LEARNING TO BE SATISFIED IN EVERY SITUATION
“For I have learned to be content…” (Phil. 4:11)
Being content is a positive thing! We live in a rapidly changing world. Things which were valuable and sought after once are no longer thought to be important. Because the values of society are shifting like the sands of a desert, people are growing more and more discontented. We must not become complacent. It is important to be satisfied with self.
Contentment is something we learn. We learn it by practicing being content and we know it by experience. Contentment is NOT having everything we think we might enjoy. “He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loves abundance with increase: this is also vanity” (Eccl. 5:10).
We never have enough money to make us “happy.” The more we have, the more we want. John D. Rockefellar was asked how much money it took to make a man happy—his response, “Just a little bit more.” As children of God we are commanded to “Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2). We can be content in all things because God promises to supply all our needs—He will take care of us in the good times and in the bad times. Contentment is not having everything we want, but is enjoying everything we have.
Paul tells us he learned to be content. We can do that, too. The power of Jesus Christ was enough to strengthen him in all things. Regardless of our circumstances Jesus is able to make us content. Is Jesus the center of your life? The Word of God “instructs” us to be content—in all things. It’s amazing to me that Paul was one of the most learned men of his day and yet he had to study how to be satisfied. All is of God and God is good! Jesus Christ is sufficient. Do you believe that? The greater our lack—the larger our supply!
Let me mention discontentment, as so many of us are in a discontented mind frame these days. Discontentment is an emotion that is capable of dwarfing us spiritually because it is directed against the Lord. If we are discontented with His will for us, then we’re not going to grow in our faith.
Discontentment comes when we focus on what we lack. God is always looking for us to trust Him. How do we react to difficulties? Do we angrily add them up as examples of the way God has let us down? Is the glass half-full or half-empty for us? Do we shake our fists at heaven and say, “Why did you let this happen to me?” Do we withdraw from God, refusing to read our Bibles or pray? Or do we say, “Lord, You have cared for me so far, I trust you to supply the wisdom and the resources I need for this situation. I am content to leave it in your hands.” Our attitudes make all the difference in the way we face our circumstances.
The word “content” in the New Testament is the same Greek word translated, “enough,” “sufficient,” and “to be strong enough.” Obviously, godliness and contentment go together like hand and glove. “And godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Tim. 6:6-8).
The woman whose heart is filled with Jesus will be grateful for every blessing, and she will trust Him through every difficulty. We won’t like to admit it, but we really can live with just the bare necessities—food, clothes, and shelter. In fact, in many parts of the world, people are relieved to have that and can’t imagine having anything more. And we have so much more than just the essentials—we have a heavenly Father who will not abandon us. He knows what we need, and He has promised to supply it. What He wants most from us is simple, childlike trust. But that’s not always easy for us because it doesn’t come naturally.
To be “untouched by trouble” doesn’t mean we won’t have troubles. This is a fallen world, and trouble and suffering are part of life here on earth. “Untouched by trouble” does not mean trouble will never touch the inner core of our being where we live with God. Troubles will not devastate our faith—on the contrary; they will give us endurance and maturity. We will be content, even in our trials, because God is sufficient. Is discontentment your problem? If so, gratitude to God for His faithfulness is your solution.
