Contentment

We have a tendency to be discontented. Maybe it's because we're Americans. Maybe it's because we're modern. Maybe it's because we're fallen human beings. Why is it that we so often think that life isn't fair, that our lot should be better than it is?

• Comparing ourselves to others – But we most often compare ourselves to those who have it 'better off,' and never is it holistic: We don't say, “Oh, they have it better here, but in this area they really have it rough.” We just look at what they have going for them and say, “why not me?”

• Thinking we deserve better. We are bombarded with this thinking, in commercials, advertising. We need this. We deserve that. We should not face problems. Tough times are so 50 years ago – it's silver platter time now!

• Perfectionism. Ok, go ahead and say it, perfectionism rocks! Perfectionism creates a state of discontentment in order to make things better, right? Sometimes. But perhaps more often it creates a goal unreachable which results in . . . discontentment.

• Too high of expectations. Ok, so this is sort of the same. But it's easy to get too high of expectations for ourselves, for others, for God. We think we know what God's blessings should look like, or when we should get them. We can make them something much nicer than God ever promised.

• Not trusting God. Discontentment stems from a lack of trust in God. Does He know what He's doing? Does He really love me? Does He really care?

I'm sure there are other sources or leads of discontentment, but I don't want to talk all night about discontentment, since that's not what this blog is about. I really want to talk about contentment.

I was reading Philippians 4 recently. It struck me in a different way, because I happened to read a verse out of order. Context is important, and the Scripture below is rearranged for emphasis, so I'm trusting that if you're not familiar with the full context of Philippians and especially chapter 4, that you go back and read it – but NOT until after you finish reading this blog :)

(4) Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

(11) For I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

(6) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

(12) I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

(9) The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

(7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

(13) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

(8) Brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

(19) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

A couple things stood out to me in a different way than ever before. First, Paul is talking about God supplying needs when he himself was so often 'needy' (and yet he was content). Second, meditating on the true, pure, lovely, and good applies to more than simply good vs. evil. It also applies to positive vs. negative. Given the choice between focusing on how bad our lives are, or how well off we are, which is easier to think about? For me, the negative, which leads to complaining. Is that really true? Is that at all lovely? Is that praiseworthy? I don't think so. It becomes an exhortation not just to shun evil, but also to focus on the positive.

Here's the basic framework I see happening here: (Again, go back to Philippians for the full story and correct context.)

Rejoicing -->

Contentment -->

Dispelling Anxiety -->

Humility -->

Peace -->

Guarding/Security -->

Christ -->

Positive focus -->

Supply --> (Which brings us back to:)

Rejoicing and Contentment -->

OR

We can Rejoice always

Because we've learned to be content

Instead of anxiety, we go to God in prayer

In humility – having learned how to suffer and abound (we don't assume that we should always have the best life)

Practicing this principle of humility, peace comes

Peace guards our heart and mind

through Christ (who enables us to do everything)

meditate on the positive

He will supply all our needs

Brings us back to the beginning, we can rejoice and be content

Our responsibility is to rejoice; to humble ourselves, realizing that we can both abound and suffer need; and to meditate on (focus on/think about) the positive.

And God will give His peace, which dispels anxiety and guards are heart and mind; give us the power of Christ, which is the enabling power in our lives; supply our needs.

God's supply may not fit our perception of what He should do, or what we think we deserve. But He still supplies our needs. We need to learn to be content with His supply, as Paul learned to be content no matter the circumstances. Now that releases anxiety. Now that brings peace. Now that is trusting God!

Here's some ways to help learn contentment (taken from a devotional book):

1. Consider how much harder others have it.
2. Ask God how He wants you to use your challenges for the growth of you and others.
3. Realize that just because something looks good doesn't mean it is. Erma Bombeck put it this way: “The grass usually looks greener over someone else's septic system.”
4. Pray for:

• the courage to change what you can;
• the grace to accept what you cannot change;
• and the wisdom to know the difference.