Happiness Versus Contentment
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the difference between happiness and contentment. Several online dictionaries define happiness as “the state of being happy”. I didn’t actually find that very helpful. But another dictionary defined it as “a sense of well-being, joy, or contentment.” Though I think that is a better definition, I actually think contentment is deeper than happiness.
Happiness is more of an emotion that comes and goes based on the situation around us. When the sun is shining bright it might make us feel happy. If we smell something good cooking on the stove or in the oven, that makes us feel happy. When our grandchildren come to visit and their faces smile when they see us, it makes us feel happy. But such feelings are fleeting and often disappear when a cloud hides the sun, or something burns on the stove, or the grandchildren leave.
I think contentment is deeper and longer lasting than happiness. Contentment includes a sense of satisfaction that even if all is not right in our lives at this moment, our lives still have deep value and meaning and that sense of value brings satisfaction to us even if in that moment life is not what we want it to be.
One of the great struggles we are having in American society right now is that we are searching for a never-ending happiness high, but looking in all the wrong places for it. Because we are looking in all the wrong places, and are so focused on feeling happy, we rarely find contentment in anything. This leads to a culture constantly seeking the next big thrill, the next exciting experience, or the next big adventure, and yet is never really satisfied. This lack of satisfaction steals our fleeting happiness and distracts us from what our real journey should be, which is finding contentment.
Hebrews 13:5 reminds us:
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (ESV)
This verse reminds us that contentment is not found in possessions, but in Christ, who will never leave us. If we have Christ, we have everything we need in life. Christ really is enough, if we truly understand who He is and what role He wants to have in our lives.
“I think contentment is deeper and longer lasting than happiness. Contentment includes a sense of satisfaction that even if all is not right in our lives at this moment, our lives still have deep value and meaning and that sense of value brings satisfaction to us even if in that moment life is not what we want it to be.”
The same concept is found in 1 Timothy 6:6–10:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (ESV)
This passage connects godliness and contentment. When we find one, we often find the other. It also reminds us that when we abandon those things, we will pierce ourselves with many pangs. Sadly, far too many people in our culture, who actually are living pretty good lives, have convinced themselves that life is terrible. They are looking in the wrong places to find happiness, and when they cannot find it 100% of the time, they are not satisfied with life at all. This lack of perpetual happiness keeps them from seeing just how blessed they really are.
As I consider some of the more painful periods of my life, including the one I am just now exiting after nearly three years of struggle, I am thankful that I can find contentment in Christ, and joy in what Christ has given me. As I focus more on Christ, instead of on my own desires, it has caused me to find greater levels of contentment in my life, even if there are days I cannot say I am “happy”.
What do we find contentment in? If it is anything other than Christ, we are not likely to ever really feel happy.
Dr. Terry W. Dorsett serves as the executive director of the Baptist Churches of New England.