Becoming a Woman of Contentment

A series for Growth, Part 1

Becoming a Woman of Contentment

Recently, I stumbled upon the story of Mary Ann Cotton, a woman hanged for the serial killing of 3 of her 5 husbands or significant others, as well as 11 of her 13 children, plus a few others who were children of the men upon whom she preyed. Back in the 1800’s, few questions were asked when children died. Everywhere she went, however, people seemed to die of gastric fever, which shared many commonalities with arsenic poisoning. Collecting husbands and life insurance policies eventually caught up with her, however, and in 1873, she was hanged in a botched execution. (Mary Ann Cotton | Biography, Murders, Trial, & Execution | Britannica)

Her story brought to mind an extreme example of James 4:1-2.

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

A happy life eluded Mary Ann Cotton, and all who had the misfortune of getting close to her. She literally killed for money, but it never satiated her thirst for more.

Mother Eve in the Garden of Eden tasted the poison of discontent first. (See Genesis 3.) We can assume it came wrapped in a pretty package, albeit one that God had forbidden. The serpent (Satan, the enemy of God) convinced her that God was keeping His best from her. The Bible attests that Eve was deceived by the serpent, and she chose to follow her heart’s desire for more, rather than rest in all God had already given. Her choice altered her life and the lives of her sons and daughters forever.

Still today, the things God has not given dangle before us, poisoning our hearts with envy, lust, murmuring, desire, depression, and hatred. We obtain them to our own peril, sometimes altering the lives of those who come behind us, just like Mother Eve.

James chapter 4 addresses the idols every sinful heart craves. The writer of the book bearing his name was the first pastor of the church in Jerusalem. The brother of Jesus, converted after the resurrection, he wrote to many who had met and followed Jesus in person. Discontent, then, is a battle that must be fought even after coming to Jesus.

The Apostle Paul, a contemporary of James notes that contentment is learned, not inherent with salvation. He wrote in Philippians 4:11, Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (Italics added for emphasis.)

So, then, how do we go about learning to be content?

Peter contends that everything we need for life and godliness has been given to us in God’s Word.

2 Peter 1:3-4

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (Italics added for emphasis.)

We can escape the poison of discontent, or as Peter put it, the “corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Feel free to join me in this study series if you, too, want to learn to become a woman of contentment. My plan is to have a new “chapter” every Monday. Schedules vary, so hit the subscribe button to follow along as your time allows. And please share! Studying God’s Word with friends is a wonderful way to grow together!

Do you have any thoughts or verses that you are meditating on this week to learn contentment? I would love to know how the Lord is leading you as you dig into the Word this week, too.

My verse for now is Paul’s declaration in Philippians 4:11. Below is a wall-paper to save to your mobile device. Happy studying, my friends!

Erica B.