Contentment

1 Being Content Beyond our Circumstances

Our contentment does not come from our circumstances but from the unchanging nature of our God. As we know him more, we trust him more. Contentment makes our hearts quiet, confident, and steady because we know that God is always working for our good. Paul was an example of this type of contentment. He wrote to his beloved Philippians from inside a Roman jail. His outer circumstances were grim, but listen to what he tells them. “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. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4: 11-13. Paul was facing certain death, so what kept him so hopeful and positive? For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21. Paul knew that even though death is a scary thing, he would not taste death, he would simply fall asleep and then wake up in the presence of the Lord. So you see, he should have been happy about his impending death, as we should be. I’m not saying go run out in front of traffic, but have you thought about what heaven will be like? Maybe that’s why Jesus didn’t tell us that much about heaven, he knew how much we would rather be there than here. Have you ever heard that for the believer, this earthly life will be the closest we get to seeing hell, but for the unbeliever, this earthly life will be the closest thing they see to heaven? Our contentment should be strong no matter what because we know how our story ends.

2. A Grateful Heart

Develop a thankful attitude. It is remarkable that in America we could ever think that God has failed us. He has blessed our nation so abundantly and yet, we find it so easy to complain. Don’t get me wrong, people walk through some truly awful valleys throughout their lifetime, but then why is it those people who seem to have the strongest faith? It often seems like the ones who have had the easier lives, are the first to complain when the seas of this life get a little rough. I was listening to one of my favorite songs by NF, when these lyrics hit me like a ton a brick. How true these words are.

It’s easy to blame God but harder to fix things

We look in the sky like, “why ain’t You listening?”

Watching the news in our living rooms on the big screens

And talking ’bout “if God’s really real, then where is He?”

You see the same God that you saying might not even exist

Becomes real to us, but only when we dying in bed

When ya healthy it’s like, we don’t really care for Him then

Leave me alone God, I’ll call you when I need you again

Which is funny, everyone will sleep in the pews

Then blame God for our problems like He sleeping on you

We turn our backs on Him, what do you expect Him to do?

It’s hard to answer prayers when nobody’s praying to you

Oh yeah, that one hurt. How many times have I found myself thinking and feeling those exact same things? Oh man, I am a horrible person. Wait, we already knew that and that’s why I have taken Jesus’ righteousness and put it on me, because my righteousness is a heap of smelly filthy rags. Lord forgive us for our ungrateful attitudes. Listen to the full song of “Oh Lord” by NF below.

3. Trust & Obey

Why trusting (and obeying) is hard? It’s hard because we are sinful people, living in a fallen world. But have no fear, Jesus is here. Jesus promised that it would be hard. But we need to obey because disobedience leads to sin and death. For as by the one man’s [Adam’s] disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s [Christ’s] obedience the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:19).

And lastly, we need to trust and obey because that’s what Jesus did as our perfect example. He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Luke 22: 41-44. Jesus CHOSE to go to the cross for us, die an excruciating death, and rise again to save our souls. If he can choose death for us, we can choose obedience for him.