Learning to Be Content

Philippians 4:11-13

11 Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances.12 I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty.13 Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. [The Message]

Paul wrote this passage during his first imprisonment in Rome. He had lost his freedom to travel where he wanted as he was chained to a Roman soldier and was getting by on the bare essentials of life. Yet he told the Philippians he had learned to be quite content in his circumstances. In verses 12 and 13 Paul is telling us there is a secret to this and we will look more at that in a moment.

Today’s society is all about discontent. You are told you need the latest piece of technology to meet all your needs in this world. Or you spend many hours keeping “up with the Jones”. Why? Because the world tells you this is what is needed to be happy or content. But as Christians you are not to behave as the world. True contentment is a form of godliness and it is in this contentment that you will find true happiness for when you came into this world you brought in nothing and when you leave you will do the same (see 1 Timothy 6:7-8).

Christian contentment is a mystery to the world and it is only in Christ that one can learn to be content. This goes back to the secret Paul spoke of in verses 12 and 13. The secret is understanding the sovereignty of the Holy God. That it is God who is in total control of all that is in this world. When you understand that, then you can grasp the secret to contentment, which is to understand that God has put you where you are in this life. If you are not a Pulitzer winning writer it is because God does not desire for you to be. It you are not a Doctor working for the cure of cancer it is because God does not want you to be. Your station in life is exactly where God wants and when you grasp hold of that truth, it is then you can begin to be content in life. The world cannot understand this but in Christ you can and Paul wants all believers to understand that wherever you are, what ever you’re doing, you can make it, for the one who created you made you who you are. Understand this: Contentment is not something that just happens. It is a learned habit and is part of the Sanctification process. It is not dependent on your circumstances but can only be found in Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.

For Thought:

1.     Is your life characterized by contentment?

2.     Is your contentment based on your external achievements or of the achievements given to you by God.

3.     Godly contentment is being satisfied with Christ.

Hebrew 13:5

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." [ESV]

God wants you to remain free and not be in bondage to this world. To do this be content in God’s blessings to you and you will find His perfect peace and joy. Remember you will not find contentment by desiring more but by desiring less until your only desire is in Christ.

Prayer

My God, my Creator, this world is constantly pulling me to do that which you do not want me to and I ask you to give me the strength to understand I am where you have placed me and that I am to be contented in where you have placed me. Then Father as I understand this contentment I can be happy in your will for my life and be pleasing to you. Amen.