But let us endeavor to go a little deeper. It is the being satisfied with the sovereign dispensations of God s providence. Instead of complaining at his lot, a contented man is thankful that his condition and circumstances are no worse than they are. Instead of greedily desiring something more than the supply of his present need, he rejoices that God still cares for him. One of the fatal hindrances to contentment is covetousness, which is a canker eating into and destroying present satisfaction.
Few things are more insidious.
The covetous man is always desirous of more, whether he has little or much. Negatively, it delivers from worry and fretfulness, from avarice and selfishness. Positively, it leaves us free to enjoy what God has given us. Contentment, then, is the product of a heart resting in God. It is the soul s enjoyment of that peace which passeth all understanding.