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Everlasting Contentment
by Captain Scott
Strissel
“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.” Philippians 4:12 (NIV)
This passage of scripture
is written by a prisoner and an apostle of Jesus Christ.
Paul had learned a secret that each and every Christian
ought to grasp; the secret of being content in any and every
situation of life.
Consider being in a cold dark prison cell for a moment.
The comforts of home are gone, as well as home cooked
meals, and the cozy bed that you used to sleep in…it’s all
gone. You are
locked in a cell of stone and metal where rats are constantly
running over you and the floor is your only resting place.
This image of being in prison isn’t a glorious one.
It is stark, threatening and claustrophobic, so how can
Paul even proclaim to being content while locked away in a
prison cell?
Contentment ultimately
isn’t found in our surroundings or comforts.
At times perhaps we may sit back and sigh and take in
the moments of relaxation or familial enjoyments but
eventually our contentment will evaporate.
True lasting contentment isn’t found in things, people
or places. We may
experience momentary contentment but eventually our hearts,
minds and bodies require more.
The question at hand then
is this; how do we find, as Paul once did in a prison cell,
this “secret of being content in any and every situation“?
How does that happen?
Is there a secret phrase we must utter and then “poof”
we are content? Is
there some formula, or a magic potion to consume in order to
find this contentment?
The answer to both of those questions is “no”.
There is nothing physical that we can do in order to
achieve a lasting presence of contentment within us.
You see, all of our efforts, which are man-made, come
from our own human portions of strength and wisdom.
These are external by design.
For example, if we grow tired of our morning routine we
might shake things up a bit by taking a different route to
work or formulate a different pattern of getting our children
ready for school…these are externally our choices and
strengths at play.
We make a conscience decision and we follow through with it in
our own strength, thereby providing a jolt of contentment
within old boring routines of life.
But there is better way to
find complete and lasting contentment that I believe the
Apostle Paul is talking about in this portion of Philippians.
The secret to lasting contentment isn’t found in the
external designs which are propelled by our own power and
fortitude, the lasting contentment is found internally.
Let me clarify though because this internal contentment
isn’t an original part of our human DNA (that is post-fall of
man). At the
moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit takes up residence within
us. He prompts us,
strengths us, gives us this hunger to learn more about Him.
This indwelling of the Holy Spirit makes it possible
for us to become Holy people of God.
Without this internal indwelling we cannot hold onto
this grace that has been given to us through Jesus Christ.
How do we find this
everlasting contentment?
It is found through tapping into the very source of our
salvation – Christ himself.
Once He is found in us, we feast on Him, we savor His
fellowship, we thrive on His unending love and mercy and it
becomes our focal point instead of places, people and things.
This doesn’t mean that we neglect our earthly
responsibilities or ignore our bodies but it does mean that
our priorities and our perception of life becomes broader as
the Holy Spirit stretches and renew us daily in our fellowship
with Him. I
believe Paul found this to be true.
I believe that as His relationship with the Holy Spirit
grew and he understood that it didn’t matter any longer if he
had all or none of the comforts of life.
It didn’t matter any longer if he achieved a certain
portion of status either.
Those human achievements became an afterthought as
God’s Holy mission consumed him.
Paul understood that no matter where he was placed him
or where he was imprisoned, God would use Him to share this
vital message to the world!
Are you in a place right
now that feels like a prison?
Are you finding that your human contentment has run
thin or has now completely evaporated?
We can run from one thing to another chasing these
fickle moments of contentment through job titles and
achievements, but eventually we will find that none of it
makes us happy any longer.
We could keep running from place to place, from job to
job, or we could allow the Holy Spirit to administer within us
His Holy presence of contentment.
By doing so we shift our focal point from human
achievements and prestige to God’s perspectives which are
always fulfilling.
The journey to Holy contentment begins through discipline of
the body soul and mind.
This isn’t some kind of new age mumbo-jumbo, but rather
a better way, a holy way that will lead us to contentment no
matter where we are placed or end up.
Are you in need of
contentment? Ask
the Lord, begin there…feast on Him daily and slowly you will
begin to find His perspectives and vision bringing a
contentment like you’ve never experienced before.
I’m reminded of a chorus
in closing:
“Where He leads me, I will follow
Where He leads me, I will follow
Where He leads me, I will follow
I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way”
Find real lasting contentment today!
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