Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
Philippians 4:10-11
One of the greatest benefits of joy to our earthly life is contentment. We have read about God’s peace as guarding our hearts, our focus on Jesus as purifying our life and then making us a blessing to others. Now joy becomes a blessing to our earthly life as we find release from stress and worry and fear and shame and guilt – all those things which cause us to be anxious and troubled.
Jesus’ words to His disciples, as He told them He was going to die and leave them (John 14), was that they should not let their hearts be troubled. He was not asking them to hide their heads, like an ostrich hides his head in the sand so he cannot see danger, in order to keep their hearts from being troubled. Rather, Jesus told them openly He was about to die. He would no longer be with them constantly as He had been for the past three years and more.
Jesus does not ask us to ignore the troubles around us either. He asks us to be watchful (Matthew 25:13), prayerful (Romans 12:12), and wise in our dealings with the world around us (Matthew 10:16). He wants us to understand the truth about the things we see in our lives – it is not all about us, but it is all about a great battle being waged between God and His archenemy, Satan – a battle between good and evil. We do not need to be pawns in this battle – leading us to fear and resentment over things which we cannot control; He wants us to be warriors in this battle on His side – leading to glory and honor for eternity.
Contentment comes from the certainty of knowing God. We know for certain that He has already won the battle. We know for certain that His plan will succeed. We know for certain that what He has begun in us He will also complete in eternity (Philippians 1:6). We know for certain that everything happening to us in this life is something that He makes into good for us (Romans 8:28).
Contentment is not something passive in our life. Rather, it is active. It is gained in battle within ourselves, for our human nature is not satisfied with contentment – it constantly wants “more” of what it considers good for us.
One of the greatest benefits of joy to our earthly life is contentment. We have read about God’s peace as guarding our hearts, our focus on Jesus as purifying our life and then making us a blessing to others. Now joy becomes a blessing to our earthly life as we find release from stress and worry and fear and shame and guilt – all those things which cause us to be anxious and troubled.
Jesus’ words to His disciples, as He told them He was going to die and leave them (John 14), was that they should not let their hearts be troubled. He was not asking them to hide their heads, like an ostrich hides his head in the sand so he cannot see danger, in order to keep their hearts from being troubled. Rather, Jesus told them openly He was about to die. He would no longer be with them constantly as He had been for the past three years and more.
Jesus does not ask us to ignore the troubles around us either. He asks us to be watchful (Matthew 25:13), prayerful (Romans 12:12), and wise in our dealings with the world around us (Matthew 10:16). He wants us to understand the truth about the things we see in our lives – it is not all about us, but it is all about a great battle being waged between God and His archenemy, Satan – a battle between good and evil. We do not need to be pawns in this battle – leading us to fear and resentment over things which we cannot control; He wants us to be warriors in this battle on His side – leading to glory and honor for eternity.
Contentment comes from the certainty of knowing God. We know for certain that He has already won the battle. We know for certain that His plan will succeed. We know for certain that what He has begun in us He will also complete in eternity (Philippians 1:6). We know for certain that everything happening to us in this life is something that He makes into good for us (Romans 8:28).
Contentment is not something passive in our life. Rather, it is active. It is gained in battle within ourselves, for our human nature is not satisfied with contentment – it constantly wants “more” of what it considers good for us.
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