One of my favorite country songs at the moment is Homegrown by the Zac Brown Band. The chorus is a testament to contentment. “I got some good friends that live down the street. Got a good looking woman with her arms ‘round me. Here in a small town where it feels like home. I got everything I need and nothing that I don’t. Homegrown, Homegrown.”
The Bible has much to say about contentment.
But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. -1 Timothy 6:7-10
Paul tells them that godliness plus contentment is a means of great gain because a content person realizes what will truly last. While promoting godly contentment, he also reasons that focusing on getting rich leads to a person’s ruin. The word used for “love of money,” ϕιλαργυρία (philarguria), can also be translated as “miserly.” It has the same root as the brotherly type of love (phileo). These people elevate money to the same status as family members! This simply will not work.
I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. -Philippians 4:12-13
Contentment is a matter of trust and thankfulness. Paul knew something about being left wanting. He wrote Philippians from a Roman prison! Philippians 4:13 is often touted as the Christian battle cry. The word iσχυω (iskuo) is translated "to be able to do (something) or also means "to be competent to do (something)." Paul is not only saying that Christ is giving him the strength to do what is needed, but Christ is also making him competent to handle whatever comes his way.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. -2 Peter 1:2-3
Peter addresses God’s great care of His people. God is the great provider of everything necessary for life, physical and spiritual. Therefore we need to show our thankfulness by being content. The question left for us to consider, is whether or not we trust our Creator enough to be content with what He has given us. The alternative is dangerous!