It’s good to have ambition, but we must not live in the doldrums until these dreams are accomplished. Our joy needs to come from our salvation. Our sense of satisfaction must depend on our relationship with God.
Often we think that contentment comes from what we have. We might even say, “If only I had that, then I would be happy.” Or “If I were a little smarter,” or “If I were a little prettier,” or “If I were a little more successful,” or “If I had a little more money, I would…” It’s a never-ending quest for something that is always beyond our reach.
Yet, in Philippians 4:12-13, the Apostle Paul reveals the secret of contentment. He said: “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. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (NKJV). Paul was in prison when he made this statement. He did not receive his satisfaction from a theory in a classroom; it was the school of life. He had known pleasure and pain, health and sickness, strength and weakness, wealth and poverty. To some he was a hero, and to others a villain. But he was someone who had found complete contentment.
It is interesting to note that Paul used the word “learned.” He had learned the secret to being satisfied in all situations. In the original language, it was a word that pagans generally used at the time to denote a special achievement or initiation into a hidden truth. He used their word to essentially say, “I have found the hidden truth. I have found the secret of contentment.” Additionally, the word Paul uses for “know how to live” means “self-sufficient.” Therefore, in the context of this epistle, Paul was speaking of sufficiency in Christ. He said: “It doesn’t matter where I am. I am happy. I can be at the bottom and be happy there because everything depends on my relationship with God.” Contentment is not based on what we have; it depends on who we know.
Hebrews 13:5 says, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (NKJV). We will quote the latter part of this verse often but also consider the statement as a whole. God says, “Be content with what you have. I will not leave you nor forsake you”. God will be with us no matter what we face in life. This is a great assurance. This is where we find our contentment.
As the psalmist David wrote: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1 NKJV). If the Lord is truly our Shepherd, then we will find satisfaction and fulfillment in Him. Therefore, if God blesses us greatly, let us thank Him. And if we don’t have as much as we’d like, let’s recognize that our contentment comes from a relationship with Him. Paul’s contentment came through his close and intimate fellowship with Jesus. It lifted him above his circumstances and gave him the strength to face whatever came his way.