The Secret to a Satisfied Life with Jeff Manion

The world constantly tells us, “You just need a little more.” But what if real peace isn’t found in having more, but in learning to need less?

What comes to mind when you hear the word “wealth”? For some, it means freedom. For others, it brings anxiety and pressure. Today, Jeff Manion joins us to explore how we can cultivate contentment in a culture that always craves more.

Jeff Manion is the Teaching Pastor at Ada Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he has served for over 40 years. He is also the author of several books, including Satisfied: Discovering Contentment in a World of Consumption.

Why Wealth Confuses Us

In a world that constantly urges us to acquire more, climb higher, and chase the next upgrade, contentment often feels elusive. But what if true satisfaction isn’t found in accumulation, but in learning—learning to trust, to remember, to let go, and to live fully in the present? Contentment is not something we’re born with—it’s something we must learn. And we’re learning it together.

Let’s be honest—wealth can be confusing. One day, we're living simply out of necessity, and the next, after years of doing the right things—avoiding debt, saving diligently, and giving generously—we find ourselves in a season of financial stability. You’d think contentment would come naturally at that point. But surprisingly, it doesn’t.

Learning contentment in a season of sufficiency is often more challenging than in a season of scarcity. When we experience financial security, the temptation to trust in our own strength rather than God's provision becomes a real concern. 

This isn’t new—it’s the same struggle the Israelites faced in Deuteronomy 8. After years of daily dependence on manna in the wilderness, God warned them not to forget Him once they entered the Promised Land. He reminded them: “Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deut. 8:18). That warning is for us too.

The Danger of the “There and Then” Mentality

Contentment is rooted in the present, not the future. And yet we often believe we’ll only be at peace "there and then"—when the vacation arrives, the mortgage is paid off, or the kitchen is finally renovated. But if we can’t be fully alive to God and the people around us now, there’s no guarantee we will be later.

We don’t stumble into contentment—we learn it. The Apostle Paul, writing under house arrest, said, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Phil. 4:11). His circumstances didn’t determine his joy. His peace wasn’t tied to his comfort. And ours doesn’t have to be either.

Sometimes the path to contentment starts by taking inventory—literally. For many of us, stuff multiplies without our awareness. A drawer of unworn t-shirts, a shelf of unused dishes, boxes of forgotten CDs…they add up. We can begin the journey toward contentment by shedding excess.

A simple practice, like giving away five items a day for seven weeks, can bring clarity and peace. Not because we’re pursuing minimalism for its own sake, but because we’re reminding ourselves that joy isn’t found in our possessions—it’s found in a life uncluttered by distraction, filled with God’s presence and purpose.

Escaping the Comparison Trap

Comparison is a thief of joy. Whether or not Teddy Roosevelt actually coined the phrase, it’s undeniably true. In our digital age, we don’t just compare lives—we compare carefully curated highlight reels. This distorts our view, convincing us we’re missing out when in fact, we’re richly blessed.

Comparison shifts our focus from gratitude to scarcity. And scarcity suffocates generosity. When we believe we never have enough, we become unable to see the abundance God has already given us—abundance meant to be shared.

Generosity is one of the most effective ways to break money’s grip on our hearts. Paul’s charge to Timothy echoes through the centuries: “Command those who are rich… not to put their hope in wealth… but to put their hope in God… to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share” (1 Tim. 6:17–18).

When we give, we reflect the heart of our generous God—first in creation, then in Christ. And as we open our hands, we discover joy not in what we keep, but in what we release for the sake of others and the glory of Go