Contentment

In one sense, we should be content with everything we have, but in another sense we should continually long for the perfection to come. Our contentment today would be void without an eternal perfection waiting. This life is far from perfect, and often painful. That pain should remind of us sin, and that Jesus came to die, to free us from our sin that we may worship him eternally. So should you be content in this life? Yes and no. Yes, knowing God will always be with you to help you press on to the end. Yes, that your sins have been paid for. Yes, that you can experience samples and foreshadows of the perfect state to come in this life now. But no, you should not think that nothing could make you happier. You should know there is a better life that has yet to arrive. Without the hope to come, today would be meaningless, purposeless.

In times of struggles, don’t lie to yourself and think you need to put on a face of joy to show others that you continually rejoice, but cry in pain, knowing that God’s perfection in you has not been made complete. Remember who God is, and his ultimate promise to rescue you from your own sin and the sin of this world. Find contentment in that promise, while keeping perspective that life is still full of pain and struggles.

Some think that you should always find perfect contentment in this life. I would then argue that their hope is not in the gospel, but in the world. In Philippians 4 when Paul talks about his “secret of contentment” in all things, I believe he has perspective of the day to come in which he completes the race. He is content in the fact that God will get him through whatever trials he wishes to bring him through, but then at death finally his salvation will be made complete.


There is no hope today, without an eternal hope to come.