CONTENTMENT
by Nikita Harris
West End Bible Fellowship
Atlanta, GA
Let me start by telling you how this teaching came about. Recently I took a test that I found on the World Wide Web that was designed to measure a person's ambition. The test rated you on three things: confidence, self-esteem, and ambition. When I completed the test, I found that I had rated above average in the first two categories, but below average in the third.
I consider myself a fairly ambitious person, so I spent a couple of days trying to figure out why I would score below average in the "ambition" category. I finally realized that what the test was looking for was a person's dissatisfaction with their present state as a way of determining their level of ambition.
That explained my low score. Right now I am living a life of contentment in Christ Jesus. I do have goals and desires, and I do strive to better myself, but right here and right now, I am content.
The apostle Paul described this state of mind in the fourth chapter of his Epistle to the Philippians.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
It's not all that difficult to maintain this frame of mind when things are going well. Right now things are going pretty well for me. I have a good family, a good job, and good health. I wondered: Is it possible to be content even when things aren't going right in your life?
Then I remembered where Paul was when he wrote these words: He was in a Roman jail.
12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Even while locked up in jail, Paul managed to be content. When I read this, I thought: If Paul could do this, maybe I can, too.
Paul spoke on occasion about some of the things that had happened to him in his life. These give us some idea of how Paul managed to be content both when he was abounding and when he was being abased.
3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for .
Paul seemed to have a lot going for him according to the flesh. But this isn't what counted to Paul. What mattered to Paul was " the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." For Christ, Paul was willing to lose everything else. This is what kept him from putting undue value on the things of the world, and helped him to see things in proper perspective. Compared to Christ, the good things in life were "but dung."
Paul also encountered difficult times during his ministry.
23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
When Paul said he knew how to be abased, he really meant it! It's hard to imagine trying to be content while spending a night and a day in the deep! But Paul wasn't a man who focused on his circumstances. His eyes were fixed firmly on his goal: "…the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus," that is, the hope of Christ's return.
In addition, Paul did not put his trust in his own abilities or resources, but relied instead on Jesus Christ.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
This is one of the secrets for living a life of contentment. Paul didn't look at what he did or didn't have, or at how good or how hard his circumstances were. He knew that God, in Christ Jesus, would supply his needs, regardless of the situation.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
It's interesting to notice all the things that are not on this list. What God is saying, in effect, is, "If you've got food and clothing, be happy!"
In certain parts of the world, it's easy to take this admonition literally. But we live in a culture that does its best to persuade us that we need a whole lot of extras before we can even begin to think about being content. People try to convince us that if we get a new car, or if we get a better job, we'll be happy. Some people spend their whole lives saying, "When I get this, I'll be happy," or, "When I do this, I'll be happy."
But that's not what God wants us to do.
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
In Timothy we were told that we should be content if we have food and clothing. Here we are told not to seek even after these! If we have these things, it is because God has supplied us with them.
We need to put our trust in God, not in people, circumstances or things, knowing that if we humble ourselves before Him, He will exalt us in due time.
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
We are content, regardless of the circumstances, because God is there with us. This is the secret of living a life of contentment.