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Christian Contentment

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“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.”
(Philippians 4:11-12)

The apostle Paul was a very learned man, but not the least among his manifold acquisitions in science was this: he had learned to be content in any situation. Such learning is far better than much that is acquired in the schools.

Do not indulge, any of you, the silly notion that you can be contented without learning, or learn without discipline. It is not a power that may be exercised naturally, but a science to be acquired gradually. The very words of the next text might suggest this, even if we did not know it from experience. We need not be taught to murmur, but we must be taught to acquiesce in the will and good pleasure of the Lord our God.

Notice first that the apostle said he knew how to be “brought low.” A wonderful knowledge this. When all men honor us, then we may very well be content; but when the finger of scorn is pointed, at us, when our character is held in ill repute, and men hiss us by the wayside, it requires much gospel knowledge to be able to endure that with patience and with cheerfulness. We must be able to give up everything for him. We must be willing to go downwards, in order that Christ’s name may ascend upwards, and be the better known and glorified among men. “I know how to be brought low,” says the apostle.

Paul’s second piece of knowledge is equally valuable, “I know how to abound.” There are a great many men that know a little how to be brought low, that do not know at all how to abound. When they are put down in the pit with Joseph, they look up and see the starry promise, and the hope for an escape. But when they are put on the top of a pinnacle, their heads grow dizzy, and they are ready to fall. When men have too much of God’s mercies-strange that we should have to say this, and yet it is a great fact-when men have much of God’s providential mercies, it often happens that they have but little of God’s grace, and little gratitude for the bounties they have received. They are full, and they forget God; satisfied with earth, they are content to do without heaven. Rest assured, my dear hearers, it is harder to know how to be full than it is to know how to be hungry. To know how to be hungry is a sharp lesson, but to know how to be full is the harder lesson after all. So desperate is the tendency of human nature to pride and forgetfulness of God! As soon as ever we have a double stock of manna, and begin to hoard it, it breeds worms and becomes a stench in the nostrils of God. Take care that you ask in your prayers that God would teach you how to be full.

Remember, that if you are poor in this world so was your Lord. A Christian is a believer who hath fellowship with Christ; but a poor Christian hath in his poverty a special vein of fellowship with Christ opened up to him. Your Master wore a peasant’s garb, and spoke a peasant’s brogue. His companions were the toiling fishermen. He was not one who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. He knew what it was to be hungry and thirsty, nay, he was poorer than you, for he had not where to lay his head. Let this console you. Why should a disciple be above his Master, or a servant above his Lord? In your poverty, moreover, you are capable of communion with Christ. You can say, “Was Christ poor? Now can I sympathize with him in his poverty. Was he weary, and did he sit thus on the well? I am weary too, and I can have fellowship with Christ in that sweat which he wiped from his brow.” Some of you brethren cannot go the length you can; it were wrong of them to attempt to do it, for voluntary poverty is voluntary wickedness. But inasmuch as God hath made you poor, you have a facility for walking with Christ, where others cannot. You can go with him through all the depths of care and woe, and follow him almost into the wilderness of temptation, when you are in your straits and difficulties for lack of bread. Let this always cheer and comfort you, and make you happy in your poverty, because your Lord and Master is able to sympathize as well as to succour.

And surely, my dear brethren, if I need to add another argument why you should be content, it were this: whatever your trouble, it is not for long; you may have no estate on earth, but you have a large one in heaven, and perhaps that estate in heaven will be all the larger by reason of the poverty you have had to endure here below. You may have scarcely a house to cover your head, but you have a mansion in heaven,-a house not made with hands. Your head may often lie without a pillow, but it shall one day wear a crown. Your hands may be blistered with toil, but they shall sweep the strings of golden harps. You may have to go home often to dinner of herbs, but there you shall eat bread in the kingdom of God, and sit down at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Yet a little while, the painful conflict will be over. Courage, comrades, courage,-glittering robes for conquerors. Courage, my brother, courage, thou mayest sooner become rich than thou dreamest of; perhaps there is e’en now, but a step between thee and thine inheritance. Thou mayest go home, peradventure, shivering in the cold March wind; but ere morning dawneth thou mayest be in thy Master’s bosom. Bear up with thy lot then, bear up with it. Let not the child of a king, who has an estate beyond the stars, murmur as others. You are not so poor after all, as they are who have no hope; though you may seem poor, you are rich. Do not let your poor neighbours see you disconsolate, but let them see in you that holy calmness, that sweet resignation, that gracious submission, which makes the poor man more glorious than he that wears a coronet, and lifts the son of the soil up from his rustic habitation, and sets him among the princes of the blood-royal of heaven. Be happy, brethren, be satisfied and content. God will have you to learn, in whatever state you may be, therewith to be content.

Comments

  1. This comes at a perfect time to be a comfort to me. I recieved my layoff papers yesterday after 32 years. I am forced to take an early retirement and that means a approximent 45% cut in income. I am 54 and am married and have a son who is under employed living with us. However, I feel fortunate as some others are young and have young families to support. I feel that this time can be my time to minister to these who are facing much greater loss. We will adjustand follow the leading of the Holy Spirit as he shows which direction we should go next. If I get feeling sorry for myself I just read Romans 8! :^)

    Rom 8:1 ¶ There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

    • Praying peace and blessing for you, Tim. May our Lord see fit to use you mightily through this time of trial and bring you into closer, more intimate fellowship with Him than you ever knew. 1Peter 1:3-9

    • My family and I will be praying for you. It is in our afflictions that we grow and are comforted by the sweetest Friend. He is ever faithful and will not fail you and your family now.

      May His grace, mercy, peace, and joy be with you all.

    • Tom~

      It is a testament to God that you have begun this trial with God’s Words so firmly planted within you. I will join my sisters in Christ in holding you up during your trial. I pray Psalm 121 over you and that this will be a time of great surrender in which you will experience God in ever increasing ways.

      As I was typing, this verse came to me: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (Jam. 1:17). I pray that this truth will be a part of everything that God is doing in you and in your situation.

      God bless you.
      Your sister in Christ~
      Barbara

  2. I guess I need to learn how to post what I wrote. I went into the forum discussions, posted a question, I thought and then did not know where it went. Here is the post with no question. I’ll try again later. My wife and daughter have just been explaining how facebook works and I still wonder why so many people use my facebook page.

    Jerry

  3. I was just thinking yesterday of how I desired to write a blog aiming towards the heart of the homeless. God has given me such a desire to encourage and help the poor. Of course, that is a command of the Lord, but i feel its a calling in my life. These verses from Phillipians have been one of my favorite since starting my journey through the Bible. Its the only verse that I have memorized. I am so thankful for this blog post, and how much it has informed, encouraged, and strengthened me. If you don’t mind, I will be using these words, of course giving credit where it is due. God bless you, and hope for all the nations, that they be content. This has opened my eyes so much to our circumstances, and makes me all the more thankful for my loving heavenly Father.

    • Miranda;

      I really enjoyed your post. The Lord moved me over a year ago to minister at a local rescue mission, this has been one of the most fulfilling surprises I have experienced in ministry. What I have found that is different from regular Sunday church ministry is the hunger and receptiveness of the people who struggle but strive to gain and maintain a relationship with the Lord. The delivery of the message is also unique, as with Spurgeon, not that I will ever be on his level, the messages are Scripture based but placed into a context in which a story gains the interest of the listener and they become a part of the story. As you read Spurgeon above he takes you into the places of highs and lows, he gives you the feeling that your are there and it is your situation. Too often as I have read the Scripture line of line I can see the interest diminish, but when I move aside and allow the Spirit to work I see faces interested and alive. I have tried to go in and teach line of for line verse for verse, which I do in bible studies, but have not achieved the positive outcome I do when the message is Spirit led people focused. God must always be first and even though the message is people focused it is all about the glory of God. I would say that is one of the things I enjoy about Spurgeon and Moody so much, is the manner of delivery.

      Last month I spoke of contentment, a place of which Paul brings us to realize it is only truly found in in our Christ Jesus. In the Greek as Paul uses it in Philippians 4:11 it implies that he has found the ability to be content in any circumstance or trials he faces. He is given the strength he needs to endure from our Christ and needs no other aid. However His contentment did not bring about a passiveness that would allow him to sit back and wait for change to come about, but instead inspired him to action. Obviously he was not content being in prison for he longed to be with the churches and his bothers and sisters in Christ. In the inner contentment he had he found the ability to use the sufferings as gain for the Lord. We do not want to confuse contentment with acceptance as I have found people who accept the chaos in which they live and become complacent.

      It is easy to say, “be content” but how did Paul achieve this ability and how can we do so? 4:13, Our Christ Jesus was his strength, in Him all things are possible and we must come to believe this, Paul turns to Jesus and trains his mind. He focuses on the glory of salvation over and above his current suffering, Romans 8:18. He tells Timothy 4:7, “train yourself to be Godly.” One of the most overlooked teachings of Paul is his call for believers to be active participants in the work of the Spirit. Philippians 2:12,“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” not by works but by faith. Too many people I talk with seem to be waiting for the Spirit to bring about the change, they expect change will somehow magically take place and a revelation will just happen if they randomly read the Scripture. The eunuch of which Philip was led to in Acts 8:31 when asked if he understood what he was reading did not say “how can I unless someone reads it to me,” no, he said “How can I unless someone explains it to me.” Both men became active participants in God’s plan, and God will use the lessons and trials we overcome to give aid and understanding to others. Paul was a beacon of light in his content nature, he was given the strength to see beyond the situation at hand.

      I pray you move forward and write your blogs and step out to help the lost and searching. Nobody can say job well done better than God.

      • Thank yo so much for that encouraging and enlightenening word. I will need as much of that as I can get. Especially if I do move into action!, as you put it. It is a choice to make. We are vessels of the power of the Holy Spirit, but it is a choice we have to make in order to allow the Spirit to move through us. God bless you as you continue to minister unto others, and may we be more open to Gods leading and calling in our lives. Because He surely has called us all!
        Miranda

  4. I suppose the struggle I had with this is that I was so used to the complicated, detailed, and overly-complex in my life, it was far too easy for me to not see the simple.

    I don’t buy the– I’m just a simple guy with simple tastes– routine. If we were simple people, we wouldn’t have so many toys, possessions, and want such beautiful, and complex women as wives. If we weren’t complex people, we wouldn’t want such lavish homes, fancy cars, and have such extravagant egos. We’d be content with log cabins, 544 BC living, in some outback woods somewhere, walking everywhere we went. We like hard, and today’s humanity shows it. We like complex and western civilization is proof of that. We only complain because we can’t control it as much as we think we want to.

    I think that God created complex people for a reason– what that reason is, I’m still working on. It could be simply so that he could demonstrate his Grace & Mercy. It is indeed demonstrated in those people who claim to be elite intellectuals who refuse to believe, and yet one day come across some elegance in the gospel, or nature, etc… and have that epiphany– Jesus really is who he claimed to be, and really did die for my sins.

    Jesus did say that unless we become as little children, we cannot enter God’s Kingdom.
    rotfl…. oh the laughter!

    As if that’s going to happen in some easy manner for adults….

    We grew up, and did the childhood thing already. And while I’ll be among the first to agree that not having any responsibility beyond those of childhood… I for one am glad that I am no longer a child. At least in the physical/mental sense.

    For me, this idea of contentment was always an unknown in my mind. Some vague, but clearly desirable attribute of life.

    Then one day it hit me with a gentleness, and a solidness that I was floored by.

    My wife and I had been arguing over ambition and motivation in life, and I realized that it wasn’t that I was no longer ambitious, or even motivated. I had just come to a place where… I was….. content. I was satisfied. I was enjoying the here and now (not something that comes easy to one who strives– constantly), knowing that I had still a long ways to go, and still wanted to do so much more.

    I wish I could give you some kind of equation, or formula, or methodology to reach contentment, but it’s not that easy– simple, yes, easy– no. I think that Matthew 6:33 sums it up though. Seek first the Kingdom of God, and His Righteousness, and all these things will be given to you.

    What I was did was to read my bible a little bit each day. Pray– a little bit each day. I’ve been doing this for at least 6-7 years now. For my part…. God’s Part. I’d say he’s been working on me since early 1960, the day I was born. Perhaps, as Jesus told the sheep on his right in Matt 25– since the foundation of the earth.

    I had recovered from a series of major surgeries, and had been undergoing various therapies, and treatments due to stage 4 cancer over the course of 10 years, and one day I just realized… I am content.

    I do believe that it’s something that unless you’re inclined to being someone who easily trusts (not gullible, but definitely trusting), you’ll be hard-pressed to just walk into it. I do wish it was that easy– I am not however one who easily trusts (sadly, I have been gullible– which has really stunk over the years). Perhaps it’s all those years of living amongst untrustworthy humans who’ve made me realize I have to guard my heart against their humanity– the sinful side.
    Paul does say that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by God’s Word. Roman 10.

    I do now believe that contentment is like the fragrance of a gentle summer flower. That was how it hit me that day, a few years ago. Just a sense, a vague feeling of…. I like where I am right now. It’d sure be nice if I could live like this in the rest of my life.

    Something I have learned about the gentle scents of summer flowers– the harshness of life’s scents can tear those scents right out of the air, and leave you with that grody feeling of yeeech! Which is of course the goal of life’s hardness. But it makes the softness of the scent of nature all the more desirable– for me anyway.

    God does indeed want us to be content. It’s both a choice, and a Grace. It also requires effort on our part– but not the way you think (it sure wasn’t the way I’d thought it was…). Thankfully– God’s Grace teaches us, and is actively engaged in making sure we get it. Titus 2:11-14. Read this passage over and over, both in context, and as a stand alone. Also, read 2 Peter 1:2-4– over and over again. Both as a stand alone, and then in context. To me– these are two major passages that God has been teaching me– the measure of his Grace is by his choosing. We can either deeply embibe in it, or stand off to the side wondering how come so many others are “getting it” while we stand there with out hands out, growing in our jealousy, demanding– that’s mine! I want that, without ever stopping long enough to receive it.

    Oh, with the Titus 2:11-14 passage, I believe that John 14:26 goes along with that. In my mind now…. after a few years, I see them as bobsy-twins. The latter makes the former make sense, and the former is the response to the latter.

    Oh… I know– the passage that discusses the living water shall flow out of our hearts, in John. Also, in Revelations 22.
    This is where contentment lives. In Jesus.

    Grace and Peace be with you.
    In Christ,
    Numbers 6:24-26.

    • This is a good post and your response is refreshing.
      Full of sincerity, meekness, and humility.
      For there be so many, desiring to show themselves
      to be some great teacher, high minded, and full of pride.
      For it is written

      1Pet 5:5
      Likewise ye younger
      submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea,
      all of you
      be subject one to another and
      be clothed with
      humility
      for God resisteth the proud
      and giveth grace to the
      humble.

  5. “Rest assured, my dear hearers, it is harder to know how to be full than it is to know how to be hungry..” This is a phenomenon! I find it much easier, even just physically, being hungry than knowing how to be full, when “enough is enough” so to speak… i love that he said that, because it’s so true. i have alot to learn about alot more stuff, especially contentment & how to teach it with my life.
    thanks for reading!!! what was your favorite part?

    your sister,
    jalise 🙂

  6. This blog has been a Godsend. Yesterday the lady I gave all my heart to for about a year and was close to marrying broke up with me. I came to BLB just to grab a few verses from Rev. 22 for a Facebook post, but this article was right in front of me!
    It is like salve to my wounds. Spurgeon’s words and scriptures used went straight to the horrible wounds.
    I accept His will and the lot He has given me with quiet grace – no murmuring, no self-defense.
    God works in a mysterious way. Blessed be His name!
    Revelations 22

    • ZSaint,

      My heart goes out to you because of your heart ache and learning to live without a partner in life but you’ve done the right thing by seeking first the kingdom of God, that is turning to His word and seeking rest and comfort in Him.

      Here is my prayer for you, “Father YAHWEH, I come to you in the name of Jesus Your wonderful son, and ask on behalf of ZSaint that you touch his heart as he leans not on his own understanding but upon You!

      Give him strength and heal his soul’s loss of a loved one. Father please guide his foot steps as Your word says you will do.

      In Jesus’ name,
      Amen!”

      Hang in there my brother!

      Your servant in or Lord Jesus,
      Andybob

    • Hi Zsaint,

      I feel your pain. There was a period after I got saved at the age of 19, that I only had one date over the course of the next 5-6 years. I put God first, and never found many Godly women that felt compatible with me

      I remember the occasional lonliness that would creep up from time to time, wishing I had a counterpart here on earth – and how strong it could be. One night it really got to me, and I prayed that the Lord would show me who I would marry. A bold prayer – you might assume – but then the phone rang while I was still praying! It was an ex-girlfriend from a few years back – who (fast forward to today) is now my wife and the mother of my 3 children!

      After that phone call, I was suprised and shocked but at the time I couldn’t see how our loves could be compatible again…but God works everything out in good time. It was several years later that we actually got back together, and there were times when I wondered what that sign meant, if anything!

      I know how mentally/phsyically/spiritually hard it is to wait to find that special someone, but God has someone special in store for you (if thats what you want). Now that I’ve been married for awhile, I actually look back on those 5 or 6 years of being alone with God as a very sweet time in my life, learning to depend on God alone, and I’m glad that God took his time 😉 so that I could draw so close to Him and learn the valuable lessons that got me prepared for life ahead

      Take care, and God bless

  7. The God of All Comfort Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tourbles, so that we can comfort those in any tourble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 2 Cor 1:3-5

  8. Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.————————————————–This a comfort…this is contentment in Christ my all in all.

  9. Yes, our lives will have trials, but we can rejoice in them by knowing that God uses them to mold us a make us into the image of His Son. Our faith tells us that Jesus loves us and gives us the Spirit to teach us about Him. As we grow in that knowledge we find contentment. Knowing that…He is in control, He has given us every thing we need according to His riches, we will be with Him forever, He has a plan for us, He never leaves us or will ever forsake us…and on and on. Amazing Grace how sweet the sound!

  10. Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

  11. I have decicded with the love of Jesus leading me-not to leave anymore comments…I do not want to usurp authority over any man using this blog and sometimes I don’t know how fine the line of that may be. I know I always wanted to share only what I thought was pure with zeal- but God knows all of our hearts in that-I do apologize for anyone taking my comments contary to what I intended them to say and I pray that all may find the truth in living a life for God with contentment in Him.

    • We only know that someone was offended by their response to our assertions. In a forum such as this one numerous understandings occur on levels beyond our expectations. In a challenge validity has opportunity.

      Jud 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

      The sincere desire for the benefit of your audience is a balm for contentions allowing a path for mutual learning. A belief that is important enough to voice deserves the courage necessary for a test of truth.

    • Butterfly-
      Your comments are comforting, exhorting,and encouraging to your brothers and sisters in Christ, which is exactly what we are called to do as a family of believers. Your heart is soft and teachable, judging from your above comment. 1 Timothy 2:12 refers to the structure of the local church, a woman, should not be in authority over the followers,similar to a wife not being in authority over her husband.Paul makes it clear in Galatians 3:28, the “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
      We are all believers in Christ, and you are doing what Paul admonishes us to do in 1Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
      And Paul further instructs Titus, in Titus 2:3-5 to “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”
      You are operating as a sister in Christ, giving encouragement to your fellow believers in this blog, not as a “teacher” with authority over men.

  12. good blog entry – I seem to be learning that the longer I walk with God the less I really want and need “stuff”… so much of the possessions end up owning us anyway with maintenance and repair costs etc… also – while I live in the USA and enjoy a modest lifestyle, I am in fact wealthy by world standards – a friend once told me that with running water, electricity, good roads and a full fridge / shopping center, I live better than the Pharaoh in his prime. But, thats still the externals… forgiveness for my sins and the ability to kneel and worship Jesus Christ as my savior is bountiful living indeed!