I just recently saw these definitions and thought they were very good:
Pride: I think you want what I have.
Envy: I want what you have.
Contentment: I’m OK with what I have, and I’m OK with you having what you have
Blessing: I want you to have what I have
I love how it reveals a progression of hard-heartedness to God-heartedness. God wants to root out pride and envy in our hearts and move us to contentment and blessing.
I find the more I live in contentment and blessing, the more joy I experience. Mark and I really explored the concept of contentment in our book Living With Less So Your Family Has More.
How is God moving you closer to contentment and blessing in your life?
Those are thought provoking definitions! Honestly, I think I’m a little stuck in envy right now. Mainly in regards to my home. 1200 sq. feet with 4 kids has felt really, really, REALLY tight this winter. So I’m wrestling with envy of bigger homes. I’ve also been trying to win a scholarship to attend the P31 Ministry’s She Speaks conference this fall but haven’t won in the 3 contests I’ve applied to. I’ve talked over my disappointment with God and know that he has a plan but it’s super hard not to be envious of the women who won and will be attending the conference!
In my journey to contentment I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the freedom I experience. When I am living to give to others instead of living to get for myself- there is not only a joy but a release of the burden that stuff brings.
Freedom is a great word to associate with contentment!