Tag: Contentment

Contentment

Contentment is challenging in a world controlled by an insatiable desire for more. Benjamin Franklin said, “Content makes poor men rich. Discontent makes rich men poor.”

How can we achieve contentment? Paul claimed Christ provides such strength, and when godliness accompanies contentment we find great gain.

Contentment takes on a different meaning when thinking about leadership. We must be content with what we have, but never with who we are.

Leaders constantly work to develop their ability to lead.

We learn how to grow in fulfilling this God given task from others who are lifelong students of this subject.

Contented Leaders…

Contentment has both a positive and negative perspective when placed alongside concepts that frame our leadership. For example, “Always be content with where you are, but never who you are.”

The idea is to accept and be content with what we have and where we are in life, but we should always hunger to grow and improve in our personal development.

There is a place for contentment, but we must not allow contentment to follow a path of complacency and a “comfortable with the status quo” way of thinking.

The contrast between content and discontent makes the difference in how we approach the future of leadership.

Joy…

Joy exceeds simple pleasure. Kenneson claims joy is the byproduct of our desire for something more outward.

The other-directedness nature of joy shows why it is so closely connected to love. If love be related to God’s grace, the gift exemplifies a significance between these two Greek words: charis (grace) and chara (joy).

Scripture connects suffering with joy, and “living joyfully despite persecution and affliction does not require one to deny the reality of suffering or pain” (63).

We cultivate joy when we rejoice in the opportunity to worship God, nurture contentment, and learn to enjoy children.

This is only the beginning.