Contentment is a rare and beautiful trait that truly distinguishes Christ’s followers from the world. In our society that promotes the relentless pursuit of fame, wealth, status, and more, a person who is satisfied with his lot stands out like a beacon of light.
Although the Bible does not list contentment as a fruit of the Spirit, it is nonetheless a precious virtue that all believers should strive to cultivate. Like many of you, I often find this characteristic challenging. Despite knowing that God doesn’t give us His second best and that His plans for me are perfect, I still struggle sometimes to be content with where I am.
My journey to overcome this besetting sin led me to delve into an in-depth study of Philippians a few years ago. This study proved to be a blessing, helping me choose joy and learn the divine art of contentment. However, like an unwanted guest, discontentment reared its ugly head again, compelling me to revisit and study contentment anew.
Therefore, over the next few months, I plan to write a tentative six-part series titled Cultivating Contentment. The series will explore different aspects of biblical contentment and how to cultivate it in our lives. This initial article in the series will begin with a definition of contentment.
Contentment in Greek
Content or contentment appears only a few times in the New Testament. In the ESV version, content appears six times (Luke 3:14, Phil 4:11, 2 Cor 12:10,1 Tim 6:8, Heb 13:5, and 3 Jn 1:10), while “contentment” only appears once (1 Tim 6:6). The Greek terms used in these verses are arkeo and autarkeia.
Arkeo means to suffice, to be satisfied, or to have enough. It appears eight times in the New Testament and is translated as content, enough, or sufficient. For example, it appears as enough in Jn 14:8 and Matt 25:9, sufficient in 2 Cor 12:9, and content in 1 Tim 6:8 and Heb 13:5.
Autarkeia means self-satisfaction or self-sufficiency. It is a composite of two Greek words: autos, which means oneself, and arkeo. Hence, it literally means to be sufficient in oneself. It is used as a noun in 1 Tim 6:6 and 2 Cor 9:8, which says, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” Autarkes, its adjective form, is used in Phil 4:11.
Scripture uses autarkeia to describe a believer’s self-sufficiency through God’s grace. It means “being satisfied because of living in God’s fullness.” It is having everything you need through God’s indwelling Spirit.
Arkeo and Autarkeia both express satisfaction in relying on God’s provision.
Contentment in Hebrew
In the ESV translation of the Old Testament, content appears only four times: Ex 2:21, Jdg 17:11, 2 Kgs 14:10, and Jsh 7:7. “Contentment” appears only once in Job 20:20. The Hebrew terms used in these verses are Yaal and Shalev.
Yaal means to yield, show willingness, or be pleased. It appears 19 times in the Old Testament, and where it is translated as content, willing, or pleased. For example, yaal describes Moses’s willingness and pleasure to dwell with the priest of Midian (Exodus 2:21).
Shalev means quiet, at ease, or peaceful. It appears eight times in the Old Testament (e.g., 1 Chr 4:40, Job 16:12, Job 20:20, Ps. 73:12, and Jer 49:31). Depending on the translation, it may appear as contentment, quiet, peaceful, carefree, or satisfied.
Putting it together
The Hebrew and Greek words for contentment encompass satisfaction, self-sufficiency, willingness, pleasure, and peacefulness. Hence, we can define biblical contentment as being satisfied with God’s provision. It is acknowledging God’s providential grace, finding it sufficient, and being pleased and at peace with it.
While the biblical definition of contentment aligns closely with secular definitions, there are subtle differences. Secular definitions often emphasize happiness and satisfaction derived from having everything one needs. For example, the Cambridge dictionary defines contentment as “happiness and satisfaction, often because you have everything you need.” The Webster’s dictionary defines it as “feeling or showing satisfaction with one’s possessions, status, or situation.” In both definitions, this inner satisfaction stems from being independent from other things.
In ancient times, Autarkeia described individuals who remained unmoved by external circumstances, deriving satisfaction from their self-sufficiency.
However, biblical contentment stems from dependence on God rather than self-sufficiency. It entails depending on God for everything, thus freeing believers from external conditions and allowing them to experience contentment regardless of their circumstances.
Therefore, my definition of biblical contentment is trusting and finding satisfaction in God’s providence, which results in pleasure and sufficiency regardless of one’s circumstances.
The Puritan Jeremiah Burroughs beautifully captures contentment in his classic work, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment. He describes it as “that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.”
Contentment is the product of the heart that is resting in God.
A.W Pink
As we continue to delve into the topic of contentment, it is essential to understand not only what it is but also what it is not. By exploring both aspects, we can better understand how to cultivate true contentment in our lives as believers. So, in the series’s next article, we will examine what contentment is not.
