“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through HIM who strengthen me.”- {Phi; 4:11-13}
“To many men it is given to have all that heart can wish, and yet not to have what their heart does wish. They have everything except contentment. – {Spurgeon}
The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One – {AW Tozer.}
There is no better antidote against coveting that which is another’s than being content with that which is our own. -{Thomas Watson}
It’s elusive, it’s desired, it’s pursued but often in the wrong places. God’s Word warns us against those things which could trip us up and entrap us if we pursue contentment in them rather than Him and what He says to“BE CONTENT” with as seen in these verses. We often think if our belly’s are full, and we have a “surplus” in our bank account, no illness’s and favorable circumstances, stress free, we often mistakenly take it for “contentment,” when in reality it is having what we consider favorable circumstances. It is shallow and when the trials of life come, which are inevitable James teaches us ,”WHEN you encounter various trials.”-{James 1:2} we often fall apart emotionally and the foundation we have been building our lives on are like sandcastles a child builds on the beech, when the tide comes in washes them away! So we must build our life’s foundation on more than favorable circumstances but on the Word of God as Jesus teaches us if we are to be ‘wise’ people!-{Read Matt 7:24-27}
CONTENTMENT
Internal satisfaction which does not demand
changes in external circumstances!
-{Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary}
Contentment “is that disposition of mind in which one is, through grace, independent of outward circumstances (Phil 4:11; 1Ti 6:6, 8 [Cp “definition of blessed = makarios]), so as not to be moved by envy (James 3:16), anxiety (Mt 6:24, 34), and discontent (1Cor. 10:10).” (The New Unger Bible Dictionary)
Contentment means “To be free from care because of satisfaction with what is already one’s own.” (James Orr – ISBE)
Contentment is “The acceptance of ‘things as they are’ as the wise and loving providence of a God who knows what is good for us, who so loves us as always to seek our good” (Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible).
“Paul was self-sufficient because he was Christ-dependent. The word “content,” therefore, in our Hebrew passage means more than “satisfied.” It refers to the ability of the Christian dependent upon the Holy Spirit, to be independent of outward circumstances.”-{Wuest}
Contentment does not come from acquiring, wealth, position, possessions or fame for these in themselves will reveal a dissatisfaction and a craving for more or a clinging on to what you have. But true contentment is not based on external things but INWARD satisfaction, that is the Gift of God and cultivated as Christ who is our life becomes more and more to us as we look to Him , lean upon Him, deriving all from Him. The Father has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies “in Christ” and our response is to be to “Bless” Him- Praise, “Speak well of Him” who has blessed us! Read Eph 1:3-15 and note the riches you have , underline the phrases, “In Whom, In Him, In Christ” and list what He says you have “IN Christ “and with each one “BLESS ” God- {Eph 1:3}. Meditate upon His Love for you an Celebrate and be content satisfied with Him, who is “Enough, Sufficient!’
Note the word “CONTENTMENT” in each of the verses below…
1.- CLEAR HEADED UNDERSTANDING;
“for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. BUT if we have food and clothing, WITH THESE WE WILL BE CONTENT.” – {1 Timothy 6:7-8}
There are no -U-Hauls behind a hearse. You take nothing with you. As followers of Christ” the Scripture compares us to “aliens, sojourners” passing through this world, this is not the final location according to John 14 where Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, that we may forever be with Him, in the Fathers House! While some live as though, “this is it,” we know from his Word we are here to love Him love others and make Him known. We are on Divine assignment, {Read Phil 1:16}. We are passing through on the way to the Father’s House! {Read Phil 1:12-14}. Do you have food and clothing? To sustain you? Then Be CONTENT! He has provided what you need to sustain you presently while you seek Him and His Kingdom as the priority of your life as his Ambassador here on earth. You represent Another, even Christ the King and are to be about His business, building His kingdom! {Read Matt 6;9}. You have all you need to do so and sustain you to be about His business! And if you need more He will provide by making a way for you to have what He desires to meet your need and to help others. God is not ‘stingy.’ He promises to provide ALL of your NEEDS according to His riches In Christ!-{Read Phil 4;19}.
Consider this life on earth is not the final destination nor is it forever. Life is fleeting. Live it for Christ and His cause. – {Read Matt 6;33; Phil 1:20,25}
Practice Thanksgiving to God for what He has provided for you
2.- COVETOUSNESS TO BE AVOIDED –
Hebrews 13:5 – “Keep your life free from love of money, and BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” –
While we often love and quote the promise HE will never leave or abandon us, we forget the first part of the verse which warns against covetousness, which is a way of THOUGHT and Life- Greed! A lack of contentment! “Life,..character,” speaks of a turning from and a directing towards a thing or something, In this case it is to have the heart turned in the DIRECTION towards loving money and away from the LORD! “Substitute!”
“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity.”-{Ecclesiastes 5:10}. “A GREEDY person stirs up STRIFE…” -{Prov 28:25}.
Money is not evil, it is our attitude, and supreme love and pursuit of it that is the evil! Keep your attitude free from being captivated and controlled by it. BE CONTENT because He promises His presence with you and never ever to abandon or forsake you what ever the circumstance. Guard your heart against the “LOVE OF MONEY!” BE CONTENT WITH HIM, HIS PROMISE, HIS GUARANTEED PRESENCE WITH YOU! Money comes, or it may not to that which you crave after, it comes and goes, “BUT GOD…” is eternally committed to you never to abandon you. You cant’t buy His love for you but you can rest in it, no matter what the circumstances, He is unchanging. The people whom the writer is addressing have suffered loss, put out by the religious, some have lost property, some are immature in the faith, suffered, and what do the suffering and insecure need? The assurance He has not, will not, cannot, ever abandon or forsake them! He is security, stability in Him there is a Promise to them and they can be content with what they have in light of Whom has promised and what He has promised. And all these years since the letter was sent to them they are now face to face in eternity with Him who has loved them and continues to – {Read Rev 1:5}. We too must choose to be alert to recognize seeking to substitute Security, satisfaction in craving for material over who we really need … Jesus Christ who is the same, yesterday today and forever! God, the Scripture teaches Gives the capacity to make wealth.“But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth,” -{Deut 8:18}. It is never to control us but to be used to care for our own and those in need, “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share…” -{1 Tim 6:17-18}…. and to further the Gospel, “…Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”– {Phil 4:14-19}. { Read 2 Cor 9:12-13; Eph 4:27-28; 1 Tim 6:17-18}.
Don’t Substitute Christ for Covetousness in seeking security, satisfaction, significance with money!
3.- “THE SECRET “- To Contentment;
CIRCUMSTANCES NO LONGER CONTROL –
Philippians 4:11 – “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I HAVE LEARNED IN WHATEVER SITUATION I AM TO BE…CONTENT.”
Paul in prison received a gift from the poor believers…and writes to thank them, He has just said “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens{infuses} me.” Gramatically it is a continuous empowering through the Lord Jesus. Strengthened to be “content”with little or much. Possessions are lack do not control his contentment but Christ’s strengthening him to be content is the secret! Christ Himself! The key to contentment is a Person, The Lord Jesus! Whether he had or did not have he had learned that Christ was sufficient for him, to satisfy him, strengthen him to be content irrespective what his circumstance whether he had little or much. He alone was Enough! Paul had ‘learned to be content,’ he had gone through some horrific circumstances, suffering and as well as seeing people come to the LORD, through it all he had learned whatever the circumstances,, be they pleasant, unpleasant, he had learned contentment, to be satisfied. What was the key? For when he wrote these words he was in prison! The key was Jesus Christ! Listen to Paul’s describing to the Philippians his “secret,”- “… 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” revealed was found in Jesus Christ! His infusing Paul with the power to live content, in the state of contentment, irrespective of his circumstances. He was not tossed to and fro like a wooden cork in the raging waves of an angry sea, tossed and hurl around with no sense of security or control, at the mercy of the maddening waves that rise and crash hundreds of feet! Paul had leaned to lean in and upon Jesus and derive from Him the power to live contented in any and all circumstances! While we often desire and crave for our circumstances to change to something more favorable and sink low into despair, depression at times when they are not or are chewed up by anxiety, Paul shows them and us “The Secret” to contentment, it is found in a Person- Jesus Christ who strengthens us. We are back to a Person again, The LORD Jesus Christ! He infuses us with the Power to be content, irrespective of the circumstances, we can be “Content,” satisfied, for He is “enough!’
“Build your life on God Him-self and your soul will be satisfied. David was in a barren desert, with enemies seeking his life. But because he sought God, he wrote, ” My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.” “-{Psalm 63:5}-{Steven Cole.}
“ Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. “-{Psalm 73:25-26}
Jesus Christ is “The Secret,” to your Contentment!
4- CHARACTER COUNTS –
“But Godliness with CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN.” – {1 Tim 6:6}
Paul “warns Timothy about those who “think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” (verse 5). He describes corrupt teachers who will divert believers from true faith in Christ by arguing over words, creating trivial controversies, and pursuing get-rich schemes. Paul clarifies the meaning of godliness and emphasizes that it is the opposite of what these trouble-makers portray it to be.”Riches is not a sin, the Scripture show many who were but it is the MOTIVATION and means by which some seek and attain to them. Paul says Godliness, Godlike in thought, words and deeds, conduct is what is to be pursued. Godliness is a right reverence for God. An attitude towards God, that worships Him as God and is reflected in the life towards others of respect out of a reverence for God. While some saw the acquiring of wealth through using God and the things of God as great gain, there dissatisfaction and discontentment and seeking to profit of using god and the things of God to fulfill a hole in their hearts that cannot be filled by temporal possessions that are passing away, Their greed betrayed their bankrupt hearts.- {Read 1 Thess 2:15} Paul shows that it is a person’s relationship with Jesus Christ and the conduct, character that is aligned up with God that is true Greatness of Gain! Paul contrasts the false teachers and their peddling of seeking to profit for themselves and their false understanding against TRUE GAIN which is when Godliness is accompanied with contentment which is only found in Christ! And such Godly Conduct with Contentment is “GREAT GAIN!” Paul’s point is that Godliness with contentment is great gain, though not as some would count gain! Some are temporal pursuers of contentment others have peace with God and as they are being changed from the inside out and their perspectives are been changed through His Word and Spirit, more and more they realize the eternal riches they have “In Christ,”- Himself their gain! Godliness with contentment is “GREAT GAIN!” CHARACTER COUNTS! Christ’s character and as the believer is being changed in aligning up with Him and His Word, having the “mind renewed” are being changed and Godliness with contentment is Great Gain! -{Read Rom 12:2}
5.- CONTENTMENT BEGINS WITH REPENTANCE
ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTION?
DISSATISFACTION, COVETOUSNESS AND CORRUPT MEANS OF SELFISH GAIN TO BE RENOUNCED –
“Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “DO NOT extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and BE CONTENT WITH YOUR WAGES.” -{ Luke 3:14}
The soldiers were asking an important question in regards what should they do to bring forth the fruit of repentance? – {Luke 3:8}
Again seeking to extort from others from a covetous heart and murmuring about what they don’t have and willing to extort people, manipulate or use it is spoken against. One translation says,”Do not take money from anyone by force “is a legal term which literally means “shake violently.” Vincent (Word Studies in the New Testament, 1:283). It describes the process of taking money from people “by terrifying them.”Be content with your wages,” John the baptist tells them. He tells them, ” Don’t accuse falsely…” which means “to accuse falsely, annoy, harass, oppress, blackmail.” They were willing to stoop to any means to get what they wanted. Their sin, John the Baptist exposed. Note it was specific, as is the Holy Spirit when He convicts of sin. They were exposed, but not left without HOPE, which is God’s way for them.
“Be content (arkeo) means to be enough, to be sufficient or to be adequate with the implication of leading to satisfaction. In the passive sense arkeo means to be satisfied or contented with something. The passive voice means be content (contentment coming from an outside source, the ultimate source being Christ, Phil 4:11, Phil 4:13}and in the present imperative calls for this to be their habitual practice (something ultimately only possible as we are supernaturally energized by the Spirit. -{Phil 4:13 NLT). True repentance results not in changed feelings as much as in changed actions. The present tense means this is not to be an occasional practice but a soldier’s new lifestyle.”-{preceptaustin commenatries}
“ – By selecting tax collectors and soldiers as examples of those who repented, John was making the general point that true repentance produces a life that is transformed from being characterized by sin to being benchmarked by virtue.
Beloved, do these virtues characterize your life? We’re not speaking about perfection (for none of us on earth have yet “arrived” – i.e., been glorified) but direction, continually growing “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” -{2 Peter 3;18}. “-{John MacArthur}
There is nothing wrong trying to get a better wage but not at the expense of using people and taking from them, through immoral and illegal means, while trying to fulfill the illusion of a false “contentment.” Covetousness is greed! It is wanting what others have and in this case been prepared to threaten them falsely accuse them extort from them to get what they wanted.
Selfishness and lack of love and respect for others, such is the depravity of sin, a willingness to do others wrong with no concern for them to seek to gain for oneself! John the Baptist tells them what they must do, and that is to show forth the fruit of “repentance,”{v 8} from their attitude how they treated people and turn away from their seeking to use and abuse them for their own selfish gain instead they need to “be content with your wages!” Let their lives prove that they have repented, by choosing to turn from abusing people for selfish gain and instead being content with what they have!
Their lack of contentment was evidenced in their corrupt pursuit of seeking to sinfully have “more!” There is nothing wrong with having a better wage but the way of going about it and why is the issue!
Repentance- and the evidence, the fruit of it is a necessity to experiencing true Contentment in your life, my life as it was in the day the soldiers asked “what should we do?” {v 14}. A New life that has turned from using people for selfish gain and terrorizing them to a life of virtue, content with what you have and seeking others highest good for Jesus sake . -{Read 2 Cor 4:5; Phil 2:3-4}. The soldiers asked the most important question and John gave them the answer- bring forth the fruit of repentance!
Contentment begins with repentance!
6.- SUFFERING ENABLED BY A NOBLE VIEW!
– Second Corinthians 12:10 – “For the sake of Christ, then, I am CONTENT with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, calamities, are strong words… yet Paul says he is content “WITH…” how or why? “FOR CHRIST’S SAKE!” His motivation and what enabled him through it all was not by gritting his teeth or pretending it wasn’t difficult or painful but because of a PERSON he could. “FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST!” Christ MAKES the Difference amidst the hard times and suffering! Christ HIMSELF, enabled him in the many painful trials and difficulties to be content! His motivation for enduring such pain and mistreatment, was “For Christ’s sake.” Paul wrote to Timothy, “For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.”-{2 Timothy 2:10}. He suffered as can be seen in 2 Cor 11 can see, and in it all he had a reason to continue on, “For Christ’s sake and …for the sake of those who are chosen.” Perspective in pain was to do it all “For Christ SAKE!”
Paul had been told that The LORD would not remove the “Thorn,” from him, the word was used of a wooden stake that was used to torture or impale someone! It was painful! He had asked three times for it to be removed and was denied for the LORD has that right and did not leave him without the ability to handle it and not somehow but triumphantly with the assurance, “My grace is Sufficient for you.” The word ‘sufficient,’ means “enough” with the implication of “satisfied.” And with it comes acceptance but also glorying in the fact that when he is weak ….it qualifies him to be strong in the LORD! And with it the exclamation of him being”…WELL CONTENT…” and that for Christ’s sake who had saved him, sustaining him through sufficient grace and imparting the wisdom that when he was weak, it was not the end but was a means to be strengthened by Christ and so whatever he faced, in light of Who He is, and how He has and is meeting him, he can say he does it all “For Christ sake…”
Yes it was tough for Paul, suffering unfairly, inhumanely and for doing right! He kept the suicidal jailor alive and shared with him and his family were rescued from spiritual death to eternal life! Peter and the apostles also suffered and we read, “…So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.”-{Acts 5:41}. Paul, Peter and others SUFFERED “For Christ SAKE,” and Gloried, rejoiced in Him despite suffering greatly! Jesus Christ makes the difference!
“Well Content… For Christ sake!”
Contentment enabled by a noble, high view of Jesus Christ, and doing it all, “For Christ’s sake!”
“The secret for contentment in every situation is to focus on the Lord–as Sovereign, as Savior, and as the Sufficient One.
He is the Sovereign One to whom I must submit;
He is the Savior whom I must serve;
He is the Sufficient One whom I must trust.
If I know Him in these ways as Paul did, I will know contentment.
…. contentment…is an inner sense of rest or peace that comes from being right with God and knowing that He is in control of all that happens to us. It means having our focus on the kingdom of God and serving Him, not on the love of money and things.“- {Steven Cole}
God help us not to be lured away with false calls of “Contentment” and be Distracted, Diverted, Deceived away from…
- Knowing Him Better and more intimately-{Phil 3:10}-
- Living by Faith In Him who loves us-{Gal 2:20} And
- Pursuing HIS Kingdom as THE priority of our lives “Seek first the KINGDOM OF God and His righteousness and ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO YOU.”-{Matt 6:33}….as WE LIVE AS ALIENS, ON THIS EARTH.
To be Content- To Be at PEACE WITH GOD AND SATISFIED WITH GOD. He is ENOUGH! The flesh, the world and the evil one offers false contentment. Christ alone is Where true Contentment is, and following His warnings and pursuing and being content with what He says to be content with!
“Contentment is an embracing of the providence of God. -{George Seevers}
If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled. -C. H. Spurgeon”
A Puritan sat down to his meal and found that he had only a little bread and some water. His response was to exclaim, “What? All this and Jesus Christ, too!” Contentment is found when we have a correct perspective on life”-{preceptaustin commentaries}
* Content with Christ!
* Confident in the Sovereignty of Christ -He Controls all,
* Resting by faith in The Sufficiency of Christ.{The word ,”Sufficient” means “Enough!”}