Contentment: The True Test of Trust

"Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am" (Philippians 4:11)

Thomas Paine, the political author of the late 1700's, wrote that "these are the times that try men's souls." From what I see and hear all about us today, beloved, that statement spoken in the throes of the American struggle for freedom could well be repeated today. These are the times that try men's souls! Uncertainty about the future abounds and with it fear and anxiety. What are we to do? How can we get on top of all this stress and angst?

How many of you recall the commercial first released years ago by the Carnation company claiming that their milk came only from "contented" cows? Watch out! You're dating yourself with this one! With the possible exception of that early advertisement and its use of this wonderful word, we really seem to know very little today about the quality of genuine "contentment"! Yet it is one of the most fundamental qualities of the Christian life which is taught in the Scriptures.

The Greek word autarkes means literally "suffice oneself" or "be sufficient unto oneself." The focus of the word is clearly upon not needing to depend upon others. In the verse which precedes this one, beloved, we find the apostle acknowledging the sacrificial gift of the Philippian believers, knowing that due to the persecution they were suffering, it had been difficult for them to send anything to him and that even now they had needed to scrape such a gift together to send to him. He did not want them to think that he had been languishing in his circumstances under house-arrest and wringing his hands, only to revive his joy and his trust in God when their gift had arrived.

And it is in his explanation to them of his inward calmness of spirit that we find our own true test of personal trust in God today. Paul had grown up around material prosperity but had in his ministry known abject poverty as well. He had experienced both ends of the "prosperity" spectrum and had learned the secret of trusting God in each and every circumstance of life. That secret he had revealed to them a bit earlier in this letter:

"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (1:21)

Jesus Christ had become the "core" of the apostle's life, his reason for living. Thus, into whatever circumstances his path with Christ led him, Paul was content because he had been led there by Christ, would be sustained there by Christ, and would be led forth by Christ. He was truly content with his life because it was focused completely upon the person of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Would you know such contentment as this today, beloved? Then set the needle of your compass upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Make knowing Him and serving Him the central point of your existence and you too will discover this same contentment in all things which was the life experience of the apostle. Let Him be Lord of your life and what surrounds you will cease to cause you worry or anxiety. You will respond to your circumstances with the same calmness of spirit exhibited by Paul in these verses. It will all become part of the backdrop of God's plan for you and you will learn to rejoice in His sovereign control over your life. You will give Him praise as did Paul when times are tough and when times are good. You will find a sense of self-sufficiency that is rooted in the all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ!

Ron