A Call to Contentment
What does the Christian faith have to say about being fulfilled in life? In A Call to Contentment, David Kaywood writes on pursuing godly satisfaction in a restless world.
Kaywood defines Christian contentment as freedom from dependence on desired circumstances that comes from God’s empowering grace to endure everything with rejoicing. At just around 150 pages, this book is a quick read that will reap great rewards.
Supernatural Strength
I was most interested to learn the five signs and symptoms of discontentment: (1) Worry, (2) coveting, (3) grumbling, (4) unrighteous anger, and (5) unhealthy dwelling. Kaywood asks you questions of each one, and he helped me see blindspots in my own life.
Kaywood argues that in the Christian faith, true contentment is possible because Christ empowers his people by divine enablement, providing them supernatural strength to endure anything. He grounds his book in the Bible, and writes with wisdom.
Faithful and Fruitful
The middle of the book looks at areas where Christ can provide contentment: Money and possessions, pain and suffering, success and work. I was most moved to read about the connection between contentment and calling. It caused me to think realistically about how God has gifted me (and how he has not gifted me!) and if I am being faithful. Taking a cue from Tim Keller, Kaywood challenges us to be fruitful in our work.
The book ends with a look at God’s providence, as well as practical rules for remaining content. After reading, I am thankful to God for his grace in my life but also motivated to grow in contentment. And with Christ’s power, it is more than possible.
I received a media copy of A Call to Contentment and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.