Learning Contentment in all things!

We don't just come into this world with the attitude of being content in everything, no one naturally lives in contentment! This world is full of people who have everything and are not content with what they have. This is true for some Christians, while we should be the ones who are showing the world that there is a place of contentment, it can sometimes be the  opposite.

I want to look at the Apostle Paul for a bit and see what his secret was to "happiness, contentment, peace"which he wrote about  in  many books!



Like I said we don't just arrive into this world as an infant, and then grow up with all this contentment just oozing from us, no we have to be taught it from our parents. It must be instilled into us to appreciate things and be thankful for what we have. So what was Paul's secret to why he could write what he did, and tell us his secrets to live for Christ the way he did and have the right attitude?  And why  all the hardships he faced in life he was able to overcome them all, "ship wrecked, naked, left for dead, hungry, beaten, imprisoned ", and then still praise God?  This is a human man, just like you and me, no he wasn't anything more special than us, GOD loves us all the same. So what was his secret?

PHILIPPIANS 4:8-13-Finally , brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 

verse 11-for 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 every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.

So what was the secret? It was his thinking on the the things that were true, that were lovely, that were pure, and honest, and had a good report! It was was in thinking on these things, not on all the bad things he went through or was faced with at the moment, he was able to say"REJOICE, and again I say ALWAYS REJOICE IN GOD". If we are focusing on the negative always, its a wonder why people are not happy. We must implement this in our lives as Christians, and really draw from what Paul is saying.

In verse 11 Paul said he learned to be content, yes LEARNED, it didn't just arrive for him or had some special treatment, he learned it. He said whatever circumstances he was in, and how many of us can say we have been what he went through?


We have all learned something, to speak, to write, and to read! This was not how we came out of the womb it was learned, it was taught to us systematical from the simple to more advanced, its laying a foundation and building on it! Its a choice to learn it, we can all have knowledge on something, or hear something in school, but that doesn't mean you learned anything.You must apply yourself to it, you have to have a desire to learn, right? Pursue it and be hungry to learn in order to get it.


Paul loved God so much so that he gave his life for the gospel he was willing to die, he found the secret of loosing his life that true life would be gained, found! PHILIPPIANS 3:7- But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.

These verses of scripture are powerful truths that we must learn in order to rise above life's circumstances. I hope you will be encouraged to apply this to your life, as we all need to !