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(Presented by Lisa Bishop)
Are you content with your job, your relationships, your living circumstances, your life?
I recently read an article in Psychology Today entitled, “The Secret to a Contented Life.” In a nutshell it said that contentment comes from unconditional self-acceptance. As a follower of Jesus, you and I know the secret is not to “love yourself more.” We share with the Apostle Paul in having the true secret to contentment and that’s why we’ll look at what I call the four D’s of living a contented life. But before we do, let’s remind ourselves of Paul’s profound words in Philippians:
…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 (Philippians 4:11b-13).
When I studied this passage several years ago the word that stood out to me was, “learned.” Whenever you read Scripture, look for repeated words. That means the author is trying to get your attention and make a point. Here Paul uses the word “learned” two times. In the Greek it means, “to learn by use and practice, to be in the habit of, accustomed to.”
I think this is where a lot of us can get tripped up and discouraged. We want contentment just to come, when in fact it is hard work and something we often have to practice over and over again and fight for. Which seems counterintuitive, but we live in a world where we are bombarded with messages that this car, that job, that outfit, that spouse will make you happy. And while we ultimately know it’s not true, we can fall into the fleeting trap of believing contentment can be found “out there somewhere.” With some particular need or desire being met, when really it is a state of mind and a state of being satisfied in Christ. Contentment is not a quick fix, it’s learned. Where are you lacking contentment?