There is 
an old story told about a king who had a serious illness. One day his physician came to him and told him that the only way to be cured was to wear the shirt of a contented man for one day. So he sent out his messengers to search throughout the land for a contented man.
Months passed until the messengers finally returned to the palace. “Have you located a man of contentment?” the king asked his messengers.
“Yes, my lord, we found only one man in your entire kingdom.”
The king asked, “Then why did you not bring back his shirt?”
“Master, the man had no shirt.”
One of the most difficult virtues for young and old to grasp is that of contentment. In a society where all our wants are immediately realized, we have a long road to travel to learn true contentment and satisfaction.
A recent study showed that 100 years ago Americans had 70 wants in their lives that they felt needed to be satisfied. The grandchildren of those same people now claim 500 wants.
When David was on the run from wicked Absalom and his army, he frequently faced the problem of feeding his troops. When at Mahanaim, a wealthy man named Barzillai helped provide David with “bedding and bowls. . .wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds, sheep and cheese” (2 Samuel 17:28,29). David and his band of warriors were very thankful.
After David learned of the death of Absalom, he again met with Barzillai. David realized the great sacrifice Barzillai had made earlier, so David said to him, “Cross over [Jordan] with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you” (19:33).
That invitation meant that Barzillai could live the remainder of his life in luxury and comfort. What do you think went through Barzillai’s mind after hearing this once-in-a-lifetime offer? What would have been your first thoughts, or would this be considered a no-brainer? Barzillai humbly replied, “How many more years will I live that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? I am now eighty years old. . . . Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of men and women singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? . . . Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother” (19:34-37).
Few people would have refused the king’s offer. Barzillai was different; he was content. Although a wealthy man, he was not influenced by the pressures of always wanting more or always climbing the ladder to a higher rung. Instead, he was satisfied to live out his years at home and to be laid to rest in the family cemetery.
God indeed showers us with blessings until our cups run over. Why is it then so difficult for us to be content with those blessings? How has Satan taken our focus off the blessings we have and diverted the spotlight to search for things we don’t have? Discontentment can be the root of covetousness, cheating, stealing, lying, adultery, and many other transgressions. What a lesson we can learn from Barzillai. He teaches us what contentment is really about. He traded the glamour of a palace for the things of a simpler life; a life of true contentment.
Why can the Christian be content? The writer to the Hebrews says it well: “Be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (13:5).
Prayer thought: Ask God to give you a contented soul.
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