For nearly a year, I was disturbed by a passage in Philippians in which the apostle Paul claims to possess unwavering contentment. “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have,” Paul said, adding, “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little” (Philippians 4:11-12)
Night after night I’d lie awake comparing myself with Paul, my friends, and other believers. Each time, I felt like an utter failure—a pathetic, impostor Christian. While no storm, beating, or prison term could rattle Paul’s contentment; all it took to bring me down was a little bad weather or a slow day at work.
If I’m really a new person in Christ, I wondered, why am I so easily dissatisfied? Why can’t I embrace challenges instead of concluding in the midst of them that God is neglecting me?
Perhaps one of the most freeing moments in my Christian journey came the night I was fretting over Philippians 4:11, and a phrase—that I hadn’t paid much attention to before—jumped out at me: “I have learned . . . ”
It was then that I grasped that Paul didn’t achieve lasting contentment the instant he entered into his relationship with Christ. To the contrary, Paul reached a state of steady contentment only after a lengthy and excruciating learning process.
Like Paul, you and I can achieve increased contentment by drawing upon Jesus’ power and strength (v.13) and depending on God’s perfect provision (v.19). As we become more and more satisfied with what God has given us, we’ll be able to say with confidence that the Lord is our helper in all situations. We will become content.
More:
Be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
Next:
What has God been teaching you about contentment? What ends contentment?
BDB_CSIII on April 11, 2010 at 7:51 am
Amen! We live is such a materialistic world, where all we see is what we “should have, gotta have” in order to be content. The gosple message is one of contentment with one thing, Jesus Christ. If we are content in Christ, then we will be content in all things and God will provide our every NEED.
Lilyofthevalley on April 11, 2010 at 9:10 am
Perfect timing! God always finds a way to show me things at just the right time. This is exactly what i had been struggling with.
kewi on April 11, 2010 at 9:10 am
It is great when a verse or part of a verse just jumps out at you. These are sometimes life changing moments. Thanks for the new context on a verse that we all need to learn.
roxanne robbins on April 11, 2010 at 11:46 am
Today I heard a Bible teacher suggest that sometimes “dissatisfaction” is good because it prompts us to draw near to God and make positive change.
What do you think is the difference between “satisfaction” and “contentment” or between “dissatisfaction” and “discontentment?”
I’m eager to hear your thoughts . . .
msumalabe on April 11, 2010 at 1:45 pm
From how I understand it, Satisfaction is something that we feel once our desires or expectations are fulfilled. It is a result or an outcome influenced by external factors.
Meanwhile, Contentment is from within and is not influenced by circumstances. It is the acceptance of how things are.
Anyhow, this is just my point of view.
LaurenJulia on April 11, 2010 at 12:13 pm
I consider myself a content person. Sometimes, though, I find myself taking that for granted and I push my relationship with God to the side. And then that’s when I worry and feel dissatisfied! It’s not a vicious cycle, but one that does weigh on me sometimes. My pastor has been preaching a series of sermons on Idols…and one week was Money.
He used the verses in Matt 6:24-24. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life. . . Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matt 6:25, 33).
This passage daily reminds me that God provides for all my needs and I can be content, and satisfied (and therefore daily learning to be happy with what I have), and when I place my trust in God more and more, what riches I will store up in heaven!
Blessings to all of you as we grow together in Christ.
LaurenJulia on April 11, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Oops– I Meant to write Matt 6:24-34
roxanne robbins on April 11, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Thanks for the comments, all.
msumalabe – Your distinction between “contentment” and “satisfaction” causes me to think about the Ugandan people that I live amongst. I admire that many of them, though not satisfied with their living conditions, still (for the most part) display contentment in Christ.
kewi on April 11, 2010 at 5:06 pm
We live amongst the Mexican people and I always am astonished by the happiness of the Christian people here, who have very little money, but have a huge Love for God. Sometimes people believe money can bring satisfaction , when in reality God alone brings personal fulfillment.
The verse “in all ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths” comes to mind.
In Gods paths comes peace and satisfaction. So easy, yet so many of us fail with remembering or practicing this.
Paul G on April 11, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Another great devotional – We must learn to be content as we must learn most of the precepts of God. As we purpose ourselves to be more Christ like, practice spiritual disciples and completely rely on God, slowly but surely our hearts are changed and we begin to be conformed to Jesus.
bethsjourney on April 12, 2010 at 8:51 am
What a TRUE blessing this devotional has been to me! This comes in great timing, on the heels of a “quiet proclamation” God has given me…some things I have been struggling with about not feeling “satisfied” with my life and wondering why things are so hard all the time…and if Im walking with Christ, why I am so frustrated all the time? God said to me….”hey UP Here!” is where to hang your hat, not on your own do-it-yourself hook. I too, would feel like such a failure as a Christian….I thought I was doing things right, but God showed me that I needed to be a truer Christian and get even closer to Him.
Thank you so much for this blessing!
The dude on April 12, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Thank you for this devotional. It’s awesome how the Lord speaks to us throughout the day and especially when we need it the most. It’s true as the author writes….we need to LEARN contentment and it’s a process as we grow and become transformed in Christ.
tammy43 on April 17, 2010 at 4:03 am
i am reconnect with god i need some help with it and my husband needs help with is anger want shall i read kathleen and jose
roxanne robbins on April 17, 2010 at 9:01 am
Kathleen and Jose – There are many good books to choose from that are designed to help us grow closer to God. Some of my personal favorites are The New Living Translation Bible and Beth Moore Bible Studies.
In terms of working through “anger” issues, I highly recommend “The Anger Work Book” by the Minirth-Meier Clinic Series, and books/materials by John Townsend and Henry Cloud
Please visit:
http://www.cloudtownsend.com
http://www.minirthclinic.com/books.html
cjskal on April 18, 2010 at 9:32 am
In 2007, right after graduating high school, I went on a mission trip to Brazil. The thing that struck me the most on this trip was how content the Brazilians were. The group I was with traveled by boat to very remote villages along the Amazon River, places where people were living in 10ft. X 10ft. shacks on stilts, with no beds, no running water, no electricity, nothing. And yet, they were so happy! They were content with what little they had and showed such huge gratitude toward us when we gave them simple things, like flip-flops or toothbrushes! I came back completely amazed at the contentment of these people and a bit ashamed of how uncontent I had been with my life. Ever since that trip, I wake up every morning and thank the Lord for the simple fact that I have a roof over my head, a warm bed to sleep in, and a hot shower to look forward to.