MORE OR LESS

Summary: Most of us know we own too much stuff. We feel the weight and burden of our clutter, and we tire of cleaning, managing, and organizing. While excess consumption leads to bigger houses, faster cars, fancier technology, and cluttered homes, it never brings happiness. Rather, it results in a desire for more. It redirects our greatest passions to things that can never be fulfilled. And it distracts us from the very life God wants us to live.

“Whoever Dies With The Most Toys Wins” – bumper sticker.

In many ways, it is a rite of passage that begins very early in life. Most toddlers go through the “mine, mine, mine” stage. Even at a young age, if we see it and like it, we want it. In the toddler’s mind, owning and wanting are the same. But does the “want for more” change as the seasons of life change? The short answer is no. Wanting more will be with us through all the stages of this life. So how do we learn to be content?

In Philippians 4, Paul tells us he learned the secret of contentment, and it’s not what we might expect. The secret wasn’t to deny his needs and wants, nor to fake contentment. Nor was it to act like your circumstances are so good that you have to be content. The reality is contentment is possible because it’s independent of our circumstances. That doesn’t mean we won’t still have desires. You can be content in Christ and still desire for something to be different.

The Bible offers some practical ways to be content. We can: “…. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8) Psalm 103:1-2 says, “Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.” 

So yes, we can be content in our current circumstances while still yearning for change. Whether in our relationship status, career, or daily struggles, we can be honest about our desires while trusting that God isn’t holding back His best from us. Contentment isn’t about settling for less, it’s about finding joy and fulfillment in Christ, regardless of our circumstances.

God wants more for our lives than we can comprehend. Ephesians 3:20‑21, tells us, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” God can do anything. And not just a little bit more than we dream of. Far more.

“The contented person experiences the sufficiency of God’s provision for his needs and the sufficiency of God’s grace for his circumstances. He believes God will indeed meet all his material needs and that He will work in all his circumstances for his good. That is why Paul could say, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” The godly person has found what the greedy or envious or discontented person always searches for but never finds. He has found satisfaction and rest in his soul.”  – Jerry Bridges.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does contentment mean to you, and how does it differ from satisfaction or happiness?
2. How does your understanding of contentment align with or differ from the world’s view of contentment?
3. How can we learn to be content under challenging circumstances, and what role does faith play in this process?