The Secret of Contentment

There was nothing extraordinary about this book, but neither was it a disappointment. It read very much like a series of sermons on the topic of contentment, taking verses out of Philippians as the main text, but straying from them quite far in pursuit of the topic. One ought to be aware that the author is a pastor of a Reformed church, and thus there is a significant emphasis on contentment flowing out of God's providential control--for better or for worse, depending on your own beliefs. All in all, this book did not present any extraordinary new insights, but brought together many things that we may know, yet fail to synthesize and live out. In that regard, it was still an encouraging book through which to work.

I discovered the secret. The secret of being content is knowing Jesus as your Savior. I would like to thank Amazon and this company for giving the answer to a big question, T

Bought this book used for a book study. Love the book so far and the condition of the used book was very good, as described.

A compelling and easy read. Today's world features lots of negativity and distractions, and it's easy for Christians to get wrapped up in that reality. Barcley provides a new lens through which to view this world and our participation in it. I have revisited this book several times to help keep grounded. I highly recommend it.

This is a very readable discourse on Paul's book to the Philippians. If you are depressed. If you aren't happy with the way America is heading. If you never have enough money, or education, or __________, you need to read this book. Contentment comes from inside us, and for followers of Jesus Christ, how you become content in your circumstances is almost 180 degrees different from the way the world around us tells us we can become content. Worth pondering!

Pursuit of Godliness to gain contentmentTruly the only way for contentmentNo contentment is attainable with out godlinessThis is never ending pursuit on this earth

Excellent!!!! I highly recommend this book. Based on the biblical truth about the theme, and very practical. If you want to dig deeper on the concept of “contentment”, you need to read and reflect on this book.

This book is awesome! Opened my eyes to how discontent I am on a daily basis and how much the Lord has blessed me. The girls I am reading it with love it too.

I was drawn to this book as the subject matter can dog even Christians with that continual desire for more of something. Christians generally know the theory but that sometimes isn't sufficient in the battleground of life. The author doesn't claim to "have arrived" and therefore feels he can sit down and tell you how he got there. No, rather he wrote it because he often feels discontented! When we find ourselves in a position like this it usually means that God is able to teach us because we recognise we have a problem. The book is divided up into 2 parts: 1) Pursuing Contentment and 2) The Mystery of Contentment. Mr Barcley uses the book of Philippians as the basis for his comments recognising that the temptation to be discontent is everywhere as part of the bombardment of things thrown at us in modern life which try to satisfy us. We should know better of course! Jeremiah Burroughs wrote nearly 400 years ago of the "rare jewel" of Christian contentment. If it was a rarity in the days of the Puritans, how much more is this true today! One chapter I particularly enjoyed was, 'The Contentment of the Discontented Christian', an apparent contradiction but filled with biblical truth. This book is relatively new (2010) and is therefore written in a modern context and is easy to read but it is intensely practical and reminds us that ultimately our satisfaction is found in God alone. There are discussion questions at the end of each chapter which enhances its application into a group study if that proves appropriate for you.