But godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Tim 6:6 KJV)
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (2 Pet 1:3 KJV)
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (Phil 4:11 KJV)
The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. (Psa 16:6 KJV)
The phrase 'less can be more' has been used in various scenarios, and there is truth in it. A painting, a manufactured item, or a piece of music, can be too cluttered for optimum effect. Some things are best left out. A recipe can be the same, or decor.
The same is true in God. We can get greedy, but less can be more. In God, what He gives will be enough. In fact, it will be the optimum, the best. The Devil may tantalise you with excellence and options galore. The things themselves, in context, are good. But they are not your portion. They may give a very brief response of pleasure, but they will not make you lastingly happy and joyful.
God will not generally lead us to meet our greed. It takes from what is meant for others and it does not even do us any good.
If we fail to gain fulfilment in God in an area, we will likely try to compensate by being greedy in another. We may, to use a pertinent example for Westerners, try to compensate for emotional and relational poverty by being overly lavish with material things. God is not against the things themselves. Indeed Judas accused Mary, and by implication, Jesus, of being unnecessarily extravagant. But there is a time and a place for most things. Pointless ongoing extravagance, the shopaholic syndrome, is a sign of an inner void.
Contentment is largely a matter of the emotions. If we cannot abide in a state of contentment, it may be we need to seek the Lord for healing of our emotions; throwing off bitterness, resentment, deceit, guile, idolatry. We will always be much happier for it.
Another thing; sometimes we can enjoy aspects of something legitimately, without insisting on tasting the whole. It is OK to enjoy the aroma of a meal in a restaurant when you are just having coffee without feeling compelled to order it then and there. It is OK to admire a beautiful woman without lusting after her. Indeed, to truly live, we must abstain from lusts.
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:14-17 KJV)
Lusts try to compel. They allure. They promise. But they deceive; they offer very temporary pleasure and they poison, bruise and kill. They spoil our appetites and appreciation of what God is seeking to bless us with. It is God alone who can give us pure and undefiled pleasure.It is God alone who can really satisfy and delight us. When tempted, we must resist the Devil trusting that God has a better way, better pleasures, ongoing fulfilment, and a way out of the temptation which is viable for us. Some things will always be wrong for us, some will be right only on occasion. God is not totally rigid, but the Spirit will always lead us in love and often in moderation.
Most importantly, every truly good and complete thing is freely given to you by the Father who delights in you. Whether emotionally, intellectually, with the senses, physically, or in any combination of these things, God always leads us into complete satisfaction and contentment.
