{"id":20102,"date":"2020-02-20T10:39:02","date_gmt":"2020-02-20T16:39:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=20102"},"modified":"2020-02-20T10:39:02","modified_gmt":"2020-02-20T16:39:02","slug":"learning-the-secret-of-contentment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/learning-the-secret-of-contentment\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning the Secret of Contentment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t

by Ken Green<\/p>\n

\u201cNot that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content<\/em>\u201d (Philippians 4:11, ESV).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"Do you find contentment to be elusive? Be encouraged. Even the apostle Paul realized being content was something he had to learn. If Paul had to pursue contentment, let\u2019s acknowledge our need to also work on it.<\/p>\n

In our greedy culture, genuine contentment is rare. But while we may not have everything we want, nothing can guard our joy like knowing we have everything we need. To learn biblical contentment that endures \u201cin whatever situation,\u201d learn these three choices:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Seek it.<\/strong> Seek contentment as a lifestyle. Choose it. Acknowledge that you would not be happier if you had more. You might be more miserable. God\u2019s word contains clear warnings for us. Think about the camel and the needle (Mark 10:25). Read I Timothy 6:9. More does not equal happier!<\/li>\n
  2. Say it.<\/strong> \u201cI have enough.\u201d Let those words ring through your mind and home. Push yourself back from the table early and say, \u201cI\u2019ve had enough.\u201d When you have enough: food, money, things, resist the cravings for more. Follow the words \u201cI have enough\u201d with the prayer: \u201cLord, how can I use this for You?\u201d<\/li>\n
  3. Settle it.<\/strong> Psalms 62:10 advises us, \u201cIf riches increase, set not your heart on them.<\/em>\u201d We should choose a lifestyle; don\u2019t let your income dictate your lifestyle. Identify a comfortable level of living that meets your needs, and do not compromise it if more income arrives. If we don\u2019t choose a lifestyle, this world will choose one for us and it will be one of living beyond our means. Be counter-cultural! Be radical! Choose a lifestyle that\u2019s biblically based; eternally focused; others-oriented.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Let enough be enough. Learn from the examples of those around you (both the contented and the covetous). We will save ourselves a world of hurt and know the joy of a truly contented attitude.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    by Ken Green \u201cNot that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content\u201d (Philippians 4:11, ESV). Do you find contentment to be elusive? Be encouraged. Even the apostle Paul realized being content was something he had to learn. If Paul had to pursue contentment,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[385,374],"class_list":["post-20102","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-contentment","tag-happiness"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":56527,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-secret-of-learning-to-be-content\/","url_meta":{"origin":20102,"position":0},"title":"The Secret of Learning to Be Content","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 4:10-14 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Paul faced many adversities during his life \u2013 more than most of us will see - II Corinthians 11:24-27 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What sort of person would you be with this sort of life? What attitudes would people notice first? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Bitter? Hardened? Depressed? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Yet, through\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":29136,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/jamaica-patois-wisdom-contentment\/","url_meta":{"origin":20102,"position":1},"title":"Jamaica Patois Wisdom – Contentment","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 29, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The Jamaican Patois dialect is colorful, unique and humorous. It is my desire to share some of the philosophy shown in this mix of colorful phrases that are witty as well as thought-provoking. I hope the readers both profit and enjoy. In my quarter-century plus of teaching there, I have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Jamacia2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Jamacia2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Jamacia2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Jamacia2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":88116,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/green-grass\/","url_meta":{"origin":20102,"position":2},"title":"Green Grass","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 25, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton It is a common problem with the human heart to fail to see the green grass we have and appreciate it. The heart can be conditioned over time to be unthankful and unappreciative of what we have. This outlook always sees greener grass elsewhere. This means\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/grass-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":33510,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-secret-of-contentment\/","url_meta":{"origin":20102,"position":3},"title":"The Secret of Contentment","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 22, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Kenneth W. Ledbetter Sentry Magazine, March 2001 I want to take a moment to pass along a realization that has helped me in times of great distress and personal trials ... found in the words of the apostle Paul. Paul said something in Philippians 4 that has always amazed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/contented-200x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":22442,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/rolling-with-the-punches\/","url_meta":{"origin":20102,"position":4},"title":"Rolling with the Punches","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 16, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer One thing about Christians in Scripture (ideally speaking) \u2014 they learned to roll with the punches no matter what was going on. If the government opposed them, they went with it and continued to glorify God. If things were going smoothly, they enjoyed the peace and they\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/dandelion-ease-flight-thumb.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8887,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/an-ideal-life\/","url_meta":{"origin":20102,"position":5},"title":"An Ideal Life","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 1, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 128 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We often speak of our longing for heaven, our home where the cares and troubles of this life will not exist. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We know that heaven is a blessing reserved for the followers of God, but all rewards for following God are not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20102","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20102"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20102\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20102"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20102"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20102"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}