We say we want satisfaction in our work and life, but what are these benefits of contentment? It will help us feel good about ourselves. In the value of contentment, we found out why it is such a hot commodity for everyone.
And we found out what are the characteristics of contentment. God’s Word is an essential part of being satisfied in life. And there were other essentials that we don’t normally think of being a characteristic of contentment.
But what do we gain from being satisfied in this life? Is it worth the struggle to get there?
There is much to gain from being satisfied with our life and work on this earth. Lean in and listen to what God has to tell us from His Word about these 5 Benefits of Contentment.
5 Benefits of Contentment
1. Satisfaction for your Soul
Who loves a great meal and the great feeling of a happy tummy? It isn’t great when your stomach is empty. The stomach growls for food, and we can be crabby ourselves when we are hungry.
The same goes for our souls. One of the benefits of contentment is the satisfaction of our souls.
As we discovered in the value of contentment, God gave each of us a desire to be filled up. The hole in our hearts yearns to know God and wants to be more like Him. Yet we often fill it up with things that this world will not satisfy.
God wants to fill up our hungry and longing hearts with good things. Not the desires we think we need and find do not bring us contentment. These desires could be any number of things: to want to be important, feel accepted, or be in charge of many people. Or they could be things we do or take into our bodies to fill the void or the pain – drugs, alcohol, or sex.
For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
Psalm 107:9 ESV
Notice that God gives us good things. He doesn’t fill us with things we don’t need or harm us.
2. Peace and Happiness
Who doesn’t want peace or happiness? These are benefits of contentment that we obtain from being righteous.
We have talked before about righteousness being ‘right-living.’ That is living the way that God has designed us. His laws will lead us to that peace and happiness we desire.
One characteristic we found was that DAILY soaking up God’s Word would lead us to contentment in this life. We read the Bible in the morning or evening and plant those words within our hearts. This is done to recall the verses throughout the day.
We desire to do the right thing when we feast on God’s Word. We want it so much that we hunger and thirst for it. When that happens, God says that we are blessed and satisfied. Oh yeah!
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Matthew 5:6 ESV
Note: True peace and happiness is found only in a relationship with God. If you aren’t sure whether you have this peace or not, check out this page, You can Know Peace!
3. Established Steps and a Guiding Hand
When we delight in what God wants for us, He will make those steps firm. This is another one of the benefits of contentment.
If we take a step to the left or the right that is slightly off the course we should be on; God will gently guide us back to our path.
And why do we need that? Think of a person on a tightrope. They focus on their destination at the rope’s end or the next platform. A pole is used to help balance her weight from the pivot of her foot on the rope. It helps to propel her forward. If she doesn’t keep the pole steady and it dips to the right, her weight will swing her to the right. And she could potentially fall to the right. As long as she hangs onto the pole, keeping it perpendicular to her body, and has her focus on the destination, she will make it to the other side.
We will fall if we don’t hang onto God and keep our eyes focused on His plan. We need to hang on to Him, so our steps remain firm. And God will hold us tight so that we won’t stray far away from His path. We are a prayer away; all we need to do is call on His name.
The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.
Psalm 37:23-24 ESV
4. Redeems You
Sometimes our life is literally in the pits. We have dug a deep hole for ourselves and do not know how to get out. That is when God rescues us. All we need to do is call out to Him, and His love and mercy will overwhelm us. You will have so much goodness in your life that your satisfaction will be like the youthfulness of a young eagle. Redeeming us is another one of the benefits of contentment.
He who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:4-5 ESV
When we are redeemed, we have a soul full of the best food – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV). These fruits of the Spirit are food that satisfies. They will pour out from your full cup, and others will want to draw near and discover what brings you so much contentment.
As a result of this satisfied soul, we will open our lips and praise God!
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips.
Psalm 63:5 ESV
5. Satisfying Rest
Another one of the benefits of contentment in this life is rest. It is a satisfying or full rest. When you sleep, you get a fulfilling night’s rest and don’t need to worry about the things of this world.
This benefit is based on fearing the Lord. This is not a fear that makes you worry or dread. It inspires awe of who He is and all He does for us.
He is the LORD GOD of the universe who created the earth and the heavens in a mere 6 days (Genesis 1). He took 144 hours and created many things – the sun, the moon, the stars, all the land, water, and the sky. It was ‘spoken’ into being with all the complexities and intricate details that make up each object.
And then there is the creation of animals and mankind. God’s Word says that each was made according to its kind. For example, the category of cats was made, and each was made specific to them: lions, tigers, leopards, etc. Based on this, there is no way that animals evolved into humans.
When we fear God, this leads us to a full life. That full life sees no need for the evil in the world, and it isn’t something we need. A cup that is already full cannot hold anymore. If you fill your life up with God and all the good things He has for us, you don’t need to attend to anything evil.
The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.
Proverbs 19:23 ESV
Benefits of Contentment
There you have it. Five things that are the benefits of contentment in this life and your work. Take a moment today and inventory your life and work. Are you reaping the benefits of contentment above? If not, do one thing today that will lead you to a full and satisfying life found only in God.
Resource Library
Check the resource library for Bible verses, bookmarks, and monthly reading plans. It is never too late to start reading God’s Word and let it fill your soul.
Cindy, thank you so much for sharing this post on contentment. What stood out to me was the Scripture verses you shared. We can have a content lifestyle, and the truths can be found in God’s Word.
Contentment is a choice. We all have a free will to be content or not. I hope your readers choose to be content.
Thanks Jeff! You got it exactly- contentment is a choice that we can find in God and specifically His plan. When we choose to go down a path that is contrary to God, His commands and ways, then we have now chosen a discontented path.
Thanks again for reaching out!
Great message
Thank you, Mary!