Contentment

                                                                       CONTENTMENT by Ineke Cornish

Recently I read story of a rich employer who heard one of his employees say “If I had $1000 I’d be perfectly content. He drew out his chequebook and wrote her a cheque for $1000 saying he’d always wanted to meet someone who was perfectly content. As he walked away he heard her mutter ‘I wish I’d asked for $2000!”

It’s not an uncommon reaction sadly…. So often the desire for more (eg. money, power, status, popularity, etc) drives our motivation and ambition. We strive to be successful and competitive, thinking that if we achieve a particular goal we’d be content. In fact the opposite is usually true and we hear time and again heart breaking stories of very successful artists, athletes, leaders, entrepreneurs who realize that all their success has not brought them the contentment or security they hoped for.

Studies show that when people strive to reach a certain level of affluence thinking it would bring them happiness; they are quickly disillusioned and continually strive to attain more.

That’s the way it works, some say its human nature….. The apostle Paul didn’t see it that way though, he had learned inner contentment and throughout the book of Philippians he talks about his secret of happiness. (Philippians 4:11)-… “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content”

 

Paul certainly didn’t write this from an easy carefree existence, he didn’t really have a great deal to be happy about as he wrote this epistle - under house arrest, chained to Roman guards, awaiting an audience with Caesar after his appeal so his circumstances were pretty dire. Furthermore Paul was a controversial figure in the early church and there were many believers who opposed him. He learned lessons of contentment from the reality of life, suffering pain, sickness, experiencing highs and lows.

Despite all these problems Paul was still able to say “Rejoice in the Lord and again I will say rejoice” Philippians 4:4

 Paul placed his source of contentment not in circumstances or in what he had but in Whom he knew, and the Whom can only ever be the true source of peace and happiness- Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 13:5 says “...be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said I will never leave you or forsake you” 

It is because of this promise from God that we can be truly content. It doesn’t matter what tomorrow might bring, nothing and no-one can rob us of the Lord’s presence and His perfect peace. Like Paul we may face trials, difficulties and ultimately death but if we know Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we can also echo his words “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain” Philippians 1:21.

Try reading the book of Philippians for yourself, it will give you a greater perspective on how to be content and I pray the Lord might use His word to speak to your heart.