The Secret

Philippians 4:11-13 NLT I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Contentment…….not a word often heard these days or a character trait that is really even valued. In fact, contentment is more often to be viewed as negative. Implying that someone has lost their drive, their fire has diminished, they have settled for less, and become complacent.

What do you think of when you imagine a life filled with contentment? One with few problems, good health, financial security, and a loving family? But a man who sits in prison because of corrupt officials, awaiting a verdict on false charges, tells us how to find contentment. Paul did not know what his future held—whether he would be set free, punished, or killed. The source of his contentment was obviously not his situation and as long as our contentment depends on whether certain things work out, life will always steal our peace and contentment will be illusive.

Contentment is not passive, just rolling with the punches, believing everything that happens was just meant to be. The contentment Paul speaks of is an inner sense of rest, peace, and satisfaction that comes from being right with God and knowing that He is in control of all that happens to us, that he is holding our hand. It means having our focus on the kingdom of God, living a life centered on Him, not on the love of money, things, or the approval of man. It is the fulfillment of Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” So no matter what happens to us or what others do to us, we have the steady assurance that the Lord is for us and He will not forsake us.

So what is Paul’s secret to living content? Like every area of faith based living, it begins with complete surrender. Trusting God’s timing (”at the right time he will lift you up in honor“ 1 Peter 5:6-7); trusting the path he leads us on (”He leads me beside still waters, renews my strength, guides me along right paths, all to bring honor to his name.“ Psalms 23:1-3); trusting God’s provision will be there when needed (”Look at the birds, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? “ Matthew 6:26). Trusting God will make a way when there seems to be no way forward (I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. Isaiah 43:19), trusting the God who created everything from nothing can do the same for you (The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. Psalms 33:6) and trusting the God who constantly holds our hand (”I am the Lord, your mighty God! I grip your right hand and won’t let you go! I whisper to you: Don’t be afraid; I am here to help you! Isaiah 41:13).

Culture’s version of contentment will always be an elusive pursuit. We go after what we think will make us happy only to find that it didn’t work; in fact, we were happier before we started the quest. Solomon completely summed it up in this, “When you live a life of abandoned love, surrendered before the awe of God, here’s what you’ll experience: Abundant life. Continual protection. And complete contentment and satisfaction!” Proverbs 19:23 TPT.

Find rest, satisfaction and contentment in Him. For this hope will never disappoint (Romans 5:5).

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Gary and Sandy Anthony

1 Timothy 6:6-7 NIV But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

Proverbs 14:30 NLT A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.

Psalms 37:16 TPT It is much better to have little combined with much of God than to have the fabulous wealth of the wicked and nothing else.

Ecclesiastes 4:6 NIV Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:9 NLT Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

Matthew 6:33 NLT Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Psalms 131:1-3 TPT Lord, my heart is meek before you. I don’t consider myself better than others. I am content to not pursue matters that are over my head— such as your complex mysteries and wonders— that I am not yet ready to understand. I am humbled and quieted in your presence. Like a contented child who rests on its mother’s lap, I am your resting child and my soul is content in you. O people of God, your time has come to quietly trust, waiting upon the Lord now and forever.

Proverbs 19:23 NIV The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

1 Timothy 6:9 TPT But those who crave the wealth of this world slip into spiritual snares. They become trapped by the troubles that come through their foolish and harmful desires, driven by greed and drowning in their own sinful pleasures. And they take others down with them into their corruption and eventual destruction.

Hebrews 13:5 TPT Don’t be obsessed with money but live content with what you have, for you always have God’s presence. For hasn’t he promised you, “I will never leave you, never! And I will not loosen my grip  on your life!”

Proverbs 16:8 TPT It is better to have little with a heart that loves justice than to be rich and not have God on your side.

Proverbs 15:16 TPT It’s much better to live simply, surrounded in holy awe and worship of God, than to have great wealth with a home full of trouble.

Romans 5:2-5 NLT Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Psalm 84:11 NLT or the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.

Isaiah 58:11 AMP And the Lord will continually guide you, And satisfy your soul in scorched and dry places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.