Intro: Contentment is a powerful and rare virtue that shapes how we live, trust God, and find peace. In today’s fast paced, consumer-driven world, we often equate happiness with having more. But biblical contentment is something deeper and enduring. Biblical contentment is a spiritual posture rooted in God’s sufficiency.
It is what you
Big Idea: Contentment is found in deep
1. What is contentment?
The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. —Proverbs 19:23
- a. Proverbs 19:23 uses the Hebrew word śāḇēaʿ, (שָׂבֵעַ) meaning “satisfied” or “full.” Root meaning: To be satiated or filled, often used in contexts of food or provision.
- b. The Greek word most commonly associated with contentment is autarkeia (αὐτάρκεια), meaning “self-sufficiency” or “adequacy.”
- c. Contentment is a
2. God is the root of our contentment (2 Corinthians 5:1-5)
1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened–not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. —2 Corinthians 5:1-5
- a. An eternal and heavenly perspective is essential for earthly contentment.
- b. “The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing” (Psalm 23:1)
- c. “I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)
True contentment begins when we acknowledge that
3. Contentment transcends circumstances (Philippians 4:11-13)
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. —Philippians 4:11-13
- a. Paul uses the related term autarkēs (αὐτάρκης), meaning “sufficient within oneself,” highlighting a learned state of inner peace regardless of external circumstances.
- b. Contentment is something learned.
- c. “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21)
- d. “Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses… For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor 12:9-10)
Contentment doesn’t
4. Contentment transcends wealth (1 Timothy 6:6-10)
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. —1 Timothy 6:6-10
- a. Autarkeia emphasizes a sense of sufficiency derived not from external possessions but from an inward state of trust in God.
- b. Contentment in scripture emphasizes sufficiency rooted in God’s presence, not material abundance.
- c. Contentment is not passive resignation but active trust in God.
Contentment is the art of knowing when to say, “
The deeper your relationship with God, the more you’ll say, “
Small Group Questions
What did God teach you through this passage and message? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.
What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind?
How would you define contentment in your own words? Can you recall a time when you felt truly content? What contributed to that feeling?
How can you discern between contentment and complacency in your spiritual journey?
In what ways has your relationship with God satisfied your deepest needs? Share stories of how you have experienced that “He is enough”.