Tommy Lasorda, manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers was extremely successful. In his first 12 seasons the Dodgers won six division titles, four pennants, and two World Series victories. Lasorda credited his success at motivating people to a can of evaporated milk he spotted on the kitchen table when he was 15. It said, “Contented cows give better milk.” Lasorda said, “I am of the belief that contented people give better performances. I try to make it fun for them. I try to make them proud of the organization they represent” (Bill Fromm, The Ten Commandments of Business and How to Break Them).

Paul reminds us “godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8). He modeled contentment in his own life:

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:10-13).

A Quaker farmer ran an ad in the local paper saying that he would give his farm to any man who was truly content. A successful nearby farmer thought to himself, “I have a successful farm. I am making good money. I do not have to work that hard. I must be truly content.” He went to his Quaker neighbor and said that he was truly content. The Quaker replied, “If thee art truly content, why dost thee want my farm?”

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:5). Are you content? Why not? Are you on the Lord’s team?