Learning to be Content
Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11-13, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
I was recently reminded of these verses as my husband and I have begun Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University course. We are having to make some hard decisions on how to budget and spend our money. When you begin to determine your priorities for the present and the future, it sometimes means saying "no" to something now in order to say "yes" to something later. All of this has meant letting go of some things we were really looking forward to doing around our home.
Contentment is not a new concept to me. The Lord has been teaching me about this for most of our 25 year marriage. The continued lesson is what stood out to me as I thought about these verses. Paul said that he had LEARNED to be content. This indicates it was something that took place over time. It wasn't something that came naturally to him. It wasn't something he received automatically when he came to know the Lord Jesus. He didn't pray once and the Lord divinely placed this attitude in his heart and mind. This was something that happened over time.
The very definition of learn is to gain knowledge by study, experience or being taught. Warren Wiersbe writes "Paul's spiritual contentment was not something he had immediately after he was saved. He had to go through many difficult experiences of life in order to learn how to be content."
To be content is to be in a state of satisfaction, of peaceful happiness. When we base how we feel on our circumstances, it is easy to fall into discontentment. There will always be others who have more than us. There will always be something that we want to have or to do or to be. If we allow our minds to dwell on what we feel we are lacking, we will not remain in a state of satisfaction or peaceful happiness.
But Paul gives us hope that we can, in fact, learn to become content. Through the years I've learned that we can do this by taking every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). When we begin to become wistful and dwell on what we feel is lacking in our lives, we need to redirect our thoughts to focus on what we do have. What we have may not be the quality or quantity we'd like, but we cannot overlook God's provision for us no matter how humble it may be. If we really stop and think, there is always something to be grateful for. An old car that runs is still a car to get you where you need to go. A home without beautiful landscaping and decor is still a place to live. Pizza and a movie or a game night at home as a family is still a chance to be together and have fun. The memories are just as sweet on a mini local vacation. "Gratitude turns what we have into enough." (Melody Beattie)
It's not wrong to want to have things or to do things. But when you allow the feelings of want to overtake you, you will become a discontent person. And that negative attitude will not only affect your life, but the lives of those around you as well. Contentment may not come naturally to us, but it can be learned with the help of the Lord who strengthens us.
I was recently reminded of these verses as my husband and I have begun Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University course. We are having to make some hard decisions on how to budget and spend our money. When you begin to determine your priorities for the present and the future, it sometimes means saying "no" to something now in order to say "yes" to something later. All of this has meant letting go of some things we were really looking forward to doing around our home.
Contentment is not a new concept to me. The Lord has been teaching me about this for most of our 25 year marriage. The continued lesson is what stood out to me as I thought about these verses. Paul said that he had LEARNED to be content. This indicates it was something that took place over time. It wasn't something that came naturally to him. It wasn't something he received automatically when he came to know the Lord Jesus. He didn't pray once and the Lord divinely placed this attitude in his heart and mind. This was something that happened over time.
The very definition of learn is to gain knowledge by study, experience or being taught. Warren Wiersbe writes "Paul's spiritual contentment was not something he had immediately after he was saved. He had to go through many difficult experiences of life in order to learn how to be content."
To be content is to be in a state of satisfaction, of peaceful happiness. When we base how we feel on our circumstances, it is easy to fall into discontentment. There will always be others who have more than us. There will always be something that we want to have or to do or to be. If we allow our minds to dwell on what we feel we are lacking, we will not remain in a state of satisfaction or peaceful happiness.
But Paul gives us hope that we can, in fact, learn to become content. Through the years I've learned that we can do this by taking every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). When we begin to become wistful and dwell on what we feel is lacking in our lives, we need to redirect our thoughts to focus on what we do have. What we have may not be the quality or quantity we'd like, but we cannot overlook God's provision for us no matter how humble it may be. If we really stop and think, there is always something to be grateful for. An old car that runs is still a car to get you where you need to go. A home without beautiful landscaping and decor is still a place to live. Pizza and a movie or a game night at home as a family is still a chance to be together and have fun. The memories are just as sweet on a mini local vacation. "Gratitude turns what we have into enough." (Melody Beattie)It's not wrong to want to have things or to do things. But when you allow the feelings of want to overtake you, you will become a discontent person. And that negative attitude will not only affect your life, but the lives of those around you as well. Contentment may not come naturally to us, but it can be learned with the help of the Lord who strengthens us.
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