Articles
Contentment
Paul said he had learned to be content. He certainly had a lot to be discontent about. Contentment seems illusive. Many desire it, few attain it. It seems to me Paul knew his place. Here a few things that help me be more content.
Learn what really matters. Whether the things be small or big, learn what really matters. It did not matter if Paul was full or empty, he was content because he had learned what matters. He had everything of which to boast (Phil. 3-8). Yet when he looked at all that, it was not really important. Our Lord helps us see what matters when He said, “Do not worry about tomorrow, what you shall wear, eat or drink.” He provides. In the hectic rush to get ahead or be better than others we need to really evaluate what matters the most. Paul simply wanted to attain to the measure of the stature of Christ. He wanted to know Him, gain Him and share in His sufferings. What really mattered were not the physical things he could gain but the spiritual which was a gift.
Contentment also comes from surviving hard knocks. People worry the financial things. But if we have ever experienced 10 cents left at the first of the month after bills are paid and somehow make it through the month without going in the hole, we learn God will provide. Those who survived the depression learned that beans and rice were a special delicacy. They learned that even through the direst of times, God will see us through. My granddad said, “The hard times make you appreciate the good times.” Even hard times that come from relationships can help us be more content. They make us appreciate peace more. Paul had his share of challenging relationships. He even had a challenge of a matter of judgment with one who was a very close friend, Barnabas. He was able to move from the hard times. People are people. People will hurt and disappoint, but they will also encourage, comfort and lift us up. Surviving the University of Hard Knocks, we can learn to be content because we learn how to have relationships with others. Also, we learn not to take ourselves so serious.
Paul learned about contentment because he saw himself as a servant not a master. One of his signatures is how he calls himself a slave of Christ, a bond-servant. He will refer to himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. Paul knew who God was and he knew he was man. He knew his place and his role. He had plenty of opportunity to stand head and shoulders above the other apostles but he calls himself the chiefest of sinners. He never forgot what he did. He never forgot who was God. Paul also did not let others define him. In Corinth there were Judaizers who tried to persuade the Corinthians. They said of him that he was a tough man behind the key board but when he is face to face, he is not so strong. He does not boast of himself. He simply tells the Corinthians, “You are our letter known and read by all men.” In other words, “I will let my work speak for itself.” God defines who we are, not people. We are His creation made in His image. He gave His son for us. That makes us somebody.
Contentment is possible. Just keep the proper perspective about what matters the most, overcoming hard knocks and letting others tell you who you are. One said, “Nothing is as good as it seems and nothing is as bad as it can be.” It is also true that nothing is as good as it can be and nothing is as bad as it seems. “The sun will come out tomorrow.”
We will make it through this life. That is not the thing that really matters. The thing that really matters is we will live in eternity with God. Now, there is contentment.
