Finding Contentment

When I realized that there was so much in the realm of what it means to be faithful as an investor, I felt God leading me to go to Bible college to learn more about him. It took me eight years to complete part-time, but at the end I did an exit project on contentment—in particular, Paul's words in Philippians, Chapter 4. 

I know what it is to be in need, and I know it is to have plenty. I've learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 

These words are so helpful to revisit regularly. Firstly, because I'm still a greedy person. I have wrestled with contentment. I know that Christians are called to be radically generous. And by God's grace, it's an area that my wife and I have been growing in over the time that we've been married. But I still feel the pull to stuff. 

It can be hard to believe what Jesus says in Luke that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. Many of us are still operating in a marketplace that draws us back to wanting to have more. I'm still—particularly in the investment market, in the investment world—in this environment where those around me seem to have more. There's always the temptation to want a better house, a better car, a better holiday, better things. 

When it comes to creating contentment in ourselves, that's something that is only happening through the work of the Holy Spirit in me. When we understand how greedy our inner selves are, we can use that darkness as a reminder of the light of God. His Holy Spirit shines where our sin darkens. The challenge then for us is to be content with what God has given us. 

In any circumstance, whether we have a lot or whether we have a little, contentment is God's will for us. That's something we can wrestle with, not just for the next 10 years, but for the rest of our lives as we become more like Jesus. 

Tim Macready is  the Chief Investment Officer at Christian Super which he joined in 2005. He is responsible for the development of the Fund’s Responsible Investment Approach, which is applied across the entire portfolio and now incorporates Negative Screening, ESG Integration, Active Ownership and Impact Investing.