Contentment in a Crazy World

"Not that I speak from want, 

for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity;

in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry,

both of having abundance and suffering need.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." 

Phil 4:11-13 (NASB)

I began drafting this particular blog post way back in the spring of 2020 in the early stages of the COVID pandemic.  For a number of reasons that included some rather seismic changes in my life I took an extended hiatus from writing.  Now that I am in yet another season of post career life, I thought I would attempt to again jot down my ponderings.  So, as I return to these words I penned a few years ago, I would like to say that I have mastered being content.  But I find myself still struggling to stay in that place of inner rest rooted in the assurance of the One who is faithful and steadfast.  So, how do I (we) find contentment in this crazy world?  

When first drafting this post, the onset of COVID had instigated the great toilet paper run of 2020?  Is there anything more revealing about our priorities :-)  We laughed about it and made memes about it but we all know there was this internal nagging fear of what if I run out?".  While running out of toilet paper is both a laughable yet sobering thought it is a microcosm of our affection toward comfort and convenience. Nothing necessarily wrong (well maybe not) with having a closet full of two ply mega roll toilet paper but we are so fixated on satisfying our comforts.  And yes many were facing much more serious crisis than the supply of paper products during that unprecedented time whether related to illness, work, relationships, loneliness, etc.

The chaos and uncertainty within our society have evolved since COVID but it's no less crazy.   The comforts found in familiarity, stability and normalcy that once seemed secure now are now threatened if not already shattered. But yet we seek to gratify ourselves, and obtain pleasure and security, even if to only to be a momentary distraction from the world around us. In this ongoing state of unrest and uncertainty we humans are unsettled if not fearful. And it is in these uncertain times, when the fragility of life is so evident, that we are forced to consider where we truly find our contentment. 

This brings to mind this pertinent quote from Charles Spurgeon - "Whatever a man depends upon, whatever rules his mind, whatever governs his affections, whatever is the chief object of his delight, is his god." Looking at this as a question - what do we depend on? what rules our minds?, what governs our affections?, what is our chief delight? And ultimately what have we placed at the forefront of our minds and hearts as the object of our worship and devotion even when life has gone sideways?

If we are honest with ourselves, the answers to those questions are not that difficult to answer. Just follow the trail to our wondering thoughts, yearnings, frustrations and even fears. These lead us to what we lay at the alter of our hearts. The object(s) of our affection fill our minds, govern our attitude and motives which ultimately steer our actions. Troubled and uncertain times have a way of revealing where our contentment truly rests.

So, what is contentment? Webster's dictionary defines contentment as "the state of being contented or satisfied. Gratification; pleasure; satisfaction." And we desire to be satisfied and avoid discomfort because we do not want to suffer in whatever form it may take.

The apostle Paul spoke to this idea of contentment in a frequently quoted, and often misapplied,  Scripture passage.

"Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Phil 4:11-13

A couple of interesting notes at the onset of the passage. Paul says he "learned to be content". Contentment does not come naturally to us mere mortals as we are inclined to satisfy whatever craving we have. Left to ourselves we our governed by what we want. True contentment requires the intervention of our heavenly Father as he molds us as believers into the image of Christ through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Just as Paul learned in the classroom of poverty and plenty we must learn by walking through the myriad of circumstances of life. Those things we seek to find comfort only prove to be passing pleasures and reveal that true contentment can only be found in the One that is the Provider.

It's also interesting that Paul said he "...learned to be content in whatever circumstances" whether "with humble means" or "in prosperity". Contentment is not contingent on the abundance or scarcity of what we have. True contentment is independent of the things we crave. We can be equally discontent when our lives are going smoothly and we have our material and emotional needs met. By experience we know this as the more we have the more we crave and fear it's loss. We must learn to be content "in prosperity" as well "with humble means". This tells us our contentment is a matter of the heart and mind not in what we possess. Our source of true satisfaction no matter our circumstance is Christ alone.

Paul punctuates that the source of contentment only comes through Christ. He writes, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" The context of this often misapplied verse is not saying I can do anything because Christ gives me strength. It is saying that I can be content in any circumstance no matter how tough through the strength given in the power of Christ. That is we can be strong and endure any circumstance through Christ. We see this idea echoed in Col. 1:11-12 "...being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light."

So to reach this place of contentment, what lessons are we to learn and apply?

1) Count All Things Loss Compared to Christ. 

"More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ," Phil 3:8. 

Are we willing to count all loss when compared to Christ? While we may struggle to consider if following Christ is worth it, our fleeting affections brings us to a threshold of decision. Where we ultimately place our dependence and delight, knocks us off of the fence of indecision either into fields we cultivate for our own passing happiness or into a pasture of rest secured in the eternal mercy and care of God.

2) Do Not to Love the World. 

"Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever." I John 2 15-17. 

We see here three primary areas in which we so easily become entangled and enthralled with the world. The lust of the flesh that is anything in which we over indulge for self gratification, the lust of the eyes that is the attention on the frivolous that entice us and lead us to covet, and boastful pride of life that is haughty thinking and arrogance sought through esteem and power over others. These sins are the enemy of contentment.

3) Let Go of the Grip on the Temporal. 

 "But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either" I Timothy 6:5. 

Our grip, our dependence, on this world determines our overarching attitudes whether it is one of hope, fear, or indifference. To release our grasp on the now, we can then fix our gaze on  the hope we have in the eternal through Jesus Christ.

4) Depend on Christ. 

"Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6. 

Our level of contentment is in direct proportion to the trust and hope we have in our Lord God as our helper and provider. To be content in what we have is to rest in God's sovereign provision.

5) Relinquish the Platform of Discomfort and Suffering to Christ. 

"And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong" 2 Co. 12:9-10. 

Our weakness and difficulties are the platform in which He demonstrates his power and brings glory unto Himself. True contentment comes in the satisfaction of God being gloried amidst our circumstances.

6) Be Thankful. 

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" I Thessalonians  5:13. "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:4-7. 

Thankfulness is the antidote to discontentment. In all things we are to give thanks. A thankful heart is one that delights most in the Giver not the gift.

So as we consider what we depend upon?, what rules our mind?, what governs our affections?, what is our chief object of delight? may we all find rest in the contentment that can only come from the living God through the power of His Spirit and His Son Jesus Christ.