THE “SECRET” TO CONTENTMENT REVEALED!

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I HAVE LEARNED TO BE CONTENT whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned THE SECRET of BEING CONTENT IN ANY AND EVERY SITUATION, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this THROUGH HIM who gives me strength.”-{Phil 4:11-13}
The “secret” for contentment in every situation is to be found not in a place, or in self-focus, or things, but in a Person, the LORD Jesus Christ, And being in a right relationship with God through submission to Him, gives us the potential too to learn to be content- satisfied. So, we focus on the Lord Jesus Christ remembering Him for whom the Scriptures reveal Him to be and we relate all to Him ever learning to rely upon Him, deriving all from Him as Sovereign, as Savior, and as the Sufficient One. True Contentment, and satisfaction is found in a Person- the LORD JESUS CHRIST and…

1.- Christ Is SOVEREIGN.

…who is always in control and of all things, my life included! – “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”- {Philippians 2:9-11}. ““And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”-{Matthew 28;20}; “The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”-{Mark 8:27}; “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”-{Col 1:16;18}. “Firstborn” does not mean that born first in order but is used od First in rank! First in Preeminence! He is Pre= eminent in the church, He is preeminent over death! –{Read Isaiah 43:13; Psalm 135:6}.

2. – Christ Is THE SAVIOR.

… who gave His all for me, who loves me. – “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,”-{Philippians 3:20}; “She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.“-{Matthew 1:21}; “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost.”-{1 Timothy 1:15}; “ I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”– {Read Gal 2:20}; “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters.”-{1 John 3:16}.

3. – Christ Is SUFFICIENT.

… who Supplies all of my needs, including contentment! and I can trust and Rest in Him and His promises – “…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength…And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”-{Philippians 4:11-13; 19};
  • He supplies our spiritual needs “…saints…Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”-{v 1-2};

 

  • He supplies physical needs; “You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.  Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek the profit which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” -{Philippians 4:15-18}; -{Read 2 Peter 1:3-4}.

4. – Christ SATISFIES.

…The Greek word for “content” {autarkes} means self-sufficient, satisfied. Satisfied because of living in the contentment Christ supplies and content with Christ! Paul was imprisoned, opposed by jealous preachers, despite it all. the dire circumstances he finds contentment and satisfaction where? In a Person, the LORD Jesus Christ. Are you content with Jesus ? Am I? Is He enough? Paul said he had learned to be content and was content, How? He found his contentment was in the LORD Jesus and in Him he found satisfaction.

  • To look for contentment in anything or anyone other than Him will lead to discontentment, complaining, dissatisfaction and a real letdown. Like the old song says “I can’t get no satisfaction though I try and I try …” why not? Looking and investing your hopes, desires, and life in all the wrong places.
  • Paul “learned to be content” and when you think of the suffering this man went through, they were all part of his learning that contentment was found in a Person- The LORD Jesus!-{Read 2 Cor 11 and 2 Cor 12:7-11}.

5. – He Is The One Who STRENGTHENS

“Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”-{Phil 4:11-13}. He infuses with strength for the task whatever it may be!

The Secret to contentment was all  “THROUGH Christ who STRENGTHENED me!” Christ was his strength, his Sovereign LORD, his Savior, Sufficiency, Satisfaction, who Strengthened him! Christ Jesus is his souce of Contentment!

TRAIN YOUR MIND TO THINK ON HIM AND IN PARTICULAR THESE 5 TRUTHS CONCERNING HIM AND HOW THEY APPLY TO YOUR LIFE. Christ your Sovereign LORD, Savior; Sufficiency, Satisfaction. Strength. Read each of the verses above under each heading so as to allow the Holy Spirit to minister truth to you and renew your mind and strengthen you inwardly as He makes true to you what is true of you and for you! Contentment! 
Paul said, “I have learned THE SECRET of BEING CONTENT IN ANY AND EVERY SITUATION,” Have you? Have I? This is what God wants for us, to find our cotentment, Satisfaction in Him. For in Him alone IS found true CONTMENT, and SATISFACTION! 
To know Him in these ways, Christ our SOVEREIGN LORD, SAVIOR, SUFFICIENCY, SATISFACTION, STRENGTH and submit to Him and derive all from Him, and we too like Paul can know His contentment, in any and all circumstances! For contentment, true inner sufficiency and satisfaction are found in a Person- The LORD Jesus Christ!

Christ is the secret to Contentment!

God bless,

Aidan