The Call to Contentment

Today I want to talk about contentment. I believe that one of our greatest challenges as believers is contentment. --- and I think it would be safe to say that most people never experience contentment. People are discontent with their singleness, people are discontent with their spouses, and people are discontent with their current jobs and salary. And I could go on. I don't know about you, but I just have a tough time being content. I always want more! For example, I never realized how pathetic my cell phone was until I saw the new Samsung Galaxy Note. I love something new ----- only to find that after the initial shine wears off, I am just as discontented and empty as I were before I began the quest. Interestingly, there is a certain discontent God does intend for us to have so we learn to rely on God. However, we could all learn from the apostle Paul who wrote about being content. Even the Apostle Paul said he was not easily satisfied in his life. He evens defined the circumstances in which he was content. In Philippians 4, the Apostle Paul himself said:

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 

Twice in this passage, the apostle Paul reveals to us, he “learned” to be content. Look at v.11—“I have learned to be content.”  And then in v.12—“I have learned the secret of being content.”  Here we see the apostle Paul LEARNED to be content.  

Just by way of confession, I personally have spent the vast majority of my life with my heart displaced or discontented for one reason or another. But I am learning that I must learn to be  content. Now, if CONTENTMENT was something PAUL had to learn, that means we must learn the same thing.. How do we do that? Paul gives us the answer.

Look at v.13—  "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”

CONCLUSION

All of us, like the apostle Paul, must learn to be content! The Word of God says, "Be content!" Paul found the secret to CONTENTMENT in every circumstance he encountered, in both plenty and hunger, in abundance and need. Paul learned CONTENTMENT by leaning on and trusting in JESUS CHRIST completely. Though it is hard for us to believe ... the new husband or wife, car or job, increase in salary, healing of the body, or whatever it may be will not give us the contentment we seek. It might temporarily, but even as this world is temporal, it will not last. There's always something newer, bigger, or better to buy and someone else who has what you want ,but contentment is not having all that you want. The real key to contentment is focusing on what we do have and not on what we don’t have. You see the problem is not what we have or what we do not have, however strongly it may seem that this is the problem. The problem is us. Someone said: “All the world lives in two tents - content and discontent.” Which tent will you live In? Let me also say this, I have not learned what Paul is talking about here. I am still on my way to learning, by God’s grace. Like Paul, we “can do all things through Christ.”

 "Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content." 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NKJV)