Contentment is a commodity that is scarce in the world we are living in. People aren’t content with their marriages, jobs, or how much money they make. The world never seems to be satisfied with what they have, but are always looking for the next big thing. We tend to grumble and complain when things don’t go our way. In his commentary on Philippians, John MacArthur writes, “Discontentment and complaining are attitudes that can become so habitual that they are hardly noticed.” He goes on to say that these sins indicate a lack of trust in God’s will, wisdom, grace, and love.
Now, I should say that contentment is not the same thing as happiness. We can be happy without being content, and we can be content without always being happy. We’re not going to be happy every single minute of every day, but we CAN choose to be content. However, the only way we can find true contentment is through Jesus. I feel like God has given me the gift of contentment, but I do still have to choose to be content. I’ll share a few examples of ways my family and I have become content in certain situations.
I met my husband Cory when I was 15 years old. We got married three and a half years later, and we celebrated ten years of marriage this past December. We now have 3 beautiful children (Carson-8, Alaina-5, & Aralyn- 21 months). I have been and will always be content with the fact that he is the only man I’ve ever dated (which is a very strange concept nowadays). I don’t feel like I missed out on anything though, because I know that God made me for him. We balance each other out perfectly. For example, God knew I would need a man with time management skills because I have none. Cory doesn’t like change, and I adapt well to change. Cory likes routines and I’m more “go with the flow.” Cory was a worrier (he’s gotten better) and I don’t worry- like hardly ever.
I think contentment in God’s plan helps me not worry. There have been a few times when I felt bad for not worrying. When Carson was about 6 months old, Cory started pastoring the church we still attend. Within a few months of being there and by God’s providence, a doctor found a knot on Cory’s thyroid. The doctor removed it the day before our third anniversary, and it turned out to be cancer. With a few treatments, everything turned out fine and he’s been cancer free for almost 7 years now! Sometimes I wonder if I’m just apathetic, but I really had no doubts that God would work everything out for good.
When our second child was born, we decided that it would be beneficial for our family if I stayed home with our children. I had worked as a teacher for a year and a half so we were used to two incomes. We knew that if we were going to make this work, we would have to make sacrifices and cut out several expenses- like going out to eat a lot and just buying things we didn’t need. I started making my kids’ birthday cakes instead of buying them. I have a nice camera so I take their pictures instead of having them made. Instead of going on shopping sprees, I started going to consignment sales to get my kids’ clothes and shoes. (I always go on the half off days and find several really cute clothes!) My kids are even content in this: Alaina LOVES getting “new” clothes and shoes from Birmingham! What we’ve done may not work for your family, but our family is content in living this way.
When Cory and I found out we were having a third child, we began discussing homeschooling. We had thought about it a little but hadn’t made any definite decisions. We wanted a Christian education for our children and knew we couldn’t afford to send all three kids to a Christian school in our area that we had been considering on one income, so we started looking into homeschool programs and curriculums. Through friends, God led us to Classical Conversations and we haven’t looked back! I love that I am their teacher, and that we get to spend all this time together and learn all of our material, which centers on knowing God and making Him known. Now, I’m not saying some days aren’t stressful or that my house is spotless (with 3 kids at home all day, I think that would be impossible!). On days when I struggle, He gives me the strength to overcome, and I am content that this is where God wants me to be right now. This is the ministry He has given me and I must use it to bring Him glory!
Contentment is an internal decision we have to make. It would be easy to always want more things, designer clothes, the best phones, or for the next stage of our lives to get here quickly. But, we are commanded to be content (Hebrews 13:5). So, how can we choose contentment?
- · Be confident in God’s providence in our lives and be satisfied with little. Know that He’ll provide for our needs (not wants) as long as we live.
- · Experience and spiritual maturity can help us learn to be content in any circumstance.
- · Realize that God will strengthen us through His power, but only if we are living lives of obedience. “Those whose continued sin has led them into the pit of despair cannot expect God to bring them contentment from their circumstances,” states John MacArthur.
- · Lastly, be concerned for others. If we live only for ourselves, we would only be content when everything is exactly as we want it to be- which will never happen: we will always want more.
We have to rest in God’s sovereignty - nothing is outside of His control. “He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:26-27). Do you see the awesomeness? God, the Creator of the universe, determined when and where YOU would live…He placed you in the exact time you’re in, with your family, in your region, etc. so you could bring Him the glory that He deserves. Also, that hopefully we would repent of our wicked sins and turn to God to place our faith in the work of His Son Jesus Christ on the cross for the salvation of our souls. He lived a perfect, sinless life, became the sacrifice and took on the punishment we deserve, and defeated death so we can live as one with Him. How can we, if we are children of God, not be content in that assurance?
As a closing thought, as Christians we must not look like the world, we must stand out, we must refrain from complaining, and we must be content so that we can be lights in the world.
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,” Philippians 2:14-15.
“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction,” Philippians 4:11-14.
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