PHILIPPIANS 4:11

“Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”

Contentment! Do you struggle with that? So many people cannot be satisfied or content in their situation. They want a newer car or a bigger house. They don’t like the way they look, so they seek out every treatment they can find to make them look “young again.” Contentment is often a fleeting thing for them. Not for Paul. Look what he says today.

He is still thanking the Philippians for their gift but reminds them that he is content in whatever position he is in. Remember, he is in prison (or at least house arrest) in Rome. That’s not a place in which many could find contentment. The word used here for “content” is autarkés only appears here in the New Testament. It comes from autos (himself) and arkeo (content) – self contented. HELPS Word studies says, “it refers to positive self-sufficiency (inward adequacy) – i.e. that comes through the indwelling power of Christ.”

APPLICATION

In 2 Corinthians 9:8 we see the noun form of this word where it is translated “sufficiency.” “And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;” Also that same noun is found in 1 Timothy 6:6. “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (KJV).

Learning to live content can bring such peace. The writer of Hebrews uses the verb form of this word in Hebrews 13:5. “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER ABANDON YOU,’”

Are you content? Are you at peace with who you are and what you have? If you are struggling with contentment, let me urge you to do a deep dive on the topic of peace or rest. God does not want us to live uncontented lives. He gave us His Son to remove all discontentment, except for the discontentment regarding sin. We should never be content about that. But otherwise, we should live our lives being content with our God and our Savior. Amen?

O Lord, thank You for giving me the sense of contentment that is only found in Christ.