“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly: that now at the last your care of me has flourished again: wherein you were also careful, but you lacked opportunity. 11. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
Paul had received a love offering from the Philippian Church and offered his joy at receiving the gift. But he wanted them to know that his contentment was not derived from money and things. Paul was content no matter what his circumstances. This was not a curt reply to the Philippian Church; rather, it was a statement of faith. The dictionary definition of contentment is “sufficiency in oneself.” Paul turned that definition on its head, for his contentment was not in himself and his material well-being. His contentment was in his faith relationship with Christ. Based on Paul’s basis of contentment, I want to make the following reflections on Christian contentment. Christian contentment is not the result a problem-free life. Paul’s life is a good example, for he encountered all sorts of problems in his missionary encounters in Acts. In fact, in his first visit to Philippi, Paul was thrown in jail. (Read about it in Acts 16.) We need to be cognizant of our reactions to our own problems. Christian contentment depends on our faith in Jesus Christ. We garner strength from the faith that we have in Christ. This is what Paul pointed out in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This is not just a slogan. It is a statement of fact in the Christian faith. Paul pointed out in Philippians 4::12 that he knew how to do with little and with a lot because he was strengthened through Christ. I know that this text made me stop and think about the source of my contentment. I had to stop and pray and ask Christ to strengthen my faith in Him in order that I may derive my strength and contentment from Him. We just need to stop and think about the strength of our faith in Christ. Christian contentment comes from the consciousness of Christ’s presence in our lives. Hebrews 13:5 reminds of this: “Let not your conduct be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for He has said, 'I will never leave you, nor forsake you'.” We are never without His presence in all of the circumstances of our lives. The writer of Hebrews added in 13:6: “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” We could also add that the Lord is our helper in whatever circumstances we might face. Make your own contentment a matter of prayer! Do it! Bro. Joe
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AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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