A Jewish man in Hungary went to his rabbi and complained, “Life is unbearable. There are nine of us living in one room. What can I do?” The rabbi answered, “Take your goat into the room with you.” The man was incredulous, but the rabbi insisted, “Do as I say and come back in a week.” A week later the man returned looking more distraught than before. “We can’t stand it,” he told the rabbi. “The goat is filthy.” The rabbi said, “Go home and let the goat out, and come back in a week.” A week later the man returned, radiant, exclaiming, “Life is beautiful. We enjoy every minute of it now that there’s no goat—only the nine of us.” (Reader’s Digest [12/81].)
One of the most important things we can do in our walk with the Lord is cultivate contentment. As you can see from the above story contentment is a matter of perspective! How do we develop a content heart? Pastor Steven Cole says, “contentment is cultivated by pulling the weeds of greed and by building your life on God and His promises.” Here are four strategies he recommends:
- Acknowledge God’s ownership. Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” In Matthew 25:14‐30 the text refers to us as managers or stewards, not owners. God entrusts us with resources to be used for His purpose. “The owner lets us draw a reasonable salary, but to squander the owner’s assets on frivolous things for our own consumption is to be an irresponsible manager” (Steve J. Cole). One day we will give an account for what we’ve done with what He entrusted us with. (Romans 14:12).
- Put your treasure where you want your heart to be. Jesus says in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Randy Alcorn, in his book Money, Possessions, and Eternity, writes, “What we do with our possessions is a sure indicator of what’s in our hearts. What we do with our money doesn’t lie; it is a bold statement to God of what we truly value. According to Jesus, what we do with our money determines where our heart goes. Do you wish you had a greater heart for the poor and the lost? Then give your money to help the poor and reach the lost. Put your resources, your assets, your money and possessions, your time and talents, and your energies into the things of God. As surely as the compass needle follows north, your heart will follow your treasure. Money leads; hearts follow.”
- Live in light of eternity. At the end of our lives, money will not be much use to us. None of us are getting out of here alive. None of us get to take any of our money with us when we die. When we give and do the work of Christ it sets our hearts on eternity. This uproots the weeds of discontentment by helping us see what we really long for is to invest in the eternal, not the temporal.
- Make it your aim to give more. Giving breaks the power of money in our lives leading to a more content heart. God may be sending you more to help you be more comfortable. As a good Father He does provide things for our enjoyment. But He may be sending more so you can use it to further His purposes. Try not to make 10% your stopping point. Look to increase your giving over time.
In conclusion, contentment is not about having more or less—it’s about having the right perspective. Just as the man in the story realized the blessing of his situation once the “goat” was removed, we too can cultivate a heart of contentment by shifting our focus. When we acknowledge that everything we have is God's, intentionally invest in His kingdom, live with an eternal perspective, and choose generosity, we free our hearts from the grip of greed and find lasting satisfaction. Embracing these principles transforms our lives, allowing us to experience the joy and peace God desires for us, regardless of our circumstances. Contentment, therefore, is a profound expression of trust in God’s provision and purpose, and it enriches our walk with Him.
Steven Cole-Cultivating Contentment-https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-53-cultivating-contentment-hebrews-135-6