Learning to be Content
“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”
Philippians 4:11 (NIV)
Paul, who wrote today’s verse, had a very interesting life. That’s putting it politely.
He was often in prison, flogged by the Jews five times, beaten with rods three times, shipwrecked three times, stoned once, gone without sleep, knew hunger and thirst, worked himself until he was ready to drop, and most likely suffered many more sorrows that weren’t recorded.
We might think Paul was content going through these trials, but that’s not what he says. It wasn’t until he had suffered for many years that he “learned” to be content. This isn’t the usual view people have of the great apostle. Somehow we place him on some pedestal and think he always had everything together in his personal life, but we see in these verses that he only became contented with his circumstances through experience.
Paul came up against opposition, but learned many things as he preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We learn from his example that some of life’s greatest lessons can only be learned “the hard way”.
Paul was persistent. He was determined to continue in the way of Jesus regardless of the cost to him personally. Before encountering the Lord, he had worldly possessions and prestige, but now considered them nothing but rubbish.
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.“ (Philippians 3:7-9 NIV)
For Paul, as for every Christian, Jesus is the great prize to seek in this life. Not money, fame, power, or whatever else the world offers.
We see that what the world offers is not the most important. Thinking so leads us to resentment. We may not be able to attend university, or get the promotion we’re hoping for, or be able to buy the house of “our dreams“.
On the other hand, we may find trouble comes our way and robs us of the common things in life like children, health, financial stability—or whatever. We become resentful when we can’t have the ordinary things that others enjoy.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, a whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.“ (James 1:2-3 NIV)
Through his various trials in life Paul gradually learned that whatever he had (or didn’t have), or whatever difficulties he encountered—if he knew the presence of Jesus, he was content.
In many ways we all suffer for shorter or longer periods of time. Only those who love and serve Jesus will endure and find abiding contentment.
Seek Jesus and find in Him all you need.