Why More Success Won't Solve Discontentment

Have you ever looked around, seen others' success, and asked yourself, 'When will it be my turn to flourish?' – You're not alone, but the answer might surprise you.

Today, I want to talk about being generous with what you have.

All of us, rich or poor, have the ability to be generous with our time, resources, or expertise. However, most entrepreneurs think generosity is about donating more to churches or charities. So, we think that we have to go out and accumulate more wealth to be better givers, and this will get us stuck in the cycle of discontentment.

Since 2014, I've been writing blogs and creating devotionals for Christian entrepreneurs.  I do this freely.  And even as I wrote blogs, I was personally experiencing financial hardships and business problems.  But when I started writing and freely giving my time, resources, and expertise to other Godpreneurs, all of my problems would disappear, and for a moment, I was content.

However, when I wasn't writing, the discontentment returned, and I was back in my thoughts of envy and wanting more.

The Problem with Discontentment

Benjamin Franklin's said these words: "Contentment makes poor men rich; discontentment makes rich men poor."

Reflecting on my journey as an entrepreneur, I can see times when I got caught up in the pursuit of more - more success, more wealth. However, I've discovered that true riches come from a different source entirely.

In the entrepreneurial world, success is often measured by the size of our bank accounts or the luxury of our lifestyles. The advertising industry reinforces this, promising happiness with every purchase. Yet, as Godpreneurs, we sense a deeper truth - that contentment isn't found in wealth accumulation but in generosity and sharing our blessings with others.

The Generous Path to Contentment

Paul's advice to Timothy echoes this sentiment perfectly. In 1 Timothy 6:17-19, he writes,

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share."

Paul understood that true joy and contentment come from a heart aligned with God's purposes - a heart that gives freely and loves generously.

Reflect on your own life and business. Where have you placed your hope? Is it in the fluctuating markets and the uncertainty of wealth, or is it in God, who provides abundantly for your enjoyment and calls you to share that abundance with others?

Contentment is Available Today

Today, make a choice to pursue generosity over accumulation. Find ways to share your blessings, whether it's your time, resources, or expertise.

Imagine a community of Godpreneurs, each committed to this principle of generosity. Together, we can redefine success, moving away from the shallow metrics of wealth and towards the deep, lasting joy of contentment found in God and expressed through generosity. By sharing our blessings, we not only enrich the lives of others but discover the true contentment that makes us genuinely rich.

Here's a Godpreneur Rule:

Godpreneurs are NOT obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow.

Rather, we go after God's wisdom, do good in the marketplace, are rich in helping our clients, and are extravagantly generous to a cause we feel called to sow into.