Contentment

“I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.”
Philippians 4:12 NLT

Content? If you were to measure your personal contentment on a scale from 1 to 10, where would you place yourself? Now that you have done that, ask yourself what were the criteria you used to make that determination? Were the criteria things like, how much stuff I own, is my stuff new or old, who my friends are, where I work, how much money I make, or maybe how well I feel my family is doing? Contentment is a funny thing; it can be affected by many variables.
Paul in his letter to the Philippians talks about his personal journey with contentment. The verse we started with today tells us that Paul thought a great deal about this and had made some very distinct decisions about where his contentment would come from. As we read the verse we quickly learn that for Paul his contentment was not wrapped up in what he has. He tells us contentment is not in having a lot or a little. It is not in having lots to eat or starving myself. He is basically telling us that our contentment will not be and cannot be found in our external circumstances. So where does his contentment come from? He tells us, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” Philippians 4:13 NLT. Paul came to the place where he realized that everything he needed was found in the person of Christ. The same is true for us. True contentment can only be found in intimate growing relationship with Jesus.
So, let’s end with the question we started with. Where are you trying to find your contentment?

-Pastor Tim