How to be genuinely content

We all want contentment, but how is this possible when so many things are out of our control. Even if you could buy your way out of various states of discontent, so that you abound in the comfort of material possessions, away from the disturbances of an annoying job, nasty neighbour or other pressing problems, more discontent most certainly lies just around the corner.  It will probably take another guise, but it is certainly there and waiting to cause more unhappiness and sadness for someone who has not found and laid hold on the one and only source of contentment that will endure in each and every situation.

It is not what the flesh wants to hear, in fact the flesh can’t hear or learn it, but it is the truth, that in whatsoever state we are in, good or bad, we can learn to be content.  Being content does not come easily, especially when confronted with things that disturb us intensely.   How could we possibly be content in such situations?  Yet, if we consent to sound doctrine, the truth is that we can learn to be content regardless of whatever state we find ourselves in.

• Philippians 4:11-12 KJV  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  (12)  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Contentment does not depend on circumstances or material things.  It is a result of us being grateful, and this is the will of God for every believer.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

How can we make sense of the idea of giving thanks in a difficult situation, one in which we are clearly suffering? God doesn’t cause bad things; they can occur due to our own actions or those of others, but surely God is not just saying that we should block out the reality of circumstances and pretend they are not happening?  After all, we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, and that he is able to do exceeding above all that we even ask or think. 

• Romans 8:28 KJV  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
• Ephesians 3:20 KJV  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Surely God can just intervene to remove all those horrible disturbing problems?  Would that be the answer to our discontent, or would the next annoyance be just around the corner?  God’s ways are higher than our ways, and he made a way for us to be content in every circumstance, and for us to gain from it greatly.  

• 1 Timothy 6:6 KJV  But godliness with contentment is great gain.

We can learn to be content in whatever state we are in, by being thankful for what God has done for us. But what about turning it to great gain, even in what would otherwise have been intolerable circumstances?  That requires godliness with contentment, which is great gain.

Godliness is not what the world thinks: “good clean living”.  It is obtained by thinking how God thinks, putting on the mind of Christ through study of his word, through prayer and edification in the body of Christ.  Our life of contentment is found in swapping the way we think in our natural man, with the way that God thinks.  When we learn this, we will have increased in godliness and contentment, which is profitable unto all things and great gain, both for our life that now is and for that which is to come.

• 1 Timothy 4:8 KJV  For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

If we want contentment, then we must let the peace of God rule in our hearts and be thankful.  We do this by study of his word, so it dwells in us and reminds us of what God has done for us, the position we have in Christ and what that means, both for our life that now is, and for that which is to come.  With this in our hearts, we can sing with grace in our hearts and truly give thanks to God, expressed in every thing we say and do.  If we thank him, with these things in our heart, we will be content.

• Colossians 3:15-17 KJV  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.  (16)  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  (17)  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Consider the mind of Christ, how he humbled himself and suffered for us, to do the will of the Father.  And look at how Paul endured hardships, for the sake of others including us, that we might hear the gospel and be saved. It wasn’t just a case of living in a low quality home, or in a rough / undesirable neighbourhood, Christ our Great God and Saviour of the world had nowhere to lay his head while here in his earthly ministry.

• Matthew 8:20 KJV  And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

The pattern for a believer today in this age of grace is Paul, whose life was hardly smooth and comfortable.  He was hungry, thirsty, persecuted and had no certain dwellingplace, yet he had his mind on things above and he was content.

• 1 Corinthians 4:11-13 KJV  Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;  (12)  And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:  (13)  Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

It didn’t matter what state he was in, Paul had learned to be content.

• Philippians 4:11 KJV  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

And this was possible because he had put on the mind of Christ and was strengthened by that doctrine, able to do all things.

• Philippians 4:13 KJV  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Paul understood that our light affliction in this present evil world is but for a moment.  He drew strength from this, and the fact that it was for the sake of others and it worked for him a far more exceeding weight of eternal glory!!.

• 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 KJV  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  (17)  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;  (18)  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

In contrast, the Devil was not content and was lifted up in pride. The angels were not content and left their first estate. Mankind is not content; thy see the evidence of God all around in creation, but are not thankful.

• Romans 1:20-21 KJV  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  (21)  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Contentment keeps us satisfied where we are, in any circumstance, good or bad. Godliness motivates us to do what is right, so life is therefore not just about sitting still and waiting for our eternal weight of glory; we have an exciting job to do as ambassadors for Christ and ministers of reconciliation. 

With both godliness and contentment, we will have great gain.