Learning the Secret of Being Content

By: Dr. Steven Riser; ©2006

Paul learned a very valuable lesson: to be content in every situation. One of the best ways to enjoy life now is to cultivate the grace of contentment.

Learning the Secret of Being Content

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. (Phil. 4:12b)

Introduction

Paul learned a very valuable lesson: to be content in every situation. One of the best ways to enjoy life now is to cultivate the grace of contentment.

Do you know why it’s so hard to learn to be content?

Greed abounds! TV commercials feed on it—they press us on every side to be dissatisfied without the latest, most popular car, cloths, career, etc. Greed and covetousness can increase our blood pressure and stress as we try to live beyond our means and get into serious consumer debt. It goes without saying that an un­healthy relationship to things causes an unhealthy relationship to God and others.

How can we be content if we always want more?

We can’t! So… What’s the cure? Learning the secret of being content! It must be a secret because so few have discovered it.

What are some things that rob us of contentment?

1. Mail-order catalogs—containing personal luxury items.
2. Shopping Malls—recreational shopping or shopping therapy—breeds discontent!
3. Televisions commercials parade the latest and greatest before the eyes of the discontent.
4. Women’s Magazines show perfect homes, clothing and bodies. This isn’t realis­tic.
5. Shopping channels and the Internet—i.e. one woman spent her entire inheritance!
6. Specialty shops of every kind—charging exorbitant prices for unusual merchan­dise.

Who says that we should always have the best of everything? God?

Who are we really trying to please and impress? God or others?

What are some of the counterfeits of contentment?

Contentment is not: Happiness. Where was Paul when he wrote Philippians? In jail—in chains, without adequate clothing, no companions or books. I wouldn’t imagine that the food would be all that good either. I don’t think he would be very happy about being in jail, do you? Happiness for most people is based on circumstances. But Paul said he learned to be content whatever the situation/ circumstance. So, contentment isn’t the same as happiness.

1. Contentment is not: Comfort—living a life of ease. Paul wasn’t content only when things were comfortable or easy. He was content in every circumstance. Content­ment and comfort aren’t the same.
2. Contentment is not: Pleasure. Pleasure comes and goes, but Paul said he learned to be content all the time. Pleasure is not the same thing as contentment.
3. Contentment is not: Excitement. I play golf. I have even been known to get ex­cited about it. But excitement never lasts; it comes and goes. Contentment lasts after excitement is over.
4. Contentment is not: Complacency and apathy. Complacency says everything is fine when it isn’t. It can slide into apathy saying, “nothing really matters, I just don’t care.” Contentment leaves room for reality and passion. Paul experienced trouble and hardship and he freely admitted it—as well as his desire for things to be different.

What is contentment?

Learning contentment requires God’s presence, power and peace. Where does this state of mind come from? It comes from: the realization that God has given me all I need for my present welfare. 2 Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” Contentment is an attitude or state of mind based on the conviction that God will provide for my basic needs regardless of the circumstances. Therefore we can be content when we are in plenty and con­tent when we are in want—content regardless of the circumstances.

Contentment is a matter of perspective. What does it take to learn content­ment? We must learn the sufficiency of grace (He’ll never give us more than we can handle). It takes time and effort; it isn’t easy or automatic. Contentment involves developing the proper attitude. What is this attitude of contentment based on? It is based on our belief in a sovereign, loving heavenly Father who has promised to provide for the basic needs of His children. (Phil. 4:19)

Paul wasn’t happy about everything in his life. Listen to the account of his suffer­ings: 2 Corinthians 11:24-27:

Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.”

Philippians 4:11-13 says,

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 everything through him who gives me strength.

Do you know what our deepest need is?

It’s not food, clothing or shelter. It’s establishing and maintaining a healthy, loving relationship with the Lord. Paul knew whatever the circumstances that he was loved by God—that nothing could separate him from God’s love in Christ. Today I want to share with you several characteris­tics of contentment thinking:

1. I will find my joy in the Lord (Phil. 4:4) — There are many things we can delight in but if we want to develop contentment we need to learn to delight and rejoice in the Lord. God is our greatest source of joy! Paul said, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Nehemiah said, “The joy of the Lord is our strength.” You can’t rejoice in the Lord without giving Him His rightful place in your life and realizing that He is all you need.

2. I will think about what is good. (Phil. 4:8; Rom. 8:28) In Philippians 4:8, Paul says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admi­rable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Thinking about what God says is good but when we fill our minds and hearts with the things of this world we are guaranteed to be discontent!

Where are you going to focus your life and your energy? On the positive or the negative? The choice is yours but the results are not. For, “As a person thinks in his heart so is he.” Are we going to focus on our hardships, troubles and difficulties or on God’s blessings?

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. Count your blessings, name them one by one; Count your blessings, see what God hath done.

Contentment thinking says, “I find my joy in the Lord. I will think about what’s good.” I will thank God for His blessings in my life.

3. I will think of others first and put others first. (Phil. 2:3,4) When we think of others first, we might have some short term pain but we will also have long term contentment and enjoyment. In Philippians 2:3-4, Paul says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than your­selves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

In Philippians 4:9 Paul says, “Whatever you have learned or received or heardfrom me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

What are we to put into practice? In part, the advice Paul just gave in Philippians 2:3, “consider others better than yourselves.” How many selfish people do you know who are consistently content? None!

4. I know that God will see me through (Phil. 4:13)

What enabled Paul to endure such hardship and remain positive and content? Could it have anything to do with what he said in Philippians 4:13, “I can do every­thing through him who gives me strength”? What does “everything” include? It includes everything God wants us to do!

Contentment involves asking God to help control: the ambitions of the heart, the thoughts of the mind and the decisions of the will. It involves drawing close to God and gratefully receiving what God grants to us. First Timothy 6:6 says, Godliness with contentment is great gain.

1. Godly people are in the process of learning to be content, while…
2. Worldly people are full of covetousness and will never be content.

We must learn to be content and we can’t learn contentment without establishing godly habits through personal discipline. Paul knew how to experience the two extremes of plenty and poverty. He knew how to abound and he knew how to suffer need. But how?

One of the necessary prerequisites to contentment is gratitude.

Have you ever noticed that contentment always follows gratitude? In order to be content we have to believe that: 1) God is good 2) every good and perfect gift comes from God and 3) All things work together for good for those who love God. (Rom. 8:28)

5. I’ll pray about everything and not worry about anything. (Phil. 4:6, 7) What did Paul learn that enabled him to always be content?

1. Contentment, in part, is the fruit of prayer. (Phil. 4: 6,7) If you pray about every­thing, you don’t have to worry about anything and you will experience God’s peace. Contentment with the will of God and the strength to do God’s will is found through prayer. While prayer prompts us to action, it’s never a substitute for obedience.
2. Secondly, we need to guard our hearts ambitions and control our minds preoccu­pations.

David, at least for part of his life, controlled the ambitions of his heart and the preoccupations of his mind, God granted him the grace of contentment. Content­ment requires that we have biblical values and priorities and practice biblical disci­pline. When we are discontent it’s a good sign that our priorities are out of whack.

What are the basic questions we should be asking?

Who am I? A sinner saved by grace-a child of God and a part of His family. I am what I am by the grace of God and will be eternally indebted to His grace. Another question is:

Whose am I? I am not my own, I was bought by the precious blood of Christ and I belong to Him. (Rom. 14:8) Jesus is not only my savior, He is also my Lord. An­other question:

What am I? I am a pilgrim, a stranger and an ambassador for Christ. My citizen­ship is in heaven and I am called to live for God’s glory. This life is not an end in itself but preparation for the life to come. As the church we are Christ’s bride! Another Question:

What do I need? I need God’s love and grace. Psalm 63:3 says, “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.” There is one thing needful, the grace of God which comes through the Word and Spirit of God. Life isn’t about us, it’s about God— that His name by honored and glorified. Paul understood this and that’s why he could find contentment in a prison cell. Even though he was in chains, he knew the Word of God was not bound and he knew that God would supply his needs. (Phil. 4:19)

CONCLUDING CHALLENGE

I challenge you to review/reflect on the following biblical affirmations of content­ment thinking:

1. I will find my joy in the Lord. (Phil. 4:4)
2. I won’t worry about anything (Phil. 4:6)
3. I will prayer about everything (Phil. 4:6)
4. I will think about what is good (Phil. 4:8)
5. I will put others first (Phil. 2:3, 4)
6. I know that God will see me through. (Phil. 4:13)
7. I know that to live in Christ and to die is gain. (Phil. 1:21)
8. I rejoice that you have given me all I need for my present welfare. (2 Pet. 1:3) God, help us to discover the secret of being content!