanks! Good luck with your message.
Comment by Trudy Eyrich — February 28, 2011 @ 11:42 am
What causes discontentment: lack of eternal perspective [trying to find happiness on earth - job, spouse, children, material possesions, social status (kind of reminds me of movie social network, and the founder of facebook guy that was obsessed with getting into that club)]
What are people that you know discontented about: singleness, infertility, career, identity (who am i? wanting a big important purspose)
What advice would you give to someone struggling with contentment: keep seeking the kingdom, study what your identity is. (i used to have MAJOR contentment issues. can’t even remember what the formula was to get to a more content place. seems it was a process for me, and some of my breakthoughs have been those complete surrender of what i wanted versus just wanting what God wants for me not only in my head, but my heart/soul.
Comment by Pricilla Svendsen — February 28, 2011 @ 11:43 am
Discontentment arises from wanting more..whether it be more money, better job, nicer body, more love, better health etc.
There is nothing wrong with “wanting” more, it is when you live for the future instead of savoring and appreciating the present where the discontent lies. I think planning for that “want” is perfectly acceptable, it is living for that day instead of the present where we lose our contentment.
Comment by Raisa Berriz — February 28, 2011 @ 11:43 am
What causes discontentment?
Destination disease. When people are all about “getting there” they miss the truth that God and his blessings are all around them.
What are people that you know discontented about?
Their job. Their place in life. Their marriage. Their relationships. Their finances.
What advice would you give to someone struggling with contentment?
It’s all about perspective. What one person sees as a problem another sees as an opportunity. Seek God through his word and prayer passionately to see that you have so much more in front of you than you realize.
Comment by Chris Russo — February 28, 2011 @ 11:45 am
BTW, my church is in the middle of such a series, it is called “Joy”. You can listen or read here: http://www.fairfaxcommunity.net/
Comment by Raisa Berriz — February 28, 2011 @ 11:45 am
What causes discontentment? – First I think Spiritual maturity has much to do with it…and let’s face it, none of us are “there” yet. But the more faith you have that God hasn’t stopped thinking about you, the more you content you can be that He’s working things out for your best. (Romans 8-28…my favorite!)
What are people discontented about? – money, relationships, health, God’s timing.
What advice? – Do what you “reasonably” can to change the situation you are in and then just relax and go with the flow. Stop complaining. Allow God to do His thing. He hasn’t forgotton what you went through yesterday, He knows what you will go through today and has plans for your tomorrow.
Comment by Kathy Baxley — February 28, 2011 @ 11:46 am
Big cause of discontentment is lack of gratitude. The what I don’t haves (power, position, possessions, praise) than what I do have. Even in the middle of our season of poverty we can find things to be thankful for. Several studies have shown the most contented, happy people are those who are grateful.
Comment by Terry — February 28, 2011 @ 11:47 am
For non-Christians, discontentment has a lot to do with not having what they think they need/deserve. Whether it’s a job, a car, a house, a certain amount of pay, a relationship–there is always more to have.
For Christians, discontentment comes from the same root, but it is linked to the feeling that God isn’t on the same page as we are. So we want to get married, and that’s a good desire. But because we aren’t willing to get on God’s schedule, that good desire suddenly becomes a source of discontent.
People I know are discontented by their job, their standard of living, their future, politics, etc.
I would ask them what they think they need to be content, and sort of prod them to really think about whether those things would solve their problems. The things we think we need aren’t what we really need.
Comment by Jack III — February 28, 2011 @ 11:47 am
Discontentment is often caused by lack of work that seems to have a meaningful purpose. It can also be caused by loneliness, and the lack of close family and friends. It can also be caused by too much work and not enough play.
Discontentment is often lifted by meaningful work that suits a person. Real joy often replaces discontentment when the purpose of our work is to serve others, as in mission trips for instance. Becoming part of a group of loving friends, essentially a family, would be the second part of my prescription for lifting discontentment. The third would be to have something you do each day that fills your cup, or brings you joy. If you do not fill your own cup, you have nothing to spill out onto others. In short, do work you love that helps others, and hopefully do it with people you love, and play a little bit each day.
Comment by Robert Williams — February 28, 2011 @ 11:48 am
I would say discontentment is generally circumstantial. Being bored with where you are. Comparing your situation with others and thinking they have it better. The bible says to be content no matter what the circumstance, which I would consider an action. We are not naturally content beings, we have to work at it. Focus on things in your life that you can be grateful for. And the older I get the more I know that no matter what we think of other people, things never are as good as they appear to be. We ALL have our struggles. And most importantly, keeping a good sense of humor is key.
Comment by Chelle Fazal — February 28, 2011 @ 11:48 am
I believe James 4:1-2, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?… You covet what you do not want, so you quarrel and fight….” can be applied to a negative view of discontentment. We have internal struggles with what we know we should be pursuing and what our flesh pursues.
But I also believe there can be a positive view of discontentment. Bill Hybels called this “Holy Discontent.”
People can be discontent with their work/marriage/relationships/life because they desire to be recognized and rewarded but feel anoymous and abandoned. This type of discontent often results in changing companies/spouses/friends/lives because it seeks to solve the problem externally. This results in a change in geography, but no matter where you go, you take yourself with you.
Spiritual discontent move you to find your identity and belonging in Christ, so that your desires for your work/marriage/etc. aren’t selfish but God-focused and other-focused.
Content with circumstances is important, but discontent is also a powerful motivator for change.
Comment by Priscilla — February 28, 2011 @ 11:50 am
What causes discontentment?
-Trying to fill the God shaped hole with eartly things such as FOOD, FLAT SCREENS and FLAT ABS! Of course this leads to the FLAT LINE!
What are people that you know discontented about?
-Where they work, the way they look, how much money they have, and their purpose in life.
What advice would you give to someone struggling with contentment?
-Make one decision to follow Jesus’ plan, then allow him to make the decisions for you. He knows what will make you feel content.
Comment by Craig Burden — February 28, 2011 @ 11:54 am
Discontentment is the result of not having a positive attitude and focused on the blessings God has given us. Pride and wants often work into our thought process. From my leadership bible: Paul teaches that attitude has little to do with circumstances; attitudes can be change just like circumstances; attitudes can be improved, if we learn the secret; and attitudes have the source for their strength.
Simply stated, some people are discontent in the actions they took to get them in their present situation …health, career, family, etc. Their attitude is focused on what is wrong rather than what is good and their bleessings.
Best advice I could give is to step back from their situation … quite time with God to listen and go back to His word. One last thing … turn of the news/negativity.
Comment by Bill Hann — February 28, 2011 @ 11:58 am
I think understanding the nature of our “identity” is the key—who we really are. The King of the universe tells me who I am—His beloved child, His vital representative! Anything less is a lie and will always feel incomplete and leave me unsettled.
Comment by tim bergren — February 28, 2011 @ 11:59 am
It’s not a new concept that a lot of our discontentment comes from coveting. However, I had a huge “eye-opener” about coveting from the movie The Silence of the Lambs, of all things! Hanibal Lecter asks Clarice “What do we covet?” She answers “We covet what we see.” It made me wonder if we change what we see, will we change our coveting and in turn will our discontent be greatly diminished.
The answer is yes and I know this because of 4 little letters: HGTV!! I am a huge fan of design and have always loved spending my down time watching the endless shows about it. Recently, because of finances, we had to cancel cable and there went my HGTV watching. I found that I did not covet the different things in my home like I had so much before. When the coveting went away because I wasn’t seeing the things we “needed” so regularly, my discontentment with what I already had also went away. I was much more content with the state of my house. It feels great!
I would never wish to be blind, but I wonder if blind people are more content over seeing people, maybe not happier, but more content with what they have. They aren’t constantly bombarded with pictures of all the things they “need”. Just a thought.
Comment by Jennifer Tubbiolo — February 28, 2011 @ 12:02 pm
What causes discontentment? A lot of us get preoccupied with the one thing or the next thing that we don’t have.
What are people that you know discontented about?
There is always going to be something to be unhappy (or happy) about. Because people don’t focus on what’s going right in their life, they gravitate to what’s going wrong.
What advice would you give to someone struggling with contentment? The reason that a lot of us fail is we treat our minds like a trash bin. Instead of holding on to our good experiences we are throwing them away. We must purposely remember the good things that God has given us and treasure them (see Psalms 103:2)… http://u-seek.blogspot.com/2009/01/letting-go-of-painful-experiences.html
Comment by Milton Dennis — February 28, 2011 @ 12:04 pm
This is going to start off a little random. I have tea bags that for some reason has a quote on each tab. Friday morning, it said ‘Grace brings contentment.’ Its been coming back to me all weekend.
With out accepting the grace of God and remembering it daily, discontentment sets in. When that grace isn’t lived out to others (and yourself) everything will bring you discontentment. When you live life with grace, accept the grace from God, you live in a life that is full of contentment because you are focused on the big picture.
Comment by Tiffany Pate — February 28, 2011 @ 12:05 pm
I think people who are always looking to the past with regret are a good example being discontented. They wallow in the misery of “should haves” instead of looking for toward to the prize before them.
Comment by Keith Underwood — February 28, 2011 @ 12:06 pm
Sometimes discontent arises from difficulties, struggles, suffering. We’ve prayed that God would guide our steps in a big decision and things don’t end happily. We tend to think either that we must’ve done something wrong without realizing it or that God is being unfair or unloving. Ironically, the difficulties are sometimes the answer. We pray, “Lord, help me grow more like your Son” and then are surprised when things get harder. There’s a quote by the 19th century pastor Phillips Brooks that I’ve always liked: “Do not pray for an easier life; pray to be a stronger man. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers, but pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle, and you shall wonder every day at the richness of the life God has given you.”
Comment by Jack — February 28, 2011 @ 12:07 pm
What causes discontentment?
A worldview that says ‘my world is THE world.’ We see people who have more because we live in a rich part of the world. We feel like ‘they’ are rich but we are not. We want more.
What are people that you know discontented about?
3 Caterories: Stuff | Relationships | Vocations
What advice would you give to someone struggling with contentment?
http://bible.us/1Tim6.17.NLT , verses 17-19. Quit trusting in stuff, relationships and vocations. Trust in God. And then be rich in good deeds. Then, you will find life that is really life.
Comment by matt — February 28, 2011 @ 12:07 pm
Causes:
1. Lack of focus: we can work very hard, appearing as if (and thinking we are) busy, when what we’re actually doing is floating around without focus. “Sometimes the big picture just looks too big. We need to break down our tasks into little pieces and do one step at a time. Who can take two steps at a time, anyway?” -Women who Do Too Much Calendar
2. Failure to complete a task before starting a new one. “Mankind, left free, instinctively complicates life.” –Katherine Fullerton Gerould
3. Not loving yourself enough, which allows others to minimize your worth. Respect ourselves, so we are respected.
4. Not secure enough to take a risk in reaching for a goal. (Career change at 50 requires going back for education.)
5. Forgetting to consult with God daily.
Discontented with:
1. Marriage
2. Career
3. Balance in life
4. Hurt in relationships
5. change in lifestyle (age related illnesses)
Advice:
1. My small prayer posse challenges each other to list 10 things we’re thankful for. It isn’t done every day, but it is done when stinking thinking or hard times creep in. They can be very small on challenging days: brushed teeth, ate breakfast, got dressed, etc.; and can be large: listing a huge Godwink, sun came out, talked with sister, etc. The point is to list 10 things as quickly as you can, to turn around negative thinking.
2. If you’re afraid to step out and try something, list the “worst case scenario”. It helps to see it written. Ex: I want to take a course in something. Fear: time, money, subject, etc Working through the fear list prioritizes the steps to success. Does that make sense? For each fear, ask yourself: “What’s the worst thing that can happen?” One by one, you whittle them down.
Comment by Holly — February 28, 2011 @ 12:09 pm
Confusing wants with needs
Comment by Brian — February 28, 2011 @ 12:09 pm
Causes – expecatations not being met
About – Job, Relationships
Advice – Focus on self, Let Go and Let God, Know that we are all poweless over anyone else
Comment by Judy Morast-Morin — February 28, 2011 @ 12:15 pm
Discontentment comes when we feel we are not in control of things going the way we want them to go.
People are discontented about where they live (house/neighborhood) the car they drive, the money they make (or rather don’t make) being single/married…
My advice would be to count your blessings! Be Thankful for what you do have, and don’t take anything for granted.
Comment by Scott — February 28, 2011 @ 12:23 pm
I think most times our discontent is from the Holy Spirit, it is His gentle nudge to seek Him. In our discontent we should be asking questions- “God is there a purpose you have that I am not fulfilling” “is there a behavior in my life that is not honoring to you or others” “Are you redirecting me” ” Am i trusting you”
Comment by Phil Strange — February 28, 2011 @ 12:28 pm
What causes discontentment? While this may not be a ’cause’ at times boredom can be a trigger-in that as soon as you have too much time on your hands, one may feel like they have too little/not enough of something whether it be materialistic in nature or relational or something to do with feeling a deeper ‘purpose’. But on the other hand there is such a thing as a ‘holy discontentment’ which can be good.
What are people that you know discontented about? relationships, connectedness, various ‘wants’, income, jobs, lacking the belief of having a deeper ‘purpose’, being out of sorts with God…
What advice would you give to someone struggling with contentment? I would try to let them know that it’s normal to feel discontent from time to time and it can even be a good thing at times (feeling discontent with the amount of appreciation you are giving your spouse, ‘holy discontentment’, etc…). While it can be a good thing it can also be bad if we let it so I would caution them against that. If this was someone walking through a season and they needed someone that could walk with them through it-that would also be something to think about as opposed to a ‘one and done’ sort of meeting…
Comment by J. — February 28, 2011 @ 12:28 pm
There are some great posts, but one thing I see missing is this word “searching”. I think many people by nature are searchers. We make a life out of it. We are searching for something better. Isn’t that at the core of the “American Dream.” Why do people come to The US…seeking a better way of life.
It is ingrained into us that we should seek something better out of our lives. We need discontentment, but it needs to be funneled to the right place. To tell searchers to not have discontentment is to miss the point. We need to shift discontentment into the areas of divine discontent.
Paul basically says that he is content in all earthly things, but he is discontent in His walk with Christ. “Forgetting what is behind, I press on”…that is not eh statement of someone content in his walk with Christ.
Maybe the question is what happens when we shift discontentment from the physical world to the spiritual world.
Comment by Alan — February 28, 2011 @ 12:36 pm
What causes discontentment?
-Discontentment comes from when we do not get our ways or seek satisfaction in a situation. We are not joyous; something is missing that would change it to contentment, content is what Paul was when he wrote this book.
What are people that you know discontented about?
-School, work, I would say big picture things because it’s easier to grasp and relate to those rather than the little things that have more of a concrete meaning. If we look at the small things first we would find contentment and have the ability to change the discontentment for the larger things. Ultimately, if we stop seeking ourselves and the self-righteous people we are, and seek the Kingdom of God; He will take away the “dis” away and we will be like Paul and be content in our lives.
What advice would you give to someone struggling with contentment?
-Encourage and listen to someone and maybe you can help them out with their struggle, but I feel like we get a bit caught up with things and overwhelm ourselves a lot so having someone there for prayer and to help them write out what is holding them back from contentment, and seeking Jesus is the important factor. Getting absorbed by the world and the norm that it places on us we get discouraged by it and we need to turn away and access our struggles and find ways to end them to be content and blessed with what is in front of us.
Comment by William Cochran — February 28, 2011 @ 12:39 pm
Q: What causes discontentment?
A: Comparisons/Coveting – wanting what others have
A: Entitlements/Rights – believing you deserve better
Q: What are people that you know discontented about?
A: Money/Possessions, Leisure Time, Justice/Fairness, Relationships/Love/Respect, Freedom, Control.
What advice would you give to someone struggling with contentment?
Be thankful for what you have. Someone always has a worse situation than yours. Don’t demand what you want or what you think you deserve. Do your best in doing the right things on your part, because that is the most you will ever “control”. Pray respectfully to God and count on Him and His plans, for ultimately the best outcomes for good.
Comment by James Miller — February 28, 2011 @ 12:51 pm
What causes discontentment?
• Our inability to embrace our whole story; to understand imperfections in ourselves and others
• Our unwillingness to face the consequences of our sin
• Short range thinking vs. kingdom thinking
• Isolation
What are people you know discontented about?
• Relationships (spouses, children, sons and daughters in-laws, relatives and friends)
• Material things
• Finances
• Careers
• God’s answers and timing regarding their prayers
• Health issues
What advice would you give to someone struggling with contentment?
I encourage people to live from a sense of “wholeheartedness”, to live from a deep sense of worthiness, to live courageously.
The original definition of courage was to tell your story with your whole heart. Courageous people learn that they have been imprinted by a holy and righteous God. So these people simply have the courage to live in the identity that He has given them. They have the compassion to be kind to themselves first, then to others. They understand that you can’t practice contentment with others, if you aren’t content with yourself.
Individuals who have a strong sense of worthiness most often live with a strong sense of connection. They are willing to let go of who they think they should be in order to be who they are. You can’t be connected unless you are willing to do that.
Comment by Jerry McSwain — February 28, 2011 @ 12:52 pm
1. discontemtness is most often caused by not being thankful for what God has done for you – instead focusing on what he has not done
2. Most the people I know are discontent with something momentary such as finances, relationships or jobs
3. My advise to someone who is not content is to recall my personal story of infertility. For almost 6 years we struggled to get pregnant. Most of that time my focus was on that. It was when God showed me that I was not content with just him that I had to repent. Once I truly became content with him….I was pregnant 2 months later.
Comment by carrie thompson — February 28, 2011 @ 12:57 pm
My discontent comes from my own inability to do the right thing, over and over again. I am impatient, judgemental and controlling. Every day I ask God for help. Every day I repent. Every day I fall short!
Comment by Mary — February 28, 2011 @ 12:59 pm
1. lack of eternal perspective, lack of the filling of the HS, and idols.
2. life’s circumstances (jobs, singleness, losing football team, too little money).
3. it’s super hard and a continual struggle for me and other Christians, but God and His glory HAS to be the centerpiece of our existence. We have to come to a point when we say, “I’m find with not having __________________ (fill in the blank), because I have Jesus. one has to pray and fight for this. it won’t just come by striving, nor will it typically come by not striving. In the meantime, Remember Romans 8:1
Comment by joey svendsen — February 28, 2011 @ 12:59 pm
I’ve noticed that most discontent comes from “I want what THEY have!”. When we measure ourselves against other people, we’ll always find someone who has more than we do, and that can lead to a feeling of being “cheated”.
On the other hand, I’ve known people who believe that we’re SUPPOSED to be discontented, that contentment leads to laziness and a lack of ambition. I don’t remember who said “Always be content, never be satisfied”, but I like it!
Comment by Sue — February 28, 2011 @ 1:01 pm
1. Focusing on what yo don’t have, rather than what you do have causes discontentment.
2. People seems discontented about how they are ‘mis’treated and that they don’t have the ‘FILL IN THE BLANK’ they want and deserve.
3. Advice: Make a list of what you have that you love or enjoy. Include people, things, skills, and opportunities. Keep it handy and refer to it often. Include the ‘only God could have worked that out’ way you got most of it. If all else fails, cut your leg off with a dull, rusty saw; then you can be discontent!
Comment by Christy Bauer — February 28, 2011 @ 1:19 pm
1. Sound spiritual advice by some wise folks after reading the posts
2. Career, their unknown worldly future (believer or not_)— I’m I meeting or exceeding my own expectations of my lofw
Comment by david miles — February 28, 2011 @ 1:20 pm
Correction:
2: Am I meeting or exceeding my own expectations of my life?
3: Contentment: A banana pudding milkshake from Chick-Fil-A in my hand on a walk with my bride!
Comment by david miles — February 28, 2011 @ 1:27 pm
Living outside of Gods purpose
Comment by scott nalley — February 28, 2011 @ 1:47 pm
Great feedback gang!
Thx
Comment by Gregsur — February 28, 2011 @ 2:21 pm
What causes discontentment? Comparison. We look at what others have, be it a bigger house or a newer car. We don’t THANK GOD for what we have.
Comment by Alan — February 28, 2011 @ 2:38 pm
It is a heart issue…we get caught up in our selfish desires and the craving for what we think we want does not truly satisfy our needs…if Jesus is not Lord how can anyone be content with their situation and themselves.
Discontented with Life, thier job, their marriage, their family, their circumstances, their finances.
Come to the understanding and knowledge that the Lord truly wants to have a relationship with them. He hungers to make them whole and free from any hurt and pain that they have suffered. That He wants their whole heart and desires to place within each of us His nature and character to where “He would continue to increase and we would decrease”
Bringing us to a place of total dependence and encouragement in Him no matter what storm we are facing…
Comment by Michael Morris — February 28, 2011 @ 2:45 pm
Curves balls & storms catch people off guard and cause discontentment.
Some of my friends are discontent because of being blindsided by storms and investing so much into material and earthly things that leads to them overstretching their resources.
My advise is for these people to feel God’s presence through any situation, be faithful to God, and ride through all storms with God.
Comment by JL — February 28, 2011 @ 2:48 pm
For me, discontentment is often predicated by a distaste for something going on in my life or affecting my life. BUT, at the same time, the discontentment rears it’s head more prevalently in a negative way when I fail to find the peace, calm and love in what my God has provided or what He is doing.
Additionally, there is dicontent in not living up to what I think God is trying to get me to do, or up to standards that God may hold for me. That can also be said for finding dicontentment in humanity and relationships.
I think money, lifestyle, relationships, walk with God, infertility/growing a family, all can lead us into discontentment.
I think there is a degree of discontentment that is healthy and for me that is in the need to strive to be a better Christian woman, wife, mother, friend… for if I am content I may miss out on an opportunity or a gift from others.
Comment by Renee Eubanks — February 28, 2011 @ 2:53 pm
A few personal quotes and others noted before I expound on the questions posed:
True contentment is found in wanting what you have, not the pursuit of having what you want – you will always, ALWAYS, want more.
The only true NEED we have is God, with Him nothing else exists or sustains apart from Him.
John Piper said “Self, no matter how glorious, can never satisfy a heart made for God.”
My take on the questions with a little extra insight:
From my personal journey, I have come to understand that once you know God, nothing will ever satisfy you. More importantly – once you fall in love with God, from that point forward you can not love anything else. Anything you have love for is loved through the overflow of His abundant love for us. This is how we get to a place where we can truly say “He is enough,” and “He is everything”.
Discontentment is a permanent condition of the heart due to the separation from God. People claim to be content without God, but in reality, there is always something missing and most admit it when the question is presented properly.
People I know struggle with discontentment because they have not come to identify themselves in Christ. Our identity found in anything or anywhere else is going to disappoint. We are broken and yet God has made us whole.
My advice is always to seek God and where does He rank in their life. It is far easier said than done. I believe we, as pastors/leaders, have failed many Christians in trying to clean up the Gospel and trying to make it more ‘user friendly’. We have a lot of people in the pew who think this is it, God loves me and wants me and that is it. No He created us to worship Him, He wants all of us, our entire existence to glorify Him in all that we do. His value is far greater than any and all we can give, but that does not change that we are to give Him everything. Anything less is going to lead to discontentment. He promised us an abundant life, nothing else can give more abundantly than He who is THE abundant – (present in great quantity; more than adequate; OVERSUFFICIENT.)
I hope this helps, think I may have found my next sermon series lol.
He.is.enough,
Greg
Comment by Greg MacMillan — February 28, 2011 @ 3:18 pm
1. lack of substance resulting in emptiness
2. job, relationships, life
3. contentment is a secret, that secret is Jesus Christ: Philippians 4:12-13
Comment by Timothy Krause — February 28, 2011 @ 3:44 pm
I think discontentment can cause great things to happen; it can also lead to ruin. It all depends on what you are discontent with and how you seek contentment.
What causes discontentment? unthankfulness, pain, jealousy, envy, covetousness, too much time on your hands, ignorance
What are people that you know discontented about? marriage, relationships, job, possessions, accomplishments
What advice would you give to someone struggling with contentment? Once our basic needs are met, everything else is a “want”. Realizing that everything comes with a cost is an important factor in finding contentment with what you have. The cost of something isn’t always money; more often, the cost is time, energy, worry, happiness, harmed relationships, or missed opportunities. Weighing the potential costs vs benefits before acting can improve contentment. The greener grass needs mowing more often–it’s important to know that.
Comment by SandyM — February 28, 2011 @ 3:57 pm
discontentment caused by boredom and wanting.
discontent with material things (house, car, land)
adivce: look at any other country in the world and count your blessings….running water, opportunities, health (or at least health care opportunities available), freedom to worship and believe, a roof over your head….any roof is better than a cardboard shack!
Comment by Erin — February 28, 2011 @ 4:31 pm
What causes discontentment? A lack of perspective (God’s perspective) can cause discontentment. Also, materialism/greed can creep in a cause discontentment as well.
What are people that I know discontented about? Usually the feelings of discontent seem to come out of a dissatisfaction for where that person is, or is not, in life (i.e. better car, bigger house, better job, more money, being married, being more happily married, etc.).
What advice would I give to someone struggling with contentment? I would say that praying for perspective is a great start, but also, I think when we try to evaluate ourselves or our lives based on what WE think then we are setting ourself up for disappointment. Seeing our life through God’s plan is a sure way to find contentment and peace.
Comment by Brock McGarity — February 28, 2011 @ 4:33 pm
Discontentment is the inability to exist solely in the present. We are either focused on past mistakes, regrets etc. or on the next big thing that we think will bring us happiness. Being present and enjoying what is actually happening now would create true contentment.
Most people I know who are discontent feel like they are never “where they should be in life” whether that means that they made wrong choices and focus on the what if, or just haven’t succeeded in a life area.
I believe it is much easier said than done on how to be content. Making time for pausing helps. Pausing to watch a child playing, pausing to pet an animal, pausing to watch a sunset, pausing to give a hug, pausing to pray…all of those “pauses” temporarily give the person the ability to be in the present. The more pauses, the more contentment they receive.
Comment by Caroline LeBoeuf — February 28, 2011 @ 5:12 pm
Another brief note I forgot to add earlier…
Placing our trust in anything or anyone aside from God, will always produce disappointment. (AKA Discontentment)
Putting your trust in God in all things will always produce satisfaction. (AKA Contentment)
Comment by Greg MacMillan — February 28, 2011 @ 6:01 pm
Discontentment comes from trying to fill your life with things that will always fail you: love (other than God) (incl. spouses!), shopping, school (success with grades), attention, food, etc.
Advice I would give: first, realize what you are trying to fill your life with that creates discontentment. Write them all down and post it somewhere where you will see it everyday. Pray and ask God to help you to fcus on Him instead of looking for contentment in things on you list.
Comment by Ally MacDonald — February 28, 2011 @ 8:09 pm
Well, I think the answer will be found in the words of U2, because “they still haven’t found what they are looking for”. I think it is human nature to want something, to yearn for something, and we are programmed for that something to be Jesus. However, we willingly search for other things hoping that it will be “the one thing” that lacks from our lives- the one thing that brings happiness. Let’s face it, we are way to smart to buy into this whole God thing. The Bible isn’t really applicable to our lives, right? So we search for something to meet the need. There are lots of ways of doing this, but when I read your question, I thought immediately of Augustine (yes, the Augustine). When he was a young lad, he too was restless, discontented, and he was brought up under Christian values. He found the scriptures “too absurd” to buy into Jesus, so he went through a variety of things ( a concubine, who had a son), various different religions (such as magic, and a cult sect that would later prove to be heretical). He studied philosophy, but nothing satisfied him. I mean, his career was going ok. He started out as a teacher in a small town in Africa, went to Rome, established a reputation, and some friends got him a gig in the imperial seat of Milan to teach rhetoric. Professional curiosity had him listen to Ambrose, a great preacher, speak. He explained how the scriptures should be interpreted. There was more there than Augustine first thought. He found himself interested. His soul was disquieted. He was ready for his God moment, which came in his garden when he was weeping. He cried out in pain, and he heard a voice sing a song, in Latin (the language of scholars, no less) to pick up a book and read it. He picked the only book there, on the life of Paul, and his answer was found in the verses that he read. He returned to North Africa, and in time he would find such satisfaction that he would write some of the great books of antiquity, the City of God, and Confessions. I read an interesting book about this and other lives of the early church fathers called “Getting to Know the Church Fathers” by Bryan Litfin. Would make an interesting series, O Senior Pastor. I hope my thoughts helped. Have a blessed day.
Comment by Arnold Wagner — February 28, 2011 @ 8:27 pm
I think we become discontent when we lose our measuring stick. Everything taught by Jesus (the Kingdom of God) should be how we measure when feeling discontent. That puts it all back in perspective.
Comment by Laurie Papagoda — March 1, 2011 @ 7:43 am
I think discontentment is caused by sin and it’s different for everyone.
Comment by Kathy McGraw — March 1, 2011 @ 9:05 am
I think a lot of discontentment could be avoided if we would just look at what we do have instead of what we don’t. I was dealing with this recently and it really helped me to take a step back and say, wait a minute, look what God HAS done for me, and given me, and thank Him for it. We can also look at others who aren’t as fortunate as we are, have more serious problems, etc., and realize how spoiled we are to be discontented about our lives.
Comment by Libby — March 1, 2011 @ 11:17 am
1) I find that trying to live ‘more than’ just one day at a time and not spending each day moment by moment in the presence of Jesus connecting with his heart leads to discontentment.
2) The American Dream, a career, a relationship, finaces, being alone
3) Find a quiet place and get alone, be still and open in your heart before Jesus, ask the holy spirit to come, and then talk with him. Then listen to what He might have to say.
Comment by Marshall Kirkman — March 1, 2011 @ 11:58 am
Question 1 response; Fear of the unknown.
Question 2: Areas of their life in which they feel threatened.
Question 3: Trut in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths.
Greg, your sermon “there is no we in they” was very enlightening and confirmed my understandings; however, I would also like to see you speak from the other perspective. What should you do if you know your leaders are wrong and heading down the wrong path. Enron, worldcom, Jim Jones, etc.
Comment by Greg Isley — March 1, 2011 @ 12:51 pm
What causes discontentment? – Comparison, either with others or with your idea of where else you SHOULD be right now.
What are people that you know discontented about? – Their stage in life (singleness mostly) or where they feel they are in terms of spiritual maturity.
What advice would you give to someone struggling with contentment? God loves you exactly where you are TODAY.
Comment by Sarah Gadol — March 2, 2011 @ 2:41 pm