Philippians 4:10-13 – “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 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. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  NKJV

Contentment is a subject that is often greatly misunderstood by a very large segment of the Body of Christ and the world.  I have found that when we fail to understand the biblical principle of ‘contentment’ it is because we have either avoided the subject or distorted it.

I heard a pastor tell of overhearing a board member say, “The trouble with him is that he is a thermometer not a thermostat.”  The pastor’s curiosity was highly aroused and he inquired what was being discussed.  He found that two board members were discussing possible new board members.  In further explanation he said, “Pastor, it’s like this.  A thermometer doesn’t change anything around it.  It simply registers the temperature and it is always going up and down. A thermostat regulates the surroundings and changes them when they need to be changed. This man is a thermometer.  He lacks the power to change things.  Things change him.”  That is a powerful analogy and sadly it reflects too many today.

Paul was a thermostat and instead of having massive ups and downs as the situation and circumstances around him changed he continued steadfastly doing what he knew to do.  His demeanor, lifestyle and faith changed things around him rather than things changing him.  He never adopted a ‘victim’ mentality but was always a ‘victor.’  His attitude was seen in verses 11, 13 and 18.  He basically said:  I can accept all things. I can do all things.  I have all things.  He did not have to be pampered to be content.  He found contentment in the spiritual resources abundantly provided by the Lord.

Contentment does not equate to complacency as some seem to think.  It is not a false peace based on ignorance.  A complacent believer is unconcerned about others whereas a contented believer seeks to share his blessings with others.  Contentment is not ‘escape’ from the battle it is abiding in the peace and confidence that the Spirit brings in the midst of the battle.  Thus Paul’s confession:  “I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content.” 

Two key words:  Learned and Content.  The verb ‘learned’ indicates ‘learned by experience.’  Paul’s spiritual contentment was not something he automatically received upon becoming a Christian. He had to go through many difficult experiences in order to learn to be content.  The word ‘content’ literally means ‘contained.’  It is a description of the man whose resources are within him so that he does not depend on substitutes from without.  The Greek word means – ‘self-sufficient’ and was a favorite word of the Stoic philosophers but the Christian is not sufficient in himself.  He is sufficient in Christ!   That is the difference.  Because Jesus lives we are more than adequate for the demands of life

I want to delve into this a bit more so I will hit the pause button and hold my thoughts until the next post.  So until then may the Lord be with you, guard and guide you as you proceed on His planned way in life!   Blessings!