Contentment (αὐταρκεία, 1Ti 6:6; "sufficiency," 2Co 9:8) is a disposition of mind in which our desires are confined to what we enjoy without murmuring at our lot, or wishing ardently for more. It stands opposed to envy (Jas 3:16); to avarice (Heb 13:5) to pride and ambition (Pr 13:10); to anxiety of mind (Mt 6:25,34); to murmurings and repinings (1Co 10:10). Contentment does not imply unconcern about our welfare, or that we should not have a sense of anything uneasy or distressing; nor does it give any countenance to idleness, or prevent diligent endeavors to improve our circumstances. It implies, however, that our desires of worldly good be moderate; that we do not indulge unnecessary care, or use unlawful efforts to better ourselves; but that we acquiesce with, and make the best of our condition, whatever it be. Contentment arises not from a man's outward condition, but from his inward disposition, and is the genuine offspring of humility, attended with a fixed habitual sense of God's particular providence, the recollection of past mercies, and a just estimate of the true nature of all earthly things. Motives to contentment arise from the consideration of the rectitude of the divine government (Ps 97:1-2), the benignity of the divine providence (Psalm 145), the greatness of the divine promises (2Pe 1:4), our own unworthiness (Ge 32:10), the punishments we deserve (La 3:39-40), the reward which contentment itself brings with it (1Ti 6:6), the speedy termination of all our troubles here, and the prospect of eternal felicity in a future state (Ro 5:2) See Barrow, Works, 3, ser. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9; Burrows, On Contentment; Watson,
Art of Contentment; Dwight, Theology, ser. 129; Fellowes, Theology, 2:423, 500.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More