Contentment

DEVOTION

THE LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS

CONTENTMENT

Phil 4:10-13

10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

NIV

The secret to contentment may still be a secret as Paul says he has learned to be content whatever the circumstance, but it appears, at least on the surface, he has not revealed how to do this. But alas, he does give away his secret. It is being in Christ or having our heart right with God, which is being in Christ. It does seem we want what we want when we want it for the most part. That appears to be the way of the world. Always wanting more, better, bigger, newer, shinier, brighter, more expensive, softer, harder, or different, of whatever it is. The advertisers prey on the discontentment of people, creating that desire, the lust for their wares, or lifestyle. We never have enough of whatever we already have. Discontentment tends to lead to envy or jealousy, comparing what we have or don’t have with what someone else has. What we have to learn is to live content, at peace with our life. We think we have. How much more do we need? We have everything we need. We have a place to live, even with furniture, we have a car to get to a job, which we have. We have clothes to wear and enough money to buy food to eat, keep the heat, lights or air conditioning on, and the water running.  It seems our physical needs have been met. We praise God we still have our mind somewhat intact, of course, we might forget once in a while, but we can still think, and even learn. We know being loved and what it is to love. What more emotional fulfillment do we need? Even if we did not have all we have and we were in need of many of those things, having our life in Christ should be enough. Paul says he has learned to be content no matter whether he has a lot or a little. Therefore it should not matter to us whether we have all we have or don’t have it all, we still should be content because we have Christ in this life, being as temporary as it is, will someday yield to our eternal life in that glorious place Jesus has prepared for us. Jesus taught so much about how precious we are to God and that he would care for us. He taught us we should not be anxious about tomorrow or what we would eat or wear or live, for God cares for us. This is what Paul is saying about being content. Contentment is trusting in God, rather than in self. We can never provide enough needs to satisfy our discontentment, so we are left with the only hope of complete faith and trust in God in order to be content whatever the circumstances.