Written by: Gawie de Lange
Article source: JOY! Magazine
On a recent JOY! tour to Europe, my wife, Jackie, and I had a fascinating conversation with some of our travellers on the cruise ship. We spoke about dreams and the places people still want to travel to. Some wanted to see Alaska, others the Holy Land, and some just longed for a quiet getaway in the Karoo.
What is enough?
The conversation soon turned towards contentment. What is enough? When have you travelled far enough, seen enough, achieved enough? When do you have enough money? When are you happy with your spouse or your job? In your life, what must still change for you to finally feel content?
God’s favour is not tied to materialism
That night, lying in bed and thinking deeply, I realised how easily we hang our “coats” of happiness and contentment on the “hooks” of success, money, pleasure, or achievements. It’s easy to believe that the more we have, the more we are blessed – that God’s favour is tied to the size of our house or the trips we take.
But what about the seasons when things are not going well? Does that mean God is unhappy with us? Is our joy really tied to how much we get from Him? The truth is: contentment is not about what you have. It’s about what’s going on inside your heart.
1. Contentment is learnt, it doesn’t come naturally
The Apostle Paul doesn’t say he was born content – he learnt it. Life will always have highs and lows, but contentment comes from learning to trust God in every season. “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learnt the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Phil 4:12).
2. True happiness is Godliness with contentment
“But godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim 6:6). The world teaches us to chase more. The Bible teaches us that who we are becoming is far more valuable than what we are getting. When you live a Godly life and are content, you’re already wealthy.
3. Don’t compare your portion to others
Comparison is the thief of joy. God promises never to leave you. That’s a greater treasure than anything money can buy. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have…” (Heb 13:5). Ponder this, the next time you’re tempted to measure your life by your possessions or success, take a breath. True contentment is found in Christ. And that’s more than enough.
This article is featured in the July issue of JOY! Magazine. Read a digital version of this magazine here: joygifts.co.za
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Date published: 11/07/2025
Gawie de Lange – general manager of JOY! Magazine. Email gawie@joymag.co.za
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only. Artwork from www.freepik.com
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