This coming Saturday night I will be speaking about the subject of contentment at Calvary Chapel Oakville. It’s an important issue as it seems everyone in our culture is anything but contented. People are not satisfied with their jobs, churches, financial position, friends, or gender. But the Apostle Paul writes some profound words in Philippians 4:11. He says, “I have learned to be content in whatever state I am.”
Did you catch that?
Contentment (happiness, satisfaction) can be learned. You may not be content now, but you can learn to be as you grow in your walk with God.
Let me share three observations from Philippians 4:10-20.
1. Contentment comes not from having your needs met.
2. Contentment comes not from desired circumstances.
3. Contentment comes only from learning to depend on Jesus Christ.
As Paul also wrote in these verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Those words were not written to tell us that if we believe hard enough we can bend a bar of steel or win some competition. They were written in the context of contentment. Whatever situation you are going through, God is giving you an opportunity to learn how to be content.
I’ll be working through these verses more in preparation for Saturday Night Church. Hope everyone has a great weekend!