Contentment is something we learn

My friend Max Lucado says, “The good life begins not when circumstances change but when our attitude toward them does.”

We think if we had a nicer car or a bigger house or a larger salary or a new face or new body, then we’d be content.

Writing to the Christians in Philippi, the apostle Paul said, “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little” (Philippians 4:11–12 NLT).

Paul was in difficult circumstances when he wrote these words. He wasn’t spouting theories from an ivory tower. He was under house arrest, writing from the school of hard knocks. Yet Paul found contentment because he rejoiced in the Lord.

Earlier in Philippians 4 he wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (verse 4 NKJV). He didn’t say that we should rejoice in circumstances. Sometimes that’s hard to do. But Paul did say that we should rejoice in the Lord.

Studies have actually linked gratitude with a variety of positive effects. Researchers have determined that grateful people demonstrate less envy, materialism and self-centeredness. Gratitude enhances relationships and contributes to longevity and even our quality of sleep.

If it came in a pill form, gratitude would be a miracle cure. So if we can learn to be thankful for what we already have instead of what we think we need, it could make us happy.

Let’s not misunderstand. Paul wasn’t saying that we necessarily should be satisfied with our present spiritual condition.

He also wrote, “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. … I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:12, 14 NLT).

A true mark of growing spiritually is knowing that you need to keep growing spiritually. It indicates that you really are in a state of growth. So in that sense, we should not be satisfied with where we are. But having said that, we should find contentment in our relationship with God.

However, that isn’t our nature. Paul said that he had learned to be content (see Philippians 4:11). Some things have to be taught. For instance, children are not naturally well-mannered. Instead, they are naturally selfish and inconsiderate. So we have to teach children manners.

If you put a child in a room and give him a toy, he’ll be relatively happy. But when you bring in another child with another toy, friction begins. They’ll fight over the toy they’ve determined is the best one. Each child wants what the other has. That’s human nature, and we don’t necessarily outgrow it.

So we see that contentment needs to be learned. It doesn’t come naturally to us, because we’re not naturally content.

The Bible says, “Let your conduct be without covetousness” (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV). Coveting is greedily desiring to have more, no matter what it costs you or someone else. It comes from a word that could be translated “to pant,” like an animal pursuing its prey.

The verse goes on to say, “Be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'”

Because Christ will never leave me, I can be content. It’s not about what I have; it’s about who has me. This relationship I have with God can bring the ultimate contentment. That is why David wrote in Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (verse 1 NKJV). When the Lord is your shepherd, you can find perfect contentment.

Contentment, therefore, comes from leaning on Christ, not leaning on ourselves. Paul realized that he needed God’s help.

Paul suffered from something he described as “a thorn in the flesh,” a physical problem of some kind. It could have resulted from one of his beatings or stonings. Commentators think it maybe was his eyesight. We don’t know with certainty what it was, but it seemed to be a continuing physical issue.

Yet he said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). The J. B. Phillips New Testament says it this way: “I am ready for anything through the strength of the one who lives within me.”

So to find contentment, we must do our part because God has done his. God has given us the power and resources we need, but we must appropriate them.

There are some things only God can do and some things only we can do. Only God can forgive our sins, but only we can repent of our sins. Only God can lead us, but only we can yield to his leading. So we have some responsibility.

But there’s also a statement Jesus made: “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NLT). Without Christ, I can’t live this Christian life. I can’t do much or help anyone, really. But I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Think about your life right now. Can you learn to love what you have instead of what you don’t have?

What we have in Christ is far greater than anything we don’t have in life. We have Jesus, and Jesus has us. Therefore, we have everything we need for now and for eternity. And that makes all the difference in the world.