God is more interested in your character than your comfort.

He’s not going to give you things if you haven’t learned the principle of contentment first.

Contentment is not a lack of ambition. It’s not a lack of goals.

Contentment means your happiness doesn’t depend on your circumstances.

How do you eliminate discontent?

You eliminate the cause: comparing.

Too many pastors constantly compare themselves to other leaders. We compare the size, reach, and prominence of our churches. 

Whenever you compare, you’re going to become discontent.

You’ve got to learn to stop comparing yourself to others.

Paul says in Philippians 4:12, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” (NIV).

Contentment does not come naturally; it is something we have to learn. If we do this, God promises to meet all our needs.

The Bible says, “There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:6-7 NRSV).

One of the greatest secrets in learning to be content is to realize that nothing you have is really yours.

That’s true of our money, but it’s also true of our ministries. You are a steward of the ministry God has entrusted to you. 

God allows you to be a part of it while you’re here, but it’s not really yours.

When you understand that you’re just a manager of the work God has given you, and you hold it with an open hand, it’s hard to be discouraged when you see someone else’s ministry thrive while yours stumbles. 

When you do that, you can learn to celebrate the successes of other leaders, instead of envying it.