February 16, 2026
It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one’s heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile—like chasing the wind.
Ecclesiastes 6:9, NET
Recommended Reading: 1 Timothy 6:6-10
The English naturalist and cleric John Ray published a Collection of English Proverbs in 1670. One of the proverbs he recorded—“A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”—has its origins as far back as the seventh century B.C.: “Better is a sparrow held tight in the hand than a thousand birds flying about in the air.”
King Solomon understood this principle: Being content with what one has today is better than being anxious about what one wishes he had. Living in a state of “continual longing,” Solomon wrote, “is futile—like chasing the wind.” Sometimes we forget the lessons of Eden, that God created a world for us to enjoy on a daily basis. Yes, that world has been marred by sin and sin’s ill effects, but that does not mean we should be dissatisfied with the joys we can experience each day. The apostle Paul affirmed the benefits of contentment in 1 Timothy 6:6-10.
Ask God for wisdom in finding the balance between what you have and what you desire.
Contentment with what we have is absolutely vital to our spiritual health.
Jerry Bridges
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