We live in a land and a time of plenty. We have more resources, technology, information, and entertainment available to us than most people in the world today (and most people throughout history). Yet, somehow, we seem to also struggle more with being content. We lack contentment because we see others who have more, or because God’s plans for our lives don’t look like what we had in mind.
God wants us to be content, trusting Him in every circumstance and not focusing on earthly treasures or temporary pleasures. If you are having a hard time feeling contentment, here are 15 verses that can help.
- “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.’” (Hebrews 13:5)
- “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
- “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.” (Proverbs 16:8)
- “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
- “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)
- “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31-33)
- “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the 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)
- “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.” (1 Corinthians 7:17)
- “Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:7-9)
- “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?” (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25)
- “Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.” (Ecclesiastes 4:6)
- “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” (Proverbs 14:30)
- “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Exodus 20:17)
- “And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’” (Luke 12:15)
- “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)
Contentment can be difficult when you are waiting for something you really want, when you are anxious about your situation, or you lack peace. Check out our “15 Verses” lists on those topics, as well as on control, humility, gratitude, and joy.
