Contentment One of the lessons we are forced to learn in life is to learn to be content. At school we have to learn mathematics whether we like to or not. The same with contentment: the quicker we learn the better! Contentment is not what we think it is, and we cannot fake it either. It has to be a work of grace in our lives. We need to know the promises of God that lead to contentment. We need to know how to co-operate with the Holy Spirit who works contentment into our lives as believers. Otherwise the Christian experience can be one big frustration!Let us define contentment and then look at some examples of people who found the value of contentment and godliness as great gain in their lives.Contentment means to be strong, to be enough for a thing; hence, to defend with wages.1 Tim. 6:8,  to be content with food and raiment; Heb. 13:5, with “such things as ye have To be: self–sufficient, adequate, needing no assistance freedom from anxiety or worry (1 Tim. 6:6). The idea of contentment comes from a Greek word that means “independence” or “self-sufficiency.” But the apostle Paul used the word in a Christian sense to show that real satisfaction or sufficiency comes from God: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). The noun ‘contentment’ occurs only once in rsv (1 Tim. 6:6), but its Gk. equivalent autarkeia appears also in 2 Cor. 9:8 as ‘enough’; the adjective autarkeµs in Phil. 4:11 and the verb arkeoµ in Lk. 3:14; 1 Tim. 6:8; Heb. 13:5; 3 Jn. 10; see also 2 Cor. 12:9, ‘is sufficient’ denotes freedom from reliance upon others, whether other persons or other things; hence the satisfaction of one’s needs (2 Cor. 9:8) or the control of one’s desires (1 Tim. 6:6, 8). It is not a passive acceptance of the status quo, but the positive assurance that God has supplied one’s needs, and the consequent release from unnecessary desire. The Christian can be ‘self-contained’ because he has been satisfied by the grace of God (2 Cor. 12:9).  The Christian spirit of contentment follows the fundamental commandment of Ex. 20:17 against covetousness, the precept of Pr. 15:17; 17:1, the exhortations of the prophets against avarice (e.g. Mi. 2:2) and supremely the example and teaching of Jesus, who rebuked the discontent which grasps at material possessions to the neglect of God (Lk. 12:13-21) and who commended such confidence in our Father in heaven as will dispel all anxiety concerning physical supplies (Mt. 6:25-32). In the OT the phrase ‘be content’ (from Heb. yaµÕal indicates pleasure or willingness to do a certain action, usually one which has been requested by another person  Contentment 1.   With godliness is great gain: Ps 37:16; 1Ti 6:6. 2.   Saints should exhibita.  In their respective callings: 1 Co 7:20. b.  With appointed wages: Lu 3:14. c.  With what things they have: Heb 13:5. d.  With food and raiment: 1Ti 6:8. 3.   God’s promises should lead to: Heb 13:5. 4.   The wicked want and have not: Isa 5:8; Ecl 5:10. 5.   People who are examples of contentmenta.  Barzillai : 2 Sa 19:33-37. Barzillai (‘my iron’ material used for furniture and weapons) helped to stem the rebellion of Absalom against David. When David wanted to bless him and take him with him, he declined the kind offer because he felt he was too old and said he would be a burden to David. Then he suggested that David do to Chimham what David planned to do for him. Chimham was one of Barzillai’s followers. Chimham means, ‘their desire’. So David agreed and gave Chimham the Inn at Bethlehem as a possession!Barzillai’s contentment with what he had at that stage and Chimham’s contentment to be a follower paid off handsomely in the end! How would you like to inherit a hotel of your own? b.  Shunammite:  2 Ki 4:13. Shunem was the city given to Issachar about 5 miles north of Mount Tabor. Shunem means ‘double resting place’. The Shunamite woman did so much for the prophet Elisha and for his servant Gehazi that Elisha sent his servant to enquire what could be done for her in return. She simply said, ‘I am happy to live where