1 Timothy 6:6-8, KJV

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. 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.”

​​Learning to be content is taught to our children by the people they are around. If we are ungrateful, complaining, and always wanting something bigger and better, our kids will learn to be the same. The Bible teaches us that contentment and godliness is great gain. 

Most likely you are content in some areas of your life, but not in others. Being discontent can be what initiates positive change in our lives. For example, your line of work, or the habits your children have learned. In these situations as well as many others, it can be good to be discontented, for in doing so it will force you to stretch yourself or make changes that would be beneficial to all parties involved.

It is when our discontent robs us of all joy and thankfulness that we must examine whether or not it is a healthy emotion to have. Ask yourself, is the discontent I’m feeling something that should be changed in order to benefit myself and those around me? If not, then likely it’s coming from selfish, unreasonable motives. That is when we need the antidote of joy and gratitude to reset our affections. Write down what things you are thankful for and focus on them. Our thought life is in constant war with our spirit man. If we are going to be healthy believers, we must take each thought captive and learn to be grateful for what we do have.

Being discontent robs us of what we do have and should be content with. It is a beautiful thing to teach our children to rejoice in other people’s triumphs and celebrations. Take a birthday for example, this is a day specially set apart to honor and show extra love to the one whose birthday it is. Everyone should be fully rejoicing in that moment for the other person, not whining or complaining about how they wished they had what so and so had. 

In the world they want to make all people winners. This is unhealthy and ungodly. The Lord speaks clearly of people receiving different crowns in heaven. A person is what they have earned and worked for. We ought to look at others we admire and make it a reason to strive to reach a similar goal rather than demand we get what they have without doing the work it takes to get there. Let us throw off the lies and ways of this world and receive the truth of God’s Word and walk in it.​