Learning to be content as well as happy with your life is not an easy task. I say this because we are constantly faced with ads, commercials, etc. that promote wanting better or newer versions of what we have or desire. In many cases, before we get used to a cell phone, for example, a new version is advertised or seen so it makes you feel that yours is old or out of date. Please take time, 10 minutes minimum, to read and study this lesson with an open mind.

Learn To Be Content And Happy With Your Life

I have a seed of faith and knowledge to sow in your thoughts before we begin the lesson. This practice has helped me remain stress-free in an increasingly stressful world. Jesus said (in simple terms):

Matthew 6:31-33 [read Matthew 6:25-34 (31-33)]

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but
your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
33 Seek [be concerned with] the Kingdom of God [give him first place in your life] above all else, and live righteously [his way of doing and being right], and he will give you everything you need. (NLT)

KJV: Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

STM Bible Lesson

Lesson focus: Philippians 4:10-13. Bible lesson background, Philippians 4:10-20: The Bible Knowledge Commentary: At times Paul experienced definite financial and material needs, and at other times he had an abundance (v. 12). He learned how to cope with both need and plenty.
The words I have learned the secret translate memyēmai (from myeō), which occurs only here in the New Testament. In the mystery religions it was a technical term meaning “to initiate (into the mysteries).” Paul used it here to suggest a kind of “initiation” (by his experiences) into being content when either well fed or hungry, and either in plenty or in want.
Paul said he could do everything—including handling poverty and living in abundance—through Him who gave him strength. This was not an expression of pride in his own abilities but a declaration of the strength provided by Christ.

Learn To Be Content And Happy With Your Life

Philippians 4:10-13 [read Philippians 4:10-20 (10-13)]

You’ve made me very happy by sending me another gift. I know you were concerned about me all along, but you didn’t have the opportunity to send me anything until now. 11 I’m not saying this because I need something. I’ve learned how to be content in any situation. 12 I know what it’s like not to have the things I need, and I know what it’s like to have more than I need. I’ve learned the secret of being content in any circumstance. I’m content whether I’m well fed or hungry, whether I have more than enough or I don’t have enough. 13 I can do all this through the one who gives me strength. (RAD)

KJV: But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content^G842. 12 I know both how to be abased,
and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Being Satisfied

Some of you are familiar with the KJV of Philippians 4:13 —“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me“—but have you put it in proper context? Paul tells us in verse 11 that he is not grumbling about his status because he has learned to be content or satisfied. Meditate for a moment on this: “I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content”.

I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens.
Philippians 4:11 (NCV)

Understanding the Word ‘Content’ as Used in Philippians 4:11

Autarkes – content (only used once in the Bible)

G842 αὐτάρκης autarkes (af-tar’-kees) adj.
self-complacent, i.e. contented.
[from G846 and G714]
KJV: content

KJV Dictionary Definition: content

Rest or quietness of the mind in the present condition; satisfaction which holds the mind in peace, restraining complaint, opposition, or further desire, and often implying a moderate degree of happiness.

How to be Content

One challenge in life is learning to be content. Of course, some may not accept this concept and do not think they are greedy or coveting when they dream of or desire what they believe is better than what they have. The goal is not to criticize or intentionally offend anyone but to inform.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 [read 1 Timothy 6:3-10 (6-10)]

This is ironic because godliness, along with contentment, does put us ahead but not in the ways some imagine. 7 You see we came into this world with nothing, and nothing is going with us on the way out! 8 So as long as we are clothed and fed, we should be happy.
9 But those who chase riches are constantly falling into temptation and snares. They are regularly caught by their own stupid and harmful desires, dragged down and pulled under into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money—and what it can buy—is the root of all sorts of evil.
Some already have wandered away from the true faith because they craved what it had to offer; but when reaching for the prize, they found their hands and hearts pierced with many sorrows. (VOICE)

KJV: But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment^! let us be therewith content^G714. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Understanding the Words ‘Content’ and ‘Raiment’ as Used in 1 Timothy 6:8

Arkeo

G714 ἀρκέω arkeo (ar-ke’-ō) v.
to be satisfied, contented.
[apparently a primary verb (but probably akin to G142 through the idea of raising a barrier)]
KJV: be content, be enough, suffice, be sufficient
Matthew 25:9; Luke 3:14; John 6:7 and 14:8; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Hebrews 13:5; and 3 John 10.

^! A note on the word ‘raiment’

Adam Clarke’s Commentary: The word ακεπασματα, which we translate raiment, signifies covering in general; and here means house or lodging, as well as clothing.

Keys to Contentment

Let us learn this basic type of contentment or happiness. And that is to be satisfied if you have something to eat and clothes to wear.

1. Fear God

So, are you content, satisfied, or happy with your life? This extends beyond things, consider your marriage, are you content with your spouse? Oh, we can probe into the most intricate areas of our life to see in what areas we have learned to be content. Think about it, are you completely content?

Proverbs 19:23 [read Proverbs 19:23]

The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by harm. (CEB)

KJV: The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

So the proverb uses synthetic parallelism; the second half tells what this life is like—it is an abiding contentment that is not threatened by calamity (cf. NCV “unbothered by trouble”).

2. Control Your Desires

Do you ever feel that you are not content with what you have because you always want more? Let the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 6:9 speak to you: “

Ecclesiastes 6:9 [read Ecclesiastes 6:1-12 (9)]

So it is better to be happy with what you have than always to be wanting more. Always wanting more is useless— like chasing the wind. (ICB)

KJV: Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

3. Use God’s Wisdom

Have you ever felt like you are just settling and lack ambition? James 3:16 () has advice for you: Be happy with your life as it is, and focus on pleasing God!

James 3:17-18 [read James 3:13-18 (17-18)]

Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced.
You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor. (MSG)

KJV: But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

4. Be Happy With What You Earn

The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Occasionally Paul accepted unsolicited support from churches to whom he had ministered (e.g., the Philippian church in Macedonia; Philippians 4:15-16). But he did so uneasily (cf. Philippians 4:10-13), calling it “robbery” (2 Corinthians 11:8) to take from poor people. He did not want to be a burden to them.

2 Corinthians 11:7-8 [read 2 Corinthians 11:5-15 (7-8)]

I preached God’s Good News to you without pay. I made myself unimportant to make you important. Do you think that was wrong? 8 I accepted pay from other churches, taking their money so I could serve you. (NCV)

KJV: Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

John’s Advice to Some Soldiers

Luke 3:14 [read Luke 3:7-18 (14)]

Some soldiers on duty also asked him, “And what must we do [i.e., to demonstrate our repentance]?” And he answered them, “Do not force people to give you money or accuse them falsely, and be content with your pay.” (AUV)

KJV: And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

Barnes Commentary: Be content … – Do not murmur or complain, or take unlawful means to increase your wages.

5. Be Satisfied With What You Have

Philippians 4:18-19 [read Philippians 4:10-20 (18-19)]

And now I have everything [or received full payment], and more. I have all I need [or am fully supplied/filled up], because Epaphroditus [2:25] brought your gifts to me. They are like a sweet-smelling offering to God [a fragrant aroma], a sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to him.
19 [And] My God will meet [supply; fulfill] all of your needs from [according to] his wonderful riches [glorious riches; or riches in heaven/glory] in Christ Jesus. (EXB)

KJV: But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. 19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Verse 18 of Philippians chapter 4 helps clarify what so many miss when quoting verse 19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” The gifts sent by the kind Christians at Philippi met Paul’s needs. What a wonderful God we serve, He provides, often through others, all that we need including the ability to go through the tests of life!

Learn to be Content

Hebrews 13:5-6 [read Hebrews 13:1-6 (5-6)]

Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.” [Deuteronomy 31:6, 8] 6 Let us be bold, then, and say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” [Psalms 118:6] (GNT)

KJV: Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

I hope that this message from God will teach us to value who we are, what we have, and how unique we are to the One who provides for all of our needs. Most importantly, He helps us learn to be content and joyful in spite of the situation or condition. Thank you for taking the time to read this Bible lesson. Please take full advantage of it. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺

Related studies, lessons, and snacks for further spiritual growth:

Joyful; Endure Your Life Tests; Be Full Of Joy – an estimated 18-minute read.

Respect God; It is Absolutely Good Advice For Life – an estimated 13-minute read.

Prosperity, 7 Simple Lessons On True Wealth God’s Way – an estimated 35-minute read.

Law to Grace; Not Under Law But Under Grace – an estimated 21-minute read.

Your Hope Focused On God’s Grace Brings Eternal Life – an estimated 4-minute read.