Bible Dictionary
Contentment
Contentment is the humble freedom from envy, anxiety, greed, and restless ambition. It rests on trust in God’s providence, His promises, and the sufficiency of His grace.
Definition
Contentment is a state of mind in which a person’s desires are confined to his or her appointed lot, whatever it may be. It is an inward disposition produced by humility and by considering God’s providence, promises, and grace.
Biblical Usage
Contentment opposes envy, avarice, ambition, anxiety, and repining. It arises from confidence in the rectitude and goodness of divine providence, the greatness of God’s promises, awareness of human unworthiness, and the gospel’s promise of rest and peace hereafter.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A state of mind in which one’s desires are confined to his lot whatever it may be (1 Tim. 6:6; 2 Cor. 9:8). It is opposed to envy (James 3:16), avarice (Heb. 13:5), ambition (Prov. 13:10), anxiety (Matt. 6:25, 34), and repining (1 Cor. 10:10). It arises from the inward disposition, and is the offspring of humility, and of an intelligent consideration of the rectitude and benignity of divine providence (Ps. 96:1, 2; 145), the greatness of the divine promises (2 Pet. 1:4), and our own unworthiness (Gen. 32:10); as well as from the view the gospel opens up to us of rest and peace hereafter (Rom. 5:2).