“The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing” (Ecclesiastes 1:1-8).
Introduction
Though the Bible does not actually contain the word ‘discontentment’, it does reveal the results of it. The dictionary defines it as “a longing for something better than the present situation.” There are various things that can cause a person to become discontented with life, such as the lack of riches, sickness and the failure of others. There are many believers who have become discontented with the church and have opted out. God has the answer for discontentment.
Why are people discontented?
In the main, there are two things that cause much discontentment in life. These are money and health problems. Some people think that if only they could win a fortune on the lottery, buy a big house and a fast car, then they would be happy. Others long for a life without sickness and pain to guarantee personal peace and contentment. We have a far better standard of living than those of previous generations, yet we are more discontented than ever before. Even children, who usually have few cares, are committing suicide because they feel that their lives are empty and meaningless.
Solomon, one of the wisest and richest men who ever lived, knew something about being discontented with everything, everyone and even life itself. He tried many ways to find fulfilment, but to no avail. Here are a few of them:
a. Education, “I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow” (Ecclesiastes 1:16-18).
b. Pleasure, “I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life” (Ecclesiastes 2:1-3).
c. Bigger house, “I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees” (Ecclesiastes 2:4-6).
d. Money, “I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces” (Ecclesiastes 2:8).
He was searching for the meaning of life and the answer to the ache in his heart. No matter what he pursued, he not only failed to find fulfilment, but felt worse than before. “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit” (Ecclesiastes 1:14) … “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:11).
Where can the remedy be found?
Contentment is not suggestion but a command in Scripture. “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” (Hebrews 13:5). This does not mean that God expects us to have no ambitions or goals in life. There is nothing wrong in aiming at being successful in what we are called to do, but not all of us will realise our dreams. Discontentment comes when we seek fulfilment in the things of the world. Life eventually lays everyone of us flat on our backs, so there is no point in searching there. “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17).
The discontented expect too much from life. They want more than everyone else has got, and even then they want more. When they get it, the emptiness remains, so their search goes on. Do we think we deserve luxuries and extras beyond the basics of life? “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 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. 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” (1 Timothy 6:7-10).
The problem is almost everyone is trying to find contentment, but it cannot be found, instead it must be learned. “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11) … “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). The answer for discontentment is to realise that God has given us everything we need to live a victorious Christian life. “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57) … “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14) … “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5). None of this comes naturally; it must be learned through dependence on Christ.
Conclusion
Contentment can only be found in the Lord Jesus Christ. The moment we lose ourselves to Him, that is the moment we find those things we thought would satisfy our souls lose their lustre. “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Philippians 3:7-8) … “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:25-26). Instantly we see that nothing but Christ can fill the aching void in our hearts, and agree with the apostle Paul that, “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6).
© 6/2/2008