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Paul's Contentment in Life
BE SATISFIED WITH WHAT YOU HAVE 
Happiness in life depends on
level of contentment. We might have expected life to be ideal in so many respects, but despite best efforts, things might
not move the way we would have liked. Some people move ahead satisfied whatever comes in life, remain contented and try to
ignore things not achieved. It does not serve any purpose to feel dejected and make life more miserable. We will be doing
injustice to own self, if we continue to feel dejected and dissatisfied with what we did not possess. We may lose the enjoyment
of things that we actually hold, by remaining in a state of dissatisfaction. Also, when we are content, our happy times are
happier and sadness is less sad.
"Not
that I (Paul) speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."
Philippians 4:11
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 to everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13
The first thing Paul says is that he has learned to be content in every circumstance. If you are a Christian,
are you content with your life? If not, what do you think will make you happy? A thing? Notice, Paul was in a Roman prison
when he wrote this letter to the Philippians around A.D. 61. This Jewish rabbi, who was a Pharisee, a Roman citizen, a highly
educated man, and a former persecutor of the Christian faith, was disinherited by his rich parents because of his faith. Now
he was languishing in a dungeon because of his faith in Jesus Christ. Yet he was happy and content.
In fact, he says, “I have
no need.” Paul was not looking for a thing to make him happy. Paul had various needs. The prison system in those days did not provide much. He needed food, clothing,
books, pens, paper, ink, and, above all, freedom. He also needed spiritual fellowship with the people of God. Additionally,
he had no money to provide for these needs.
We
are not created to be self-sufficient. Rather, we are all dependent beings—dependent on creation, dependent on people,
dependent on holy angels, who are always helping us, and, above all, dependent on the triune God. Paul’s condition was worse than that of a slave. A slave was free, but
Paul was in prison, chained to soldiers on the left and on the right. How, then, could he say he was content? How could anyone
be happy in such a miserable situation?
Here is the secret: If
heaven is where God is, this prison was heaven to Paul, because the Lord was with him. That is the key to it all. Paul could
look at the chains and the prison and the darkness, or he could look at God, who was with him. The Lord who appeared to him
and apprehended him on the road to Damascus never forsook him. He said that at his first trial, though all believers, friends,
left him, the Lord stood with him and gave him strength. So the key to Christian contentment is not a thing but a person,
God himself. And he who started a good work, Paul said, will continue it until completion. We may quit, but God never does.
So Paul said, “For me to live is Christ” and “I no longer live but Christ lives in me.” That is the
key to true happiness.
By faith, Paul was united to Christ.
Paul was the branch and Christ was the vine. He worked out his salvation because God was working in him, both to will and
to do his good pleasure. Jesus told his disciples to go into all the world, and then he promised to be with them, even to
the end of the ages. So it does not matter where we are. We can even be confined in a prison and in chains, yet God will be
with us, meeting our every need. That was
the key to Paul’s happiness and sufficiency: the Lord was with him and the Lord was in him. How could Paul be unhappy
in the Lord’s presence?
In his presence there is fullness of joy, and on his right hand there are pleasures forevermore. David says, “The
Lord is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.” The Lord led Israel through the wilderness of desolation so that his people
would learn not to trust in themselves, in others, or in this world, but in him. He also leads us in the way of wilderness
to humble us. He brings us through trials so that we may look up and trust in Christ alone and fix our eyes on Jesus, the
author and finisher of our faith. He ordains that Pharaoh’s mighty army pursue us. Before is the Red Sea and behind
is the army; before is Marah; before is the army of the Amalekites; before there is no food or water; before is the raging
Jordan River. But no matter: the Lord is with us—the Creator and Redeemer, the infinite, sovereign Lord. Is there anything
too hard for this God?
For us today, we must learn to be content with our wages because we can always want more than we really need. "And
the soldiers likewise demanded of him, say, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse
any falsely; and be content with your wages." Luke 3:14 We must also learn to be content with the necessities of life because God will always give us that which
we need. "And having food and raiment let us be there with content." 1 Timothy 6:8. We must also learn to be content
with our lot in life because our lot could be worse than what it is. "Let your conversation be without covetousness;
and be content with such things as ye have (your lot in life): for he hath said, I will never leave thee, or forsake thee.
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.: Hebrews 13:5-6 . Therefore:
- We can find contentment by coming to Christ. We can have a life which is filled
with joy, peace and happiness because Christ can make us free from the guilt and the enslavement of sin. "Come unto me,
all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and
lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto you souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
- We can achieve contentment by believing the promises of God. The promises
of God has been given unto us so that they can help us to overcome the forces of evil. "God has given unto us many exceeding
great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that
is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4
- We can develop contentment by being
Spiritually minded. If we will develop a Spiritual Mind, we will have a contented life upon the earth. "For
to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Romans 8:6
- We
can achieve contentment by seeking those Spiritual Things which are above. If we will seek the Spiritual Riches of
heaven, we will have a contended life upon the earth. "If ye then be risen with Christ (by the act of baptism), seek
those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set you affection on things above, not on things
on the earth. For ye are dead (to the old life of sin which you once lived), and your life is hid with Christ in God. When
Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4
Let us also not forget that: - Contentment with godliness
is a great gain because it helps us to faithfully serve the Lord our God. If we can learn to be content with our services
to God, that would be the greatest gain which we could achieve in this life. "Godliness with contentment is a great gain."
1 Timothy 6:6
- Contentment will give us the Spiritual Blessings of Eternal Life in heaven. If we want to
receive the Spiritual Blessings of Eternal Life, we must patiently serve the Lord. Therefore, contentment will motivate us
to continue in well doing. "To them who (the Christians) by patient, continuance in well doing (with contentment) seek
for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life." Romans 2:7
- We can learn to be
content with our lot in life because the Lord will give us that which we need. "Remove far from me vanity and lies: give
me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me." Proverbs 30:8
- If
we are content with our lot in life, we will overcome the hardships which we must endure in this life.
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