Be Content, but Don’t Settle

One of the most often quoted verses in the Bible is Philippians 4:13 which says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. It is often used by people to inspire themselves to do great things, to do great accomplishments in their own eyes.

Many think the phrase ‘all things’ means anything under the sun, but is that the way the verse is meant to be used? What often happens with the Bible is a verse is pulled out without consideration of the context of the passage around it and is quoted to mean something that it was never intended. This is one such verse.

The three verses previous to this often used quote gives us the context.

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

What is going on in these verses is that the Philippine church had the opportunity to send the Apostle Paul some material and probably a monetary gift to support him and his ministry. He was showing his appreciation, noting that there were times that he had to do without things but that didn’t matter to him as he had learned how to deal with and be content in whatever state he found himself.

Whether he lacked the material things of this world or he had plenty he had learned the art of contentment. It was with that contentment that he could do all things in Christ. He could live with or without the things most people think they need.

He was very much unlike us. Most of us don’t really understand the word contentment. We tend to behave more like the one fellow in this story told by someone named Terry Laughlin.

The story goes like this. Two old friends met each other on the street one day. One looked sad and almost on the verge of tears. His friend asked, “What has happened to you, my old friend?”

The sad fellow said, “Let me tell you. Three weeks ago, my uncle died and left me forty thousand dollars.”

“That’s a lot of money,” said his friend.

“But you see,” the sad man continued, “two weeks ago, a cousin I never knew died, and left me eighty-five thousand dollars, free and clear.”

The friend replied, “That sounds like you have been very blessed.”

“You don’t understand!” the sad fellow interrupted. “Last week my great-aunt passed away. I inherited almost a quarter of a million from her.”

The friend was really confused and said, “Then, why are you so sad?”

“This week I didn’t get anything!”

We are too often the same way. It doesn’t matter how many good things we have going on in our life, if something isn’t to our liking or if we would rather have something other than we presently have, we become discontent.

Even in the simple things of life we become discontent. If it’s hot out because it’s summer, we complain and wish it were cooler. If it’s cold in the middle of winter we wish it was warmer.

It doesn’t seem to matter how much money one has, it is never enough. I have met a lot of people that I would call rich, yet if you asked them if they were rich they would say they are far from it.

Very few learn the contentment that Paul spoke about. The key to his contentment wasn’t found in having the things he wanted or reaching a certain goal. His contentment was found in his faith in God.

Contentment is not something physical or emotional. It’s not even intellectual. Contentment is spiritual. It is something gained when you have a relationship with God who gives you a peace that is beyond anything this world gives.

Earlier in the same chapter that Paul spoke about being able to do all things and being content with little or a lot, Paul said these words.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Paul knew and trusted God. That is why He could be content. It is God who provides the peace which brings the contentment we seek in our lives.

Paul suffered much during his ministry preaching the Good News. He had been whipped at least five time, beaten with a rod three times. He was stoned and left for dead. He had been imprisoned and suffered hunger many times, yet he never failed to trust that the Lord had his best interest at heart.

In Romans 8:28 Paul wrote, "We know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." The key to what he wrote here is that there is a confidence for those who love the Lord that all things will work together for their good.

They can have that confidence because they know the Lord loves them and no matter what happens, good or bad, the Lord will use it for their good. This confidence in God’s intention for their life produces the contentment in whatever situation they find themselves.

Contentment isn’t the same as complacency.

Even though Paul was content, he never settled and became complacent. He always strove to be his best.

In the chapter just before Paul talked about how contented he was in whatever situation he was in, he wrote this to the Philippians.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)

We need to be more like Paul. We need to learn how to be content in our present situation, not just financially as Paul was talking in Philippians 4, but in every aspect of our life.

We may not have the job we want or the house we want or the body we want, but at the moment don’t make yourself miserable because you don’t have what you want. Learn to be content where you are at the moment.

Seek the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.

Yet we should not become complacent or accept the situation we find ourselves in as all there is. There is always something we can be doing to make ourselves better.

Paul was always pressing on to know and have a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. We should have the same goal. In that process of growing spiritually, we should also press forward in all aspects of our lives to seek to be better emotionally, intellectually and physically.

Be content where we are at, but continue to press on to be a better person. If you do that you will find you are a happier person for it.

Have a wonderful and blessed day.