Discontentment

Contentment doesn’t come easily, but we can learn how to be content. Paul learned to be content through all the troubles he went through (Philippians 4:11-13). He learned how to have almost nothing, and he also learned how to have a lot. He could be content in any situation because he knew that God was the only one he needed.

When we have God we can be content no matter what (Hebrews 13:5; 1 Timothy 6:6-7).

Contentment doesn’t come easily, though. It’s a lot easier sometimes to be discontent.

Satan was originally a good angel, but he became discontent. He wanted more. He wanted to be like God and have more power and glory. Discontentment caused this powerful angel to rebel against God.

Eve was in Paradise and could eat of any fruit she wanted. But she became discontent with these luscious fruits and wanted to eat the one fruit God told her not to eat. Discontentment caused her to eat this fruit and fall.

Discontentment comes in when we think God has made a mistake. “He’s not giving me what I need. He’s not working in my life. He’s not being good to me. I’m missing out. I know a better way.”

Discontentment is a sign of being in the flesh. The flesh is always discontent because it is not subject to God (Romans 8:7-8). The flesh is not conformed to God’s word and therefore gets uncomfortable with God’s way. The flesh thinks God’s word is too hard, strict, unfair, or unreasonable.

The flesh is never satisfied. The Bible says the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear with hearing (Ecclesiastes 1:8). No matter how much the flesh sees or hears, it is never satisfied. It always wants more. A person who wants money will never be satisfied with the amount of money he gets (Ecclesiastes 5:10). This is why the flesh is full of envy and jealousy. 

The flesh must not be coddled, it must be crucified.

We need to put off the old man and put on the new man. We need to walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh.

In the wilderness, Israel was discontent. They didn’t like God’s provision, they didn’t like the way he led them, and they ended up not even liking God. Discontentment had so warped them that they thought God and Moses wanted to kill them.

When we go through hard circumstances we can become discontent. God may be teaching us and training us, but we don’t like it. Even though this is a sign of God’s love and mercy, we fight against God. We resist his way and refuse to yield. When we don’t like God’s instructions, we can become discontent. We may believe that we know better than God. 

Discontentment leads to complaining. “God isn’t being nice. His word is wrong. His leading doesn’t make sense. His people are wrong, they have bad intentions.” Complaining starts out with negative thoughts, but then it is vocalized. Venting emotions often comes from discontentment. The power of life and death is in the tongue, and complaining releases death.

Complaints spread like leaven. Murmuring is the Old Testament word for complaining. Once complaining sets in it can be hard to stop. The Israelites complained in the wilderness. They complained to each other about lack of food. Then when God gave them food, they complained about the food. Through complaints they corrupted each other, turned against God, and ultimately died.

Discontentment causes hopelessness (Exodus 17:3). It can even lead to suicide (Numbers 14:2).

God is our only way of deliverance. We need him. When we have God, we need to see that we have all we need. 

Stop complaining. 

Stop feeding envy and greed.

Redirect complainers toward God.

Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18). There is always something to be thankful for.

Be a giver. It’s more blessed to give than receive (Acts 20:35).

Be willing to go through trouble in the flesh for the sake of a higher spiritual purpose.

As a person learns to be content with God, he will discover true rest and peace. And he will be able to move forward spiritually.