Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances I am in. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in abundance. Everywhere and in all things I have learned to be content; whether I am full or whether I am hungry, whether I am abounding or suffering need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-1 The Apostle Paul wrote this letter while in captivity in the Mamerstine Prison in Rome. He had suffered much for the sake of the gospel. 2 Corinthians 11:23-27: Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. However through this Paul had learned contentment that was not dependant on his circumstances. Paul explains why he was not dependant on their gift. Though his circumstances were not favorable he was just as content as if they were. His contentment had nothing to do with his situation; if it had he would not only have been discontent, but also in despair. “Have learned” in the greek is manthano. It means to learn by experience, to discover and understand something as being true. The contentment Paul speaks of is not something he immediately had when he was saved, but instead this contentment came through a process of many experiences. God is also in the process of teaching us how to have contentment regardless of our circumstances. God is using both our trials and our pleasant times to accomplish this. This should be encouraging to those who struggle with despair and feel like life’s storms are too much. He will not always remove a storm from your life but in the midst of the storm He will place a blue sky over you. And the warmth that it gives is true contentment. Like Paul, it is something that must be learned as we go along. Continue to pick up your cross and follow Christ, and though it may take some time, He will lead you to the place of true contentment. God often weans us from the very things we look to for contentment; just as a toddler is weaned from a bottle. The toddler must learn to be satisfied with solid food. God also removes from us our “bottles” and teaches us to be content in Him. Here the word content in the greek is autarkies. It means to be sufficient for one’s self, not dependent upon external circumstances. This describes someone who needs nothing externally. This contentment comes only from Christ. How do you learn this kind of contentment? It requires complete surrender of your will and desires to that of Christ’s. You must surrender to His sovereign will for your life, which includes both pleasant and unpleasant circumstances. It is only when you do this that you learn as Paul did, how to be content. Paul’s source of contentment was Christ himself. He was able to be content in all circumstances not from his own strength, but because of Christ’s strength in him. Paul is saying that through Christ he can endure all things with contentment and joy.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Jun 2013 19:37:35 +0000
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