by Jerry Senn
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you. So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 5-6, ESV)
It was Benjamin Franklin who said, “Content makes poor men rich. Discontent makes rich men poor.”
The Greek word for content “signifies to be sufficient, to be possessed of sufficient strength, to be strong, to be enough for a thing; hence to defend, ward off” (Vines Expository Dictionary). It is to be sufficient or satisfied and confident. (See Philippians 4:13)
“Fanny Crosby, the great writer of gospel songs, was blinded when only six weeks old by a country doctor who thought he was treating her with eye drops. Yet her indomitable attitude soon manifested itself. At age eight, she wrote this little poem:
Oh, what a happy child I am,
Although I cannot see!
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be.
(Robert J Morgan)
“But godliness with content is great gain, for we brought nothing into this world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” (1 Timothy 6:6-8, ESV)
“Contentment comes not so much from great wealth as from few wants.”
—Epictetus
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8, ESV)
Good Words!