This morning at Cherry Tree Court we looked at the subject of contentment. We live in a society which doesn’t seem to value contentment, with advertisers urging us always onto better, bigger, brighter things! But Paul told TImothy that godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Tim 6:6) and warned us against placing too high a value on material possessions. (1 Tim 6:7-10). Contentment is of great value in life:‘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 all this through him who gives me strength.’ (Phil 4:11-13)
We might view this is as idealistic hopefulness, but throughout his life, Paul faced many hardships for Christ. He was flogged by the Jews five times because of his faith in Jesus. He was beaten three times with rods, pelted with stones and was shipwrecked three times. (2 Cor 11:24-25) He knew what it was not to know where he was going to spend the next night because he was constantly on the move. (2 Cor 11:26) He knew all kinds of danger – including danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from other Jews, and danger from Gentiles. (2 Cor 11:26) Paul knew what it was to work until you were utterly exhausted and then still not be able to sleep because there was other work to be done. (2 Cor 11:27) He knew what it was to be hungry and thirsty, to be cold and naked. (2 Cor 11:27) He knew what it was to be imprisoned unfairly – in fact, he wrote this letter to the Philippians whilst he was in prison. So if anyone had reason to be discontented, it was Paul.
Yet Philippians is a book which resounds with joy, because Paul has learned the secret of contentment, which is bound up in our relationship with God, our security in knowing He is Lord of all and that He is working for our good in every situation. (Rom 8:28) It’s Christ’s strength in us which enables us to rise above our circumstances and learn to patiently wait for the Lord. Joseph is another person who learned this secret. Despite opposition, being sold into slavery and unfair imprisonment, Joseph learned to wait and trust God, forgiving his brothers and seeing God’s ‘bigger picture’ come to pass. (Gen 50:20) If we learn this lesson, we too can find contentment in any and every situation.
