"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.
Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil. 4:11-13
Does this verse evoke in you that deep longing to be content? All of us deep inside long for contentment. But it is very easy to look for contentment in all the wrong places. Paul gives us the Lord's meaning of being content- and it is certainly not the kind of contentment that comes with lying on the beach enjoying the sun and the sand or standing on a mountaintop with the world before your eyes and the wind in your hair. Looking at it carefully, it almost sounds- difficult.
Contentment is not a momentary, fleeting feeling that lasts only a while. Contentment is a state of being- it is us being content through every season of our lives, whether it be pain or happiness, joy or sorrow, abundance or poverty. Contentment is a lasting state of the heart, that says whatever comes, I am still joyful and completely secure, and I would not trade this life for anything else. How is it that, with specific reference to the words that Paul uses, we can be content in all those circumstances.
Everywhere and in all things...to be in need, abased, hungry... I believe that we can be content under these circumstances because they draw us towards God, and teach us to constantly, not just temporarily, rely on Him; to make it a habit, a way of life. And why does this bring contentment? Because we know that God has everything in control and has only the best in store! We may not see it at the moment, but we have the full assurance that His plans are good. He knows our every need, our every desire; He knows best how to bring us joy. We can walk by faith and not by sight.
And at the same time, to abound and be full... why? Because we are living in the abundant life that He has given us, at the centre of His will, and it is a blessed one! True, other people's lives may look more attractive, they can do whatever they want, but we know for sure that this life, the one lived for Him and with Him, is the most blessed, the most valuable, the most important. Think of that! It is an honour, a wonderful honour. Our lives are invested not into this material, temporal world, but into eternity. And we can look to each new day with the expectancy that God will do something great, something wonderful, and bring us joy, in some way. Every day is an adventure with Him.
No doubt, it is difficult to have that kind of contentment. It takes a great step, or many great steps, of faith. But hey, no pain, no gain.
I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.
Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil. 4:11-13
Does this verse evoke in you that deep longing to be content? All of us deep inside long for contentment. But it is very easy to look for contentment in all the wrong places. Paul gives us the Lord's meaning of being content- and it is certainly not the kind of contentment that comes with lying on the beach enjoying the sun and the sand or standing on a mountaintop with the world before your eyes and the wind in your hair. Looking at it carefully, it almost sounds- difficult.
Contentment is not a momentary, fleeting feeling that lasts only a while. Contentment is a state of being- it is us being content through every season of our lives, whether it be pain or happiness, joy or sorrow, abundance or poverty. Contentment is a lasting state of the heart, that says whatever comes, I am still joyful and completely secure, and I would not trade this life for anything else. How is it that, with specific reference to the words that Paul uses, we can be content in all those circumstances.
Everywhere and in all things...to be in need, abased, hungry... I believe that we can be content under these circumstances because they draw us towards God, and teach us to constantly, not just temporarily, rely on Him; to make it a habit, a way of life. And why does this bring contentment? Because we know that God has everything in control and has only the best in store! We may not see it at the moment, but we have the full assurance that His plans are good. He knows our every need, our every desire; He knows best how to bring us joy. We can walk by faith and not by sight.
And at the same time, to abound and be full... why? Because we are living in the abundant life that He has given us, at the centre of His will, and it is a blessed one! True, other people's lives may look more attractive, they can do whatever they want, but we know for sure that this life, the one lived for Him and with Him, is the most blessed, the most valuable, the most important. Think of that! It is an honour, a wonderful honour. Our lives are invested not into this material, temporal world, but into eternity. And we can look to each new day with the expectancy that God will do something great, something wonderful, and bring us joy, in some way. Every day is an adventure with Him.
No doubt, it is difficult to have that kind of contentment. It takes a great step, or many great steps, of faith. But hey, no pain, no gain.
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