Contentment

Being at peace with what you have — satisfaction rooted in God, not circumstances

Definition

Paul's famous claim: 'I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances' (Philippians 4:11-12). Biblical contentment isn't settling or giving up — it's a deep trust that God provides what you need. It directly counters the comparison culture and 'more is better' mentality. 1 Timothy 6:6 calls it 'great gain.'

Used In11 mentions across 7 books

1 timothy

The Richest Thing You Can Have

1 Timothy 6:6-10

Contentment is presented here as the direct antidote to the love of money — Paul frames it not as passivity but as a radical, countercultural confidence that what God provides is genuinely sufficient.

ecclesiastes

The Race You Didn't Know You Entered

Ecclesiastes 4:4-6

Contentment is the posture Solomon recommends as the antidote to envy-fueled striving — not idleness, but a settled sufficiency that refuses to let comparison dictate the pace of life.

The Cruelest Irony

Ecclesiastes 6:1-6

Contentment is identified as the missing ingredient in an otherwise complete life — the Teacher's point is that it cannot be earned or accumulated like wealth, but is a God-given capacity, and its absence makes even abundance feel like imprisonment.