Contentment

1 Timothy 6:1 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. 6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul writes, (Phil 4:11,) …”I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.”

  

When we speak of contentment, what are we talking about? More importantly - what is Paul talking about?

If you were to ask the “man on the street” about contentment, they would most likely link their ‘contentment’ to a sense of personal happiness based upon fulfillment provided by external forces, be it finances and personal possessions or relationships. In other words, my contentment is based on the status of my stuff, or how much I enjoy my job, or how satisfied I am with my current relationships. We might also add the peace of the nation and the health of our nation’s economy to the list.

All these are fluctuating factors we really have no control over. Thus, most people, and maybe more than most, lack contentment. It is elusive. You may have it for a moment – but it always seems to escape our grasp.

Paul teaches contentment as a “learned” blessing. But, can contentment be learned?

The simple answer is: Yes, contentment can be learned. But how? How can we ‘learn’ to hang on to something so elusive? The whole world seeks happiness, and none have it.

True contentment BEGINS with fulfillment. Fulfillment is the end of emptiness to such an extent we are never empty again. And when we are fully filled, the thought of emptiness never enters our hearts again.

There is an emptiness in the human heart which can only be filled with Jesus Christ. This is God’s design. It cannot be contradicted no matter how hard or how often we try. Only Jesus can fill the human heart with eternal gladness and peace. When I learn of Jesus, I learn and know contentment from the inside-out, and nothing from the outside can take that away. All it takes to learn of this contentment is to believe.

 -  Pastor Bill