“…[F]or I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content…..I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”  (Philippians 4:11, 13)

 

While it is true, one can do all things if God is enabling one to do these things, but that is not Paul’s meaning or purpose in Philippians 4:13. Paul’s meaning is contentment. In other words, I will be content where God puts me, I will be content with who God has made me, I will be content with what God gives me, I will be content with what God does with me because He strengthens me and enables me to do so.

This writer is a home church preacher/pastor. We preach for, we teach for, and we pastor only a handful of believers. When God opens a door and allows us to minister to other churches or other ministers we are happy to do so. Some may look at our ministry as a small and non-effective entity. These could not see themselves in this scenario. Some may think we are wasting our gifts, but I am content.

With our ministry God allows us to preach where and when called upon, other ministers do not have this option. In our ministry, we have no overhead or governing body, as do churches. The absence of overhead and governing bodies allow us to support missions and ministries freely and without the restraint of others. In this ministry, I am accountable to God and to those He has given me. Other benefits include: writing without fear of losing a ministry, meddling in the lives of others, being an honest sounding board for others, being accountable to God for only a handful at the judgement seat, and being forthright and honest to those seeking counsel. In this God-given ministry I am content.

Methinks contentment is the sign of being in the right place at the right time. All this talk of contentment and we have not yet defined the word. Content is defined as being in a place or state of satisfaction.

To be content there must be certain conditions met:
1. You must trust God and His sovereign plans for your life.
2. You must know that God is and that God is Good.
3. Even if you cannot sense God’s Presence, you must know, by faith, God sees you and God knows what is happening in your life.

Consider David and his sheep. David was to be the future king of Israel, he may not have known it yet but God did. David was content with his sheep. Even after Samuel anointed David to be king, David remained content with his sheep, 1 Samuel 16:18. After David was called to the palace to play the harp for the rejected king, David was content. Remember, David knew he was to be king, Saul did not. All the trials that David was put through, he remained content. He trusted in God’s timing and in God’s purposes. Isaiah said, “[H]e that believeth shall not make haste…” To make haste is opposite to contentment.

Consider Absolom, David’s son. Absolom could not wait for the kingdom to come to him by natural causes. Instead he set himself up at the king’s gate and intercepted those seeking King David’s counsel. Absolom did this in an attempt to turn the hearts of the people away from David and to himself. He was successful and David was forced to escape his palace. Absolom’s actions led to a civil war, which he lost, he also lost his life. Absolom’s discontent led to his death.

Let us consider the prodigal son. In Christ’s parable, the youngest son was not content with his life. The discontented son demanded his authority and all the adult responsibilities that came with it. We know the end, do we not? The discontented son, who was in way over his head, squandered it all and became homeless and penniless. This person’s discontentment led to the loss of family, shelter, and money. Of course, when he figured everything out and understood his mistake and his affront to his father, he went home and his loving father received him. However, if the father chose to deny his son, discontent would have cost him everything and did for a time.

To be content is to be thankful and grateful to God for all that is.
To be discontent is to be unthankful and ungrateful to God for all that is.

A non-exhaustive list of the discontent would include:
Lucifer/(s)atan
Eve
Adam
Cain
Job’s wife, could anyone honestly blame her?
The Israelites, especially in Judges
Jezebel
Ahab
Haman
Proverbs’ Gluttons
Judas Iscariot
Ananias and Sapphira
Simon the Sorcerer
The Lost man
Some Christ-ians
You?

 

There are (2) two things we can be discontent with:
1. Our closeness to God
2. Our Christ-likeness

The more you learn of God, the more you learn from God, and the more you know God, the more content you will be. To know God is to know God is all you need and will ever need. “He that hath the Son hath life…”