Contentment

 Philippians 4:10-13

A very peaceful scene is that of a happily contented child.  They are peacefully content with what they have, not clamoring for more or something different.  He or she is trusting their parents, and all seems right in their world.  A discontented child, on the other hand, is like a storm that has broken out, whining, crying, and in a terrible temper.  Nothing is making them happy, and they sure are not pleasant to be around.  Unfortunately adults can, and often are just like that as well.  Being content with what we have is the lesson that the Apostle Paul seeks to teach us in our New Testament Scripture passage for this week.

As Paul was closing his letter to the church in Philippi, he spoke about being content in whatever circumstances the Lord brought him to.  At the time of his writing this letter, his circumstances found him sitting in a prison cell because of his preaching the Gospel.  That is not a circumstance that would typically lead to contentment.  Most of us would be whining and clamoring to God as to why He was allowing that to happen.  Over the years of his ministry, Paul said that he had learned to be content no matter what condition he found himself in (vs. 11-12).  If he was in lowly circumstances or luxurious ones, he was content.  If he had a full plate of delicious food, or hardly a bite to eat, he was content.  It didn’t matter to him if he was sleeping on the ground or in the house of a wealthy companion.  Jesus gave him the strength and contentment to be happy in Him (vs. 13).

How can we live like this?  Maybe the plumbing is falling apart in the little ramshackle house we have to live in.  Maybe the job we have is miserable, and doesn’t pay enough.  Maybe we have an inattentive and unloving spouse.  How can we be content in our life, like Paul was?  Paul’s key was to focus on Christ, rather than on the circumstances.  Focus on what God is doing through the situation.  Focus on the omnipotence and goodness of the Lord.  If we spend all of our time looking down at our circumstances, we will forget to look up at God, from whom all blessings flow.  No one enjoys going hungry, or sleeping outside in a rainstorm, or sitting in jail.  However, Paul focused his thoughts on the Lord, not on his outward circumstances.  When we do that, we will have joy and contentment in every situation, like he did.

The way we view our circumstances is more important than the circumstances themselves.  We can be content, no matter what happens in our life, because we can draw our ultimate satisfaction from God, who never changes.  Lasting satisfaction can be found only with Him.  Paul was content because he could see life from God’s point of view.  He focused on the mission that God had given him to do, not on what he should have in life.  Paul had his priorities straight, and he was grateful for everything God had given him.

Contentment is feeling comfortable and secure with where we are and who we are.  Happiness, on the other hand, depends upon circumstances.  Contentment for believers is possible in any situation, because it is anchored in God.  Even though Paul’s circumstances were horrible in prison, and he had endured much abuse, he didn’t complain.  Instead, he was filled with rejoicing, having learned to be content.  Christian contentment is a state of heart in which we would be at peace if God gave us nothing more than He already has given us.

There are some false teachers who teach that a sign of God’s favor is getting everything that we want.  This is never taught in the Bible.  God places us where we need to be in order to do His will and reflect His glory.  We need to trust Him.  He knows what is best for us.  God will always give us the strength to bear the trials in our life.  When those around us know our trials and weaknesses, and can still see God working through us, He is magnified even more through us.

Instead of pleading with God to take away our difficulties, ask for strength and a new perspective.  God may not always deliver us from trials, but we can count on Him to help us learn contentment.  Faith is the way we get out of the negative valley of focusing solely on our circumstances, and find courage and calmness for our life.  When all we have is God, we have all we need.