How to Be Content

Philippians 4:11 – “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” 

Many people today struggle with being discontent. People who are older want to be younger, and people who are young often wish to be older. Short people want to be tall, and tall people want to be short. We find ourselves chasing the newest technology in phones and computers; we need the newest car and the biggest house. We are taught never to be content with who we are and what we have. As the saying goes, “the grass is always greener on the other side.”

There is something in our sin nature that constantly keeps us searching for something newer and better. Jacob Aster, who was one of America’s earliest millionaires, was asked after he had made his first million, “What do you want now?” “Another million,” was his answer. So we are often discontented with where God has us in life.

This is why Paul said in our text, “I have learned…to be content.” Contentment does not come naturally for all of us, but each of us can attain it as we walk with the Lord. Like everything in the Christian life it comes back to faith. When we learn to trust God, we become content to live in His presence, regardless of our circumstance at the time. Paul in his life was shipwrecked, beaten, imprisoned, stoned, betrayed, and often lacked even the most basic of human needs. Yet through all this, he was able to honestly say that he was content.

We brought nothing into this world and we aren’t taking anything physical out with us when we go. (1 Timothy 6:6-8) When we can truly learn to put this scripture into practice in our lives, we find ourselves resting in comfortably in the presence of God.



My Reaction: Have I been lacking Christ-like contentment in my life?