Contentment

A lot less than the world demands is needed for contentment.

Contentment is not being content with what one has. Contentment is being content with what one needs. People need very little when compared to what the world promotes for contentment. 

By worldly standards, a person cannot be content without a particular new car. There can be no contentment until the retirement nest egg is funded. The new shoes, the latest phone, the top position on the team, the award, the prize, the next like and share, all these are examples of what more is needed to be content, in the world's view.

It is all an extremely elaborate shell game. The fraud is conducted by people who are themselves playing the same game. From the top of the heap to the bottom rung, every human is a potential victim of the world’s street hustle. Only those who are truly content escape the lure of the hustle. 

The truth is: we need very little in this life. 

Air to breathe, a body to live in, communion with others, a shelter to protect our bodies, clothes to cover our nakedness, food to sustain our bodies, some sunlight, and a chance to shut our eyes for rest - this is a complete list of the absolute necessities of life on earth. Everything else in this world is more than what we need. It is more than contentment requires, as well. 

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

1 Timothy 6:6-10