“… I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” (Philippians 4:11, ESV)
How many times in your life have you thought to yourself, “If only I had (fill in the blank), I would be happy!” It is all too common in modern times to think that having more “things” will make you happy, that being healthier will bring you the ultimate joy, that in the right circumstances you would have success. I have seen many who were jealous of the rich, because they had all the breaks. There were others who though if they only had a perfect spouse, they would be complete. Over and over in life, most people are not content with their situation. They are always looking for more wealth, more success, more power, better looks, more everything… then life would be enjoyable. They spend hours wishing and longing and dreaming about having something better. The whole while, they are not content with what they do have or what they could do.
I have met many millionaires who were not content that they had enough money. Some worked themselves to death! I have met dying people who thought that if they only had more time in life, they would live better or healthier. I met poor people who regretted their life choices and were critical of themselves and others. Many grew bitter with age. I have seen many husbands who were not happy with an aging wife. I have heard from many women who thought that if only they could change their husbands, life would be so much better! In a billion different ways, it is easy to find something to complain about, someone to resent, something to regret. Why is our world filled with so much discontent?
Are you content with what God has given you in life, or are you angry that God didn’t bless you more or fix something for you? Are you content with God’s love or do you long more for things to make you happy?
Meeting for the third month with a couple having marital problems, I asked a simple question to the wife: “In previous sessions, you aren’t happy with your financial situation. You wish your husband made more money. You don’t like your house. You don’t like to budget. You constantly complain about not having enough. Please tell me: how much money would make you happy?” She thought and thought, then her face turned quizzical. After a minute, her husband replied, “10% more than we make.” His response to my question explained his point of view that his wife would never be happy, never have enough money, never stop complaining about what she didn’t have.
After healing a young girl in Philippi, Paul and Silas were thrown into jail (Acts 16). Despite their healing the girl from a spirit that tormented her, they were wrongfully locked behind bars. What did they do in this situation? What would you do? Acts 16:25 tells us that Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to God! Most people would be grumbling, complaining, calling a lawyer, crying, you name it! Not Paul and Silas. They saw their time in prison as a chance to pray, sing hymns to God, and let other prisoners hear about the good news of Jesus Christ!
In Philippians 4:11, the scripture for today, Paul mentions that he has always learned “in whatever situation” to “be content”. Paul could have been a wealthy landowner. After meeting the resurrected Jesus, he was content to go on several long missionary journeys sharing the gospel and starting new churches. During these journeys, Paul suffered many ills. He was shipwrecked three times, imprisoned, threatened, and starved. He was beaten with rods and whipped and stoned within an inch of death (2 Corinthians 11:25). What was Paul’s response to all this suffering? He talked about how blessed and great God was! (2 Corinthians 11:30). He explained how God’s grace was sufficient to bring him joy (2 Corinthians 12:9). He explained a few verses later that he was “content” with all of it, because of Christ (2 Corinthians 12:10). Christ meant more to Paul than all the hardships. He was thrilled to wake up each day filled with God’s Spirit and ready to take his next step in mission for Christ.
I have found that not being content in heart and soul often makes one bitter and resentful. If you are never content with your lot in life, you will never find peace. I’m not saying that you should accept everything thrown at you without complaining or doing something about it. I am saying that in order to really find joy and peace in your life, you need to be content with what God has given you. You should rejoice in God’s blessings. Is that enough for you, or do you want more?
A discontented husband will search for a perfect wife to fulfill his fantasies. Where will he find her?
A discontented parent will belittle a child who doesn’t measure up. Ever seen a perfect child?
A discontented soul will always be looking for mortal things to bring pleasure. Those pleasures will be short-lived.
Is there an area in your life in which you are not content? Have you come to terms with your weaknesses and strengths, or do you wish you were someone else? Is jealousy or envy eating at your soul? If you are never content with what you have been blessed with, you will never be at peace with God or with your own heart and soul.
I have met many millionaires who were not content that they had enough money. Some worked themselves to death! I have met dying people who thought that if they only had more time in life, they would live better or healthier. I met poor people who regretted their life choices and were critical of themselves and others. Many grew bitter with age. I have seen many husbands who were not happy with an aging wife. I have heard from many women who thought that if only they could change their husbands, life would be so much better! In a billion different ways, it is easy to find something to complain about, someone to resent, something to regret. Why is our world filled with so much discontent?
Are you content with what God has given you in life, or are you angry that God didn’t bless you more or fix something for you? Are you content with God’s love or do you long more for things to make you happy?
Meeting for the third month with a couple having marital problems, I asked a simple question to the wife: “In previous sessions, you aren’t happy with your financial situation. You wish your husband made more money. You don’t like your house. You don’t like to budget. You constantly complain about not having enough. Please tell me: how much money would make you happy?” She thought and thought, then her face turned quizzical. After a minute, her husband replied, “10% more than we make.” His response to my question explained his point of view that his wife would never be happy, never have enough money, never stop complaining about what she didn’t have.
After healing a young girl in Philippi, Paul and Silas were thrown into jail (Acts 16). Despite their healing the girl from a spirit that tormented her, they were wrongfully locked behind bars. What did they do in this situation? What would you do? Acts 16:25 tells us that Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to God! Most people would be grumbling, complaining, calling a lawyer, crying, you name it! Not Paul and Silas. They saw their time in prison as a chance to pray, sing hymns to God, and let other prisoners hear about the good news of Jesus Christ!
In Philippians 4:11, the scripture for today, Paul mentions that he has always learned “in whatever situation” to “be content”. Paul could have been a wealthy landowner. After meeting the resurrected Jesus, he was content to go on several long missionary journeys sharing the gospel and starting new churches. During these journeys, Paul suffered many ills. He was shipwrecked three times, imprisoned, threatened, and starved. He was beaten with rods and whipped and stoned within an inch of death (2 Corinthians 11:25). What was Paul’s response to all this suffering? He talked about how blessed and great God was! (2 Corinthians 11:30). He explained how God’s grace was sufficient to bring him joy (2 Corinthians 12:9). He explained a few verses later that he was “content” with all of it, because of Christ (2 Corinthians 12:10). Christ meant more to Paul than all the hardships. He was thrilled to wake up each day filled with God’s Spirit and ready to take his next step in mission for Christ.
I have found that not being content in heart and soul often makes one bitter and resentful. If you are never content with your lot in life, you will never find peace. I’m not saying that you should accept everything thrown at you without complaining or doing something about it. I am saying that in order to really find joy and peace in your life, you need to be content with what God has given you. You should rejoice in God’s blessings. Is that enough for you, or do you want more?
A discontented husband will search for a perfect wife to fulfill his fantasies. Where will he find her?
A discontented parent will belittle a child who doesn’t measure up. Ever seen a perfect child?
A discontented soul will always be looking for mortal things to bring pleasure. Those pleasures will be short-lived.
Is there an area in your life in which you are not content? Have you come to terms with your weaknesses and strengths, or do you wish you were someone else? Is jealousy or envy eating at your soul? If you are never content with what you have been blessed with, you will never be at peace with God or with your own heart and soul.