Learning Contentment, Part 1

Learning Contentment

"Rejoice in the LORD always. Again I will say rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The LORD is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. 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. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 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. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4: 4-13)

Looking at my life, I realize that I am conditionally patient. There are times and situations in which I can be extremely patient in life. However, I also see areas in my life in which I am far from patient. Life in general for instance. I can't tell you how many times I have gone from one point in my life to another by counting down the days to the next big event: impatiently counting down the days until I finished high school, anxiously anticipating the start of college, and then spending the last year and a half of my college life simply ready for school to be done and a diploma with my name on it in hand... These make up only a few of those big moments in life that I have reached with the attitude of "I can't wait until..." or "Life will start when...". Waiting for life to move forward has never been particularly easy for me. 


Wishing for the future has been something I have struggled with for years. It is so easy to fall into the deception that the "grass is always greener on the other side of the fence", but that is truly what the saying is - a lie. Upon careful reflection, I have seen God's fingerprints in those years of wishing away the present. Those years truly have been a blessing in my life and God has been using them to prepare me for each "next step". However, it saddens me to look back and see the time I wasted in the present by keeping my eyes focused on the future. I missed so many opportunities to be used by God in the present because I was so focused on how He would eventually use me in the future. Life is truly a gift! Each and every moment is a gift from our Father, not just some of the big moments. I see now the truth in the saying, "make the most of every opportunity". I am so grateful that God is opening my eyes and my heart to His truth.


In my impatience, I failed to be content. I thought that I would find contentment in the future when I graduated from high school, got a car, finished a year of college, etc. Yet, Paul tells us in Philippians 4: 11-13 that he learned to be content in whatever situation he was currently in.  

 "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 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. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4: 11-13) 

The Greek word Paul used for "content" in this verse is  αὐτάρκης. This word literally means "sufficient for one's self, strong enough or possessing enough to need no aid or support; independent of external circumstances; and contented with one's lot, with one's means, though the slenderest" (Strong's). I do not believe Paul is saying that an individual can find contentment in or of themselves. If it was possible to find contentment on our own, why would Paul have included verse 13 ("I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me")? Perhaps Paul is referring to the new man - a life completely in and of Christ. 


Paul tells us that he had to learn to be content. Contentment is not something we are born with; it is something we have to be taught (for isn't it through being instructed that we learn?). Only God can teach us to be truly content, and I believe that is why Paul stated that it was in Christ that he could do all things. I am deeply encouraged by the fact that Paul had to learn to be content. That one simple verb brings me great hope because it means that through Christ I too can learn to be content in all things.