Day 12: Contentment
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Transcript
The apostle Paul’s life was full of highs and lows. He was a devout Pharisee, highly educated, and one of the leading Jewish teachers of his time. As a Pharisee (initially anyway), he was a fierce persecutor of Christians. But after a miraculous encounter with Jesus, Paul became one of Christianity’s greatest advocates, spreading the gospel across the Roman world.
His life was probably relatively comfortable growing up, but the latter part of his life was anything but easy—he faced beatings, shipwrecks, imprisonment, betrayal, and constant danger. In spite of all that, he also experienced incredible moments of triumph: planting churches, mentoring leaders like Timothy and Titus, and seeing many people begin to follow Jesus.
So when Paul wrote a letter to the Jesus followers in the city of Philippi, telling them he knew about life’s ups and downs, he really knew what he was talking about. He wrote this, while being a prisoner no less:
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation… I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
He’s talking about contentment. And there’s a key word in there, and we can tend to gloss right over it. It’s the word “learned.” Paul said he had learned to be content whether he had a little or a lot. This wasn’t something that came naturally. It was something he had to develop over time—it was a discipline of contentment.
True contentment isn’t about how much money is in our bank account. It’s about knowing that God is enough—whether we have much or little. Contentment releases us from the pursuit of seeking more for our little kingdoms. When contentment is based on what God has done, then like Paul we can learn to walk through all things—no matter our circumstance—alongside the One who is our source of strength.
“Heavenly Father,
Teach me to be content in every season. Help me trust that you are enough, no matter what I have or lack. Amen.”
