CONTENTMENT AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY

When you aim to grow personally and achieve things in life, these are commendable goals.

But when you covet what someone else has or want to be just like them, you are entering into territory that’s forbidden by Scripture.

Contentment does not mean you should become complacent or settle for mediocrity and fail to achieve your God-given potential in life. Not at all! You are supposed to work to improve yourself, while at the same time remaining totally dependent on God (2 Corinthians 3:5).

Self-sufficiency means to be ‘sufficient in one’s self’ instead of putting your faith in God’s assistance. Contentment, on the other hand, is to know with certainty and firm conviction that God is able to meet your every need (Philippians 4:19).

When you understand that truth, you don’t have to covet anyone else’s position, property, possessions, or personality.

Why? Because you are assured that all you presently have, and all you are today, is more than enough in the hands of God to make you what you ought to be tomorrow.

Whatever you need to do to fulfil His will, you can do, not in your own strength but in the strength and power of Christ who dwells within your innermost being.

Covetousness comes to us all naturally, but contentment must be learned. Paul writes: ‘Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me’ (Philippians 4:11–13).