Have You Learned to be Content?

I have always struggled with Phillippians 4:11, which reads “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” I recently realized that my problem with this verse is the word “content.” Other versions use satisfied, but the large majority use my stumbling-block word. The Amplified Bible adds a parenthetical comment “satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted whatever state I am.”  Those parenthetical comments, using the words disturbed or disquieted help us understand what we should seek.

Content. I studied this word and realized that I was not looking at a full definition of the word. One definition in Mirriam-Webster defines the verb as “to limit (oneself) in requirements, desires, or actions.”  The Cambridge Dictionary reads “to make someone feel happy and satisfied.” These definitions exhibit my prior thoughts about this word.  If that’s the way you think of this word, then you probably have some of the same feelings that I have about it in this passage. Using these definitions, we just sit back, be happy, and take whatever comes. I don’t think that’s it al all.

Clarence L. Haynes, Jr., whom I consider to be a very insightful Christian author and teacher, states regarding being content “This does not mean you don’t push to be better, do more, or to advance. It means you don’t use that as the measure of your satisfaction. As Christians, this is necessary because the opposite of contentment is disappointment, dissatisfaction, and unhappiness. If you search for contentment in the wrong places, it can lead to making harmful choices.” In other words, Haynes is not telling us that the content Christian should not strive for improvement. Sounds good, but what does that mean? How do we exhibit Christian contentment?

The difference is our focus. We should look to God for our contentment. Philippians 4;13 reads “can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Notice that Paul did not say he (or we) could do all things, He said “ I can do all things through HIM who strengthens me.” 

Things to Avoid. If we are to be content there are some things to avoid. First, we should not look to humans for our contentment. Psalm 146:3 (CEV) reads “You can’t depend on anyone,  not even a great leader.”  Jeremiah 17:5 is a little more forceful “This is what the Lord says: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength.” Finally, I would give you Psalm 118:8-9 (CEV) “It is better to trust the Lord for protection than to trust anyone else, including strong leaders.”  Don’t look to others to make you content. Man will fail you. God never fails.

Second, don’t focus on possessions. Matthew 24:35 reads “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” Everything you’ve accumulated over your lifetime will be gone. I was recently cleaning out my house in anticipation of a move and I realized much of what I had accumulated was things that had memories for me. They stirred up pleasant thoughts, but my kids didn’t want many of those things. They were my possessions that meant little to them. I gained a new insight into possessions.

Third, Don’t make promotions in your work or growth of your business your source of contentment. If your identity is in your work, you lose that identity when you lose your job – either from being fired, or from retirement. Having retired twice, as a professor and as a CPA, I can attest that there is a dislocation. But God had more for me. I am more than a teacher and a bean-counter.

Fourth, don’t pursue personal achievements to become content. There is nothing wrong with personal achievements. I used to run and participated in many road races, including two marathons. I was thrilled to finish the first one under my goal time. But I immediately started looking to the next one and was hoping to shave thirty minutes off that time. I didn’t achieve that goal. Personal achievements can be fulfilling to pursue, but don’t wrap your identity in those achievements. In road races, as in many other aspects of life, there is only one first place. If we set realistic goals for ourselves, we can “win” when we meet those goals. The only trophy I ever got in running was for 12th place in the Senior Division. But I achieved my goal and I felt like a winner.

Fifth. Don’t set prosperity as your goal. Larry Burkett, who founded Christian Financial Concepts, now Crown Financial Ministries, once responded to the question “How much is enough?” His response? “Just a little more.”

Sixth, earthly pleasures will not make you content. That bucket-list vacation you took? It ended. Your dream car you finally bought? It wore out. Your new house that tops the Jones’ house just got upstaged by a newer, bigger house down the street. I am not saying there is anything wrong with these, but they do not bring a lifetime of contentment. You’ll always want more.

How to be content. Now that we have seen what will not make us content, what do we need to achieve contentment from a Christian perspective. First, do focus on eternal life. In  2 Peter 3:13, the apostle wrote “But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” Think of that – “a place where righteousness dwells” – that’s where I want to spend all my days. Eternity is a difficult concept. Here on earth, time often enslaves us as we attempt to accomplish more on earth. I think I am fairly safe in saying that Heaven has no clocks. Our eternal life will be unhurried, with everything in its “time.”

Second, do focus on things above. In Colossians 3:2, Paul, who was taken up to see heaven before his death, writes “Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.” Paul had seen heaven and earth. Obviously, heaven was the better choice, as he relates. In his recent book What Comes Next?, Max Lucado writes that your best day on earth will pale in comparison to our experience in heaven. 

Third, do focus on His decrees. In Psalm 119:112, the Psalmist writes “I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes. Forever, even to the end.” God has set his laws, his instructions to us. We should focus on what God has told us to do. In the 1990’s a popular phrase in the Jesus movement was “WWJD.” What Would Jesus Do? I was surprised to discover that this phrase grew out of the Biblical concept of “Imitatio Christi” or “Imitation of Christ” in the 1400’s. In 1890 Reverend Charles Sheldon introduced this phrase to a wider audience and preached a series of sermons to address the question of how to imitate Christ in modern society. He ended each sermon with the question “What would Jesus do?” From the positive response to his sermons, he wrote the best seller In His Steps, which became a Christian classic. Interestingly the book became widely published by 70 publishers due to a defective copyright. (God works in mysterious ways).

Fourth, do focus on Jesus. Heb 3:1 reads (CEV) “My friends, God has chosen you to be his holy people. So think about Jesus, the one we call our apostle and high priest!” But the writer doesn’t stop there. In the following verses, he explains why we should think about Jesus. He was faithful to the appointment God gave Him. He emphasizes that man may build things, but the reality is that God is the builder of everything.

In Hebrews 12:1-2, the point is made stronger as the author states “let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, (my emphasis) the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 

To focus is to concentrate, to direct our attention on something. If I am watching a closely played sporting event, I am going to be laser-focused on that game. At that point, nothing else matters. We should have that same focus on Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:18, Paul (as usual) doesn’t mince words “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.”

We live in a fallen world. Keeping our focus on Jesus doesn’t just happen. We need to be diligent in our Christian disciplines, especially prayer and Bible study. My wife and I were just talking about another aspect of focusing. We need to surround ourselves with Christian friends. We become like those we associate with. Spending time with fellow Christians can help us maintain proper focus.

Fifth, we should focus on grace. Merriam Webster defines grace in relation to God as “a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance.” I grew up in a church named Grace Baptist. It was frequently uttered that GRACE is an acronym for “God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense. Christ made God’s riches available to us for the asking.

I Peter 1:13 (CEV) tells us to “Be alert and think straight. Put all your hope in how God will treat you with undeserved grace when Jesus Christ appears.” There is much to ponder in this short passage, but I want to focus on three things. One, we are to be alert and straight-thinking. We just need to watch people and see that this is not common today. Two, we need to put our hope in how God will treat us. If we live for Him, he will treat us with undeserved grace. Third, this will happen when Christ appears – He IS coming back. 

Sixth, we should focus on others with compassion and mercy. Jesus was a compassionate person when he walked on this earth. In the feeding of the 5,000 (plus women and children) Matthew relates that “When He came ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.” (14:14). In the same instance, it was past dinner time and the disciples came to Him, suggesting He send them away to find food for themselves. Jesus would have none of that, he had a miracle in mind. He took five loaves and two fish and made enough to feed everybody with food left over.

Again in Matthew, the disciple relates the parable of the unforgiving slave. The master had forgiven the slave a large debt, but the slave did not have mercy on his fellow slave for not forgiving a much smaller debt. The master handed him over to be punished. Jesus commanded mercy on our part, saying “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” (18:35). The Golden Rule from Matthew 7:12 (CEV) should be our standard operating procedure. “Treat others as you want them to treat you. This is what the Law and the Prophets are all about.”

Be content with what is missing. VJ Dunn is a favorite author who writes relatable Christian fiction (her words, not mine). She recently sent an email that expresses that she is thankful for what’s missing in her life. I’ve summarized her list slightly:

1. I don’t have an illness, other than old  age aches and pains.
2. I don’t have a desire for more, better, faster. I am a very content person.
3. I don’t have debilitating addictions. My real addiction is reading.
4. Best of all, I don’t have the fear of death any longer, thanks to my Savior who defeated death on that cross?

VJ has learned to be content in her circumstances. As the scriptures tell us repeatedly, Christ is enough. Why not make Christ enough in your life? Be content.

Scripture is from the NASB unless otherwise stated.

Photo credits from Pixabay – Vilius Icvlsanauskas, Mani Samva, Igor, Pobobriy, Vicki Hamilton.