Contentment

"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 all this through him who gives me strength. " ~ Philippians 4:11-13

I admire the Apostle Paul and his attitude towards life. I think the way he lived should remind us to be content with whatever the Lord gives to us. There are times in Paul's letters that he claimed to have barely eaten, let alone slept in days. He was also moving from place to place, that he really didn't have a home. His focus was on God's kingdom. He knew this earth was not his home, so he focused on what would last beyond his life, which was a relationship with Christ.

From his letter to the Philippians, he writes how his contentment was found in Christ alone. Before Paul became a believer, he had a different name, a different routine of life, riches, and much more, but it wasn't until he knew who Jesus Christ was that he came to live a life that proved that having everything in this world does not bring contentment. Yes, he had a lot to brag about and give up before he became a Christian, but to him, nothing compared to his salvation in Christ. To have little on this earth and have a relationship with God was far better than having everything he had before and not having a relationship with Him. I would even think from this passage that Paul is saying he is better off not having anything than everything, because he has learned "the secret of being content in anything and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Read 2 Corinthians 12:5-10 also to get another idea of his reliance on God.

The Apostle Paul seemed to have quite adventurous life that I somewhat envy. Because how much in love would he have been with God to give up everything to serve him? Today, as I look at myself and the world around me, I see a lot of discontentment going around. We either want more money or more food. A new car. A new wardrobe. A new home. Expensive things. Anything that will bring us happiness for a while. It's easy to blend in as Christians because we want these things as well. We want to provide the best for loved ones, but where is the line drawn at which we realize God will provide what we truly need before we become so comfortable in our lives that He may wake up us up to remind us this earth is not our home? 

What if this was our goal as Christians: to put Christ first in our lives and see what adventures He may bring to us. Now that makes it sound like I'm trying to romanticize going hungry, homeless, or not having a car, but here's the thing I'm getting at. What if we relied on God to give us what we need this day instead of focusing on what will make us happy? I just finished the book Crazy Love and in one of the chapters, Francis Chan lists names of people who gave up the comfort of a warm home, relationships, safety, large portions of money, and dignity to serve in the name of Christ. This is not to say a middle class family man is not living this kind of adventurous life. Instead it means putting Christ first in our lives, which is putting everything on the line to watch it burn, fade, or stay.

I hear Philippians 4:13 so much that I have forgotten what it means sometimes. In the context, I think it means we are relying on God's strength no matter what may come in our lives. If everything we had was stripped away, would we at least have our trust in God who provides us with strength? What we need to do today and everyday is thank the Lord for what He has blessed us with and remember that He has given us strength to do exactly what we need to be doing for him. This is where I think contentment can start in our lives.


"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." ~ Matthew 6:33

"Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." ~ 1 Timothy 6:6-8