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Pastor's Pen
Stay up to date on the life of our church with Pastor Gary Turk's blog, updated monthly. His blog features devotional reflections, reports, observations, and more!Secret Of Contentment
04 November 2009 / 12:35 PM
Contentment seems to be in short supply today. There is always something more or something else that we want. We are never satisfied. Our society thrives on discontentment, that’s what feeds our economic and political life.
There are some times when we should be discontented. When we look around us and see the needs of the poor and the downtrodden we should have a discontentment that causes us to do something and not sit idly by.
But it is the first aspect of contentment that I am reminded of when the Apostle Paul says, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Phil. 4:11 NIV). He goes on to say, “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” (vs. 12). This is not just rhetoric, for the Apostle Paul had known all those circumstances at various times in his life. And yet he can say “I have learned the secret of being content….”
What is his secret of contentment and how do we learn to live a contented life? There are two things we need to note.
First, we need to go back to verses 4 and 6 where he tells us to “Rejoice in the Lord always” and “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Contentment begins with rejoicing in the Lord and giving thanks to God. Paul is letting us know that rejoicing and thanksgiving are the antidotes to being anxious or discontent. Contentment comes when we live with joy in the Lord and gratitude to God in every situation and circumstance.
Second, Paul says, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (vs. 13). The secret of his contentment was, as Bible commentator Adam Clarke wrote, “not a habit which he had acquired by frequent exercise, it was a disposition which he had by grace; and he was enabled to do all by the power of an indwelling Christ.”
True contentment is found in Christ. Our part is to rejoice and give thanks; God’s part is to give us the grace and enabling power. Are you experiencing true contentment in your life? Here is the secret.
There are some times when we should be discontented. When we look around us and see the needs of the poor and the downtrodden we should have a discontentment that causes us to do something and not sit idly by.
But it is the first aspect of contentment that I am reminded of when the Apostle Paul says, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Phil. 4:11 NIV). He goes on to say, “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” (vs. 12). This is not just rhetoric, for the Apostle Paul had known all those circumstances at various times in his life. And yet he can say “I have learned the secret of being content….”
What is his secret of contentment and how do we learn to live a contented life? There are two things we need to note.
First, we need to go back to verses 4 and 6 where he tells us to “Rejoice in the Lord always” and “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Contentment begins with rejoicing in the Lord and giving thanks to God. Paul is letting us know that rejoicing and thanksgiving are the antidotes to being anxious or discontent. Contentment comes when we live with joy in the Lord and gratitude to God in every situation and circumstance.
Second, Paul says, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (vs. 13). The secret of his contentment was, as Bible commentator Adam Clarke wrote, “not a habit which he had acquired by frequent exercise, it was a disposition which he had by grace; and he was enabled to do all by the power of an indwelling Christ.”
True contentment is found in Christ. Our part is to rejoice and give thanks; God’s part is to give us the grace and enabling power. Are you experiencing true contentment in your life? Here is the secret.