Contentment

con-tent-ment:

1. the state of being contented; satisfaction; ease of mind

2. something that contents

Another more realistic definition of contentment states:

"Something no one will really ever truly achieve. No matter how much they hold it in their palms it will eventually slip through the cracks at the slightest feeling of uncertainty. While partial contentment can be sustained for a brief time frame, it is not an enduring sentiment."

As I sat in bible study this morning, I realized wow...will I ever be content?

Is anything ever good enough?

Will I ever be satisfied, content, just plain happy with life?

Rick Warren says that contentment means my happiness is not dependent upon circumstances. Most people get caught in "when" thinking- "when I get such and such, then I'll be happy." "When I get this skinny...When I meet the right man...When I have this many clothes...When I have this type of car...then I'll be happy."

God says...."No, once you get there, you'll always want something else. You'll always want more."

So how do we learn to be content? The million dollar answer is to STOP COMPARING. God says it's stupid to compare yourself to others. We're constantly comparing and comparing causes DISCONTENTMENT. And because of discontent God says, "You can't handle what I want to give you because you're putting too much priority on things in your life. He wants us to come to Him and ask when we have a need and learn to be content, that our happiness isn't dependent on how much or how little we've got. If you don't learn contentment, you'll never be happy.

You'll always want more...

"All excess is rooted in emptiness. The world's claim of happiness is betrayed by an ever-increasing lust for more. Nothing ever suffices. Nothing ever will.

Christ alone satisfies the ailing human soul."- Beth Moore