Friday, June 17, 2011
Philippians 4: 10-13I 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. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Like many, I struggle with contentment. How much is enough? Why do I think one more would make me happier? Why do I see what isn't there more than what is there? I don't think the answers to these questions are simple, but I believe Scripture provides the balance we need to cultivate godly contentment. Like Paul wrote in the verse above, I have learned the secret of being content. We can learn it too, if we are willing. I want to take a closer look at what Paul is teaching in these verses. What is the secret to contentment? I believe it has to do with our willingness to accept three powerful truths.
1. Godly contentment hinges on what is happening inside of us not around us. We are all tempted to believe the lie that our contentment hinges on our ability to control what is happening around us. But no matter how hard we try we cannot control our environment. Think about it this way. When we become discontented we can lose our peace and joy. These are fruits of the Spirit - He is producing them in us. If we can lose our peace and joy when circumstances turn bad, the peace and joy we were experiencing were not fruits of the Spirit; they were fruits of good circumstance. When circumstances rob us of our peace and joy, we must take responsibility. We must acknowledge that we are looking to what we cannot control to provide us with our contentment. Only then can we begin to look in the right direction for our contentment.
2. Godly contentment is need not want oriented. God will meet all our needs. He is going to take care of us. Much of discontentment stems from not getting what I want. God has not promised to meet all of our wants according to His riches in glory; but our needs. Is God meeting your needs? If the answer is yes, stop and thank Him. Don't allow your emotions to attach themselves to your wants. That is a no win proposition.
3. Godly contentment is a matter of trust. If we really trust God, if we really believe He loves us and has our best interest in mind - then when things fall apart around us they don't have to fall apart inside of us. Contentment is trusting God even when things seem out of control. Paul's faith in God allowed him to say, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength". And later in the same passage, "And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus" ( Philippians 4:19).
The key to contentment is learning that I can everything God wants me to do through His strength. I can establish objectives that are in God's plan. I can trust Him to supply all of my needs. Contentment is a daily struggle for all of us. It's something we learn by cultivating a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. We learn it by knowing that Christ will strengthen us for every challenge.
G.K. Chesterton said, "True contentment is the power of getting out of any situation all that is in it."
Learning to be content,
Pastor Tim
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