Contentment and Ambition

1 Timothy 6:6

Introduction

I have been asked and have pondered myself from time to time about reconciling contentment and ambition.

Or to put it more clearly, what does wholesome ambition look like and how does that harmonize with godly contentment?

At the outset there are several dangers in the extremes here.

There is a world that condemns the “consumerism” and luxury of our age. But they offer equally wicked and even more empty alternatives. They offer suffering but not even the sort that refines. Only that which feeds even more discontent.

So in response we are tempted to point to prosperity of the many as the moral response to immoral malcontents. But this just answers one godless foundation with another.

We want to find the godly answer to these questions. There is obviously robust criticism of wealth and yet there is also plenty of talk of it as a great blessing. That is not our particular focus this morning but rather our attitude concerning having it, or not having it, and what about wanting it?

What Contentment Is

There are several words translated “content” in the New Testament (Lk. 3:14; 2 Cor. 12:10; 1 Tim. 6:6)

It carries the idea of satisfying a need or desire (Lk. 3:14; Matt. 25:9; Jn. 6:7; cf. Jn. 6:26).

There is an idea of thinking something is good or being pleased with something (2 Cor. 12:10; Matt. 3:17; Rom. 15:26-27).

There is also a sufficiency that is “more than enough” to meet the need (1 Tim. 6:6; Phil. 4:11; 2 Cor. 9:8).

We see this contentment in God from the beginning (Gen. 1:31).

By contrast we often refuse to be content with our work.

We say things like, “I am a perfectionist,” and so excuse our refusal to even try, or our discontent with our work.

Two things are worth noting here:

One is that only God is truly perfect and so we should not flatter ourselves into thinking we will reach such a high mark. Our contentment will never be found in our own perfect work in any area of life.

But two, we notice that God was willing to be pleased with what was done while knowing that more needed to be done. Very often we rob ourselves of contentment because we can only see there is more work to do. This will always be the case.

“Great job!” … “yeah well, there is so much more to do.”

This is learned behavior (Phil. 4:11).

It is possible when even basic needs are unmet (Phil. 4:12; Lk. 12:23; Jn. 4:32-34).

It is being satisfied with “thy will be done.”

It is being satisfied that His will IS done.

Ingratitude and covetousness are its opposites.

Ingratitude is thinking too little of what you have.

Covetousness is thinking too much of what you do not have.

What Contentment Is Not

Godly contentment is not just any old satisfaction.

It is certainly not contentment with things that are wicked (2 Thess. 2:12).

There is also a sense in which it is not contentment with good things (Lk. 9:25; Psa. 16:5; 73:26).

It is not a lack of awareness of want (Phil. 4:11-12).

It is not a disdain of blessings (1 Tim. 4:4-5).

A Question of Focus

There is an ambition which destroys everything in its wake (Jas. 3:13-4:10).

Then there is an ambition which makes everything in its wake better (2 Cor. 5:9; 1 Thess. 4:11-12; Rom. 2:7-8).

This is the true test of contentment. Can you labor quietly with the talents that you have and be content with God to give the increase (or not) according to His good will?

The question really becomes, what is your TRUE ambition.

Is it focussed on what this world offers or the next (1 Cor. 7:29-31).

Conclusion