Are you content?

What does it mean to you to be content? When you think of the word content, what comes to mind? I found this definition at dictionary.com:

content - satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.

Paul also uses this word in Philippians 4:11 when he says:

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

In what ways are you trying to learn to be content? What things in your life or aspirations are keeping you from learning to be content?

To me, learning to be content is not the hardest part. I am content in some things, but Paul does not stop with just being content. Look at the second part of the verse:

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Sometimes I feel a prideful satisfaction in the way I am living the Christian life. Then, God providentially leads me to a passage like this in His Word. I cannot even begin to compare myself to Paul in his contentedness. How can I ever begin to live up to Christ's standard?

Ah, but thanks be to God. He is the one working in me to sanctify and create a new man within me. I can always be "confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" [Philippians 1:6].

John MacArthur offers an interesting series of articles on contentment. Here is part one.

Philippians 1:20: To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Scripture

Psalm 33:20-22
20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.

21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.

22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.

Truth

“If God’s word of promise cannot be trusted to stand forever, then all our faith is in vain.”

- John Piper, The Justification of God, (Grand Rapids, Mi.: Baker Book House, 1993), 19.

HT: Of First Importance

Truth

Evil & the Purposes of God

“The mystery of iniquity is at work in the world during this interim time, and it is not always clear how its malignant work is being checked, overridden, or woven into the glorious purposes of God. We need to remember, though, that while Judas betrayed Christ, and woe to him for doing so, it was God’s plan that Christ was thus betrayed. Evil by its very nature opposes the purposes of God, but God, in his sovereignty, can make even this evil serve his purposes.”

- David F. Wells, The Courage to Be Protestant (Grand Rapids, Mi.: Eerdmans, 2008), 206.