We have been talking all week about the importance of choosing contentment in Christ over discontentment. The truth is, however, that choosing contentment is sometimes difficult. It is much easier to talk about contentment than to actually practice contentment in our lives. Discontentment comes naturally. We have to work to be content. One way that we can practice contentment is to live generously. After all, it is challenging to be discontent when we are practicing generosity.
Paul understood the power of practicing generosity, and he spoke about it in Acts 20. In this passage of Scripture, he said, “I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and the needs of those who were with me. And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard” (verses 33-35). Paul was not concerned with what could be given to him. Instead, he focused on generosity. He continued teaching about living generously by saying, “You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (verse 35)
Paul understood that generosity is more important than focusing on our wants and needs. When we choose to practice generosity, we will also find our contentment growing and our discontentment fading away.
If we want to be content, we must be generous. Instead of focusing on what we do not have, contentment allows us to focus on the needs of others. It causes us to think about others instead of ourselves. It causes us to pay attention to what we have and how we can leverage what we do have to help others. Indeed, as Jesus Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
How can you practice generosity today? Is there someone who you know who is in need today? How can you help them? Take a step today to help that person and practice generosity. If no one comes to mind, then commit today to paying attention to the needs all around you. When you see a need, take a step to meet it. As you practice generosity, you will also find contentment. After all, contentment and generosity go hand-in-hand.
13 Paul went by land to Assos, where he had arranged for us to join him, while we traveled by ship. 14 He joined us there, and we sailed together to Mitylene. 15 The next day we sailed past the island of Kios. The following day we crossed to the island of Samos, and a day later we arrived at Miletus.
16 Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus, for he didn’t want to spend any more time in the province of Asia. He was hurrying to get to Jerusalem, if possible, in time for the Festival of Pentecost. 17 But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.
18 When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now 19 I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. 20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. 21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.
22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
25 “And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. 26 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, 27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.
28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31 Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.
32 “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.
33 “I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. 34 You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. 35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
