Contentment, Happiness, and Joy: I discussed these three issues with a good friend. It is easy to get confused. Which one is the most important?
Contentment
I have held many things in my hands and have lost them all, but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, I still possess. – Martin Luther
1 Timothy 6:6-7, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”
Contentment is a state of being satisfied with what one has. It’s a feeling of peace and acceptance regarding one’s situation. It comes from a place of acceptance and is often associated with having a sense of sufficiency and being at ease with one’s life.
Contentment offers a steady and enduring sense of satisfaction and peace. It’s less dependent on external circumstances, which means it can provide a reliable foundation for well-being. Contentment makes you more likely to navigate life’s ups and downs with a balanced perspective. Contentment is about accepting and finding peace with what you have.
Hebrews 13:5, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'”
Happiness
Do not let your happiness depend on something you may lose… only (upon) the Beloved who will never pass away. – C.S. Lewis
Luke 12:15, “Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.'”
Happiness is a broad term that generally refers to well-being and euphoria. It encompasses various emotions and experiences that make one feel good. It comes from external factors like achievements, relationships, or material possessions, as well as internal factors like personal attitudes and outlook on life.
External factors heavily influence happiness and might fluctuate based on circumstances, achievements, or experiences. While happiness can be exhilarating, it often relies on positive external factors or events that are not always within our control.
Joy
Joy is not necessarily the absence of suffering; it is the presence of God. – Sam Storms
Ecclesiastes 3:12, “I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live.”
Joy is a deep-rooted, inspired happiness that transcends circumstances. Unlike fleeting emotions tied to external events, biblical joy is a state of contentment, confidence, and hope rooted in a relationship with God. It is often associated with spiritual well-being and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Biblical joy is a profound and enduring state of happiness rooted in a relationship with God, characterized by trust, hope, and the assurance of His presence and promises.
Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”
What is your Priority?
After a long debate and much consternation, I walked away thinking this: Joy is the essence of my existence, Contentment is a goal I have control over, and Happiness, well, I hope it visits me often. I can be joyful in any situation, even when I am discontent. The strength of that choice is God’s promise for my life. Contentment can be challenging because it typically requires physical, emotional, worldly, and spiritual living within my means. Sometimes, in a broken world, being content is problematic; it takes tenacity.
Happiness is a bluebird; in sales, we used to refer to a bluebird as a sale that dropped into your lap. That is a good metaphor. Happiness happens; it is spontaneous and serendipitous. We can build an environment that improves the likelihood of it visiting, but it takes external conditions for it to appear. Just as quickly as it comes, an event can chase it away.
Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”