Theme: Contentment

The Lenten Season

Theme: Contentment

By Rev. Dr. Emmanuel E James

Text:  “I am not saying this because I am in need, 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 and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Phil 4:11-13).

To be content is to be satisfied and happy in life. Many people are miserable because they are not happy with what God has blessed them with and what they actually have. Having something and hoping to have something are entirely different things. We must learn to make that distinction early in life.  For example, when some soldiers asked John the Baptist, "And what should we do?"  He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely, be content with your pay." (Luke 3:14). Be content with whatever pay you are receiving. Thank God for the job you have, for the salary you receive. Only then you can be happy and satisfied. If you are not content you will be unhappy and miserable and you will make others miserable too.

Here are some things that promote contentment in our life. First of all, God is owner and Lord of all.  “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Heb 13:5). If this statement is true, then it is equally true to say that we own nothing. God maintains, He dispenses as He pleases, and we are His stewards.   This has a lot to do with our being content. If all that we have is not our own, but God's, then if anything is taken from us, it is God who has re-allocated, maybe for just a short time, the use of that particular item. It is not real difficult to say, "I am God's child, He may use me as He pleases" or to say, "He may do with my belongings as He pleases".

The sovereign love of God allows us to be content regardless of our circumstances. Job is an ideal  example to us. He lost his children, health and everything was stripped from him. His wife said to him, "Curse God and die." But Job responds, "Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" (Job 2:9, 10). Job knew something about the supreme love of God and contentment even when he lost everything. Job knew contentment as few have ever known it.  He testifies, "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him" (Job 13:15). Are you and I are capable of giving this kind of testimony?

Prayer:

Dear Lord, help me to be content always and in everything. Help me to be content to submit to Your will, wisdom and pleasure in my life. You have made me who I am and Lord, look after me always and provide for all my needs and that of my family. I claim this promise from Your word, “my God will supply all my needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19). I ask this through Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen.