10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last
you have renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me, but lacked
the opportunity [to show it]. 11 I don't say this out of need, for I have learned
to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know both how to have a
little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned
the secret [of being content]-whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or
in need. 13 I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me. ~
(Philippians 4:10-13, HCS)
Our discontentedness can be
extremely hazardous. It will cause us to make decisions to quickly or take foolish
actions that soon bring us anguish. Discontent causes us to want to be someone
or something other than what God has brought us too. When we are not content
with where we are there becomes a desire to be somewhere we don’t need to be or
a reason to have something that is not ours, which so derails our life. Our discontentment
will cause us to become preoccupied with things and places that have no bearing
on our life with Christ. However, when we are patiently waiting on all the
comfort and joy that Christ Jesus has for our lives we will know the
contentment Paul is talking about here to the Philippians. When we are content
in Christ and where we are in our Christian walks our motives have a way
becoming more aligned with Christ purpose for our lives. Contentment in Christ
moves us close to His heart.
Contentment is the understanding
to undergo adversity and to manage success while living for and looking to
Christ. If we go through life never pleased or thankful, if we are always
looking for that little extra, just if I could get a little more money or that
nicer car, or a bigger house we are not only not living in Christ but we are
setting ourselves up to always feel let down. We start to believe that the
world is against us, or that God does not listen to us and does not answer our
prayers. When our desires of more; more things, better opportunities,
relationships that will move us forward, all these desires and more only assist
in cluttering and muddling our lives. When more becomes our primary aspirations
and devotedness becomes about obtaining more that is when our lives become out
of control giving Satan a foothold into our minds and lives.
What if more stuff is not our
issue? What if it is the way we look? Our weight, skin tone, hair, (or in my
case the lack of), height etc., etc., etc. These things will also destroy our
ability to be content. We need to see God working in and through us or we will
become disconnected and go AWOL (military meaning Away With Out Leave). When we
live in contentment, our ability to trust in Jesus grows exponentially.
“I give thanks to Christ
Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful,
appointing me to the ministry-” (1 Timothy 1:12, HCS).
Although Paul was still
growing in Christ and knew he had much more to learn, he understood the
fruitfulness of being content. By God’s grace Paul had developed to where he
was able to use the hardships during his ministry to gain a better
understanding of God’s heart. During Paul’s time in jail he began the very
first jail ministry and wrote the most profound words of truth. Paul’s ability
to live in contentment is the patchwork that God used to pen the most
grace-filled letters in scripture that God continues to use some 2000 years
later to inspire, teach and direct His children in the ways of righteousness.
From the time Paul meet Jesus in a blinding light on the road to Damascus until
his death Paul bowed to the desires of the Lord and did whatever Christ ask of
him. The secret to Paul’s contentment was Jesus working in and through his
life.
If we are to learn anything
from Paul let it be this. Surrender everything to Jesus Christ, your positions,
your relationships, your job, your marriage, your children, how others see you,
everything! Leave nothing to chance, in Jesus Christ all things prosper. Ask
Jesus to grow us in wisdom, humility, to help us grown and learn and most
importantly ask our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ to grow us and develop in us
the ability to be content in Him. Ask Jesus to grant us the ability to
surrender to Him and give us the faith to live as He lives, to give us strength
and fortify our desire to be content in Him.
“But godliness with
contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6, HCS)
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