Friday, March 19, 2021
Contentment Is...
Paul wrote this passage of scripture while he was in prison for being a believer, with no hope of being released. This is what was on his mind ...I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content (Philippians 4:11) … And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19). Is that what you would be thinking in the same situation? Admittedly I find myself in much less hopeless situations and that is not what I am thinking. I am feeling hopeless and that the walls are coming down because of my circumstances. But when everything else is washed away, one thing remains - Jesus Christ and my faith and hope in Him. When everything else can be taken from us, that never can be taken away from us. And nothing else on this earth will ever bring us the contentment, peace, and security that Jesus Christ will.
When I think of being content I think of a baby with a full tummy sleeping peacefully. They are content. Satisfied. Peaceful. What makes you content? Satisfied? Peaceful?
1. Contentment is... learned behavior. We learn to be content like babies learn to walk. And such an unnatural disposition is only by supernatural grace. We have to learn to make the choice to be content - even if. Even if things don’t go our way. Even if the situation is not what we thought it would be. Even if the people in our lives let us down. Even if the money runs out. Even if we can’t have the “things” we want. With the power of the Holy Spirit we can resist discontentment or we will live in a state of discontentment and ungratefulness.
2. Contentment is... not dependent on circumstances. If Paul can learn to be content regardless of circumstance, we can, too. The same Holy Spirit who indwelt him indwells us. The same fruit of the Spirit — peace and self-control — that were manifest in his life can be manifest in ours.
Discontent desires more — bigger, better, faster, newer, more comfortable. That is deception. If you are not content in challenging circumstances, the contentment you think you feel in other circumstances is not contentment but simply your satisfaction that things are momentarily the way you think they should be.
3. Contentment is... a state of being, not a state of doing. Our flesh only feels content when we are doing. Being, however, does not end — it is not tied to activity. Paul said he had learned to “be content,” not “do contentment.”
4. Contentment is... based on the riches of God in Christ Jesus. The Bible says that everything we need to complete our journey from earth to heaven will be supplied by God. Therefore, everything we feel discontented about is likely not something we need in order to make and complete that journey. There’s nothing wrong with possessing things. But there is something wrong if we can’t be content without them. Things will never provide what only God can provide.
Paul didn't take pleasure in the pain itself, but in the power of Christ manifested through him in times of imprisonment, reproach, persecution, and distress. We also should learn to take pleasure in the power of Christ in times of distress and find contentment only in Him.
