Content or Complacent?

Often contentment and complacency are confused and mixed up. This is understandable since they both relate to satisfaction. But we need to be clear on the difference as we move toward godly contentment.

Contentment is good, it is godly, it is biblical. Complacency is dangerous. 

As we learned in my last post on contentment, the definition of contentment is: pleased and satisfied : not needing more. 

But on the other hand... 

According to Merriam-Webster, complacency  is "self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies." also  "a feeling of being satisfied with how things are and not wanting to try to make them better."


Dictionary.com says complacency is "a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc."


Proverbs 1:32 says "For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them."

The definition of complacency also reminds me of 1 Thessalonians 5:3 "For when they say, 'peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape."

Let us be content with the blessings of God, but never deceived into complacency.  As followers of Christ let us be satisfied in Christ, not in the things of this world. Be aware the satan's greatest tool is complacency, he tricks people into thinking life is great to keep them from seeing their need for our Savior.

"Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21:36