247. Content
Philippians 4:11Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
God promises that we can be content, but it is conditional: you have to learn it. If you learn to be content, then you will be content. Contentment is a promise of God, but it must be learned in order to attain it. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit is willing and able to teach it to us. He uses the Word of God and the circumstances of life as the tools that shape and conform us to His image. God is content, and as we learn to reflect God’s image we also will be content.
Contentment is peace and calm with my current situation, whether relatively rich or poor. Paul says he learned; therefore, he says he really has no want. He lacks nothing. He may actually lack some things that others have, but he is satisfied with his state, whatever it may be. So if he is content and satisfied he can honestly say he has no want. Want is not defined by the amount of possessions and money; it is defined by a contented state of mind; peace rules; it is internal, not external. Contentment depends on the internal state, not the outward circumstances.
Want can mean either lack or desire. If I am in want of something, it may apply either to need or to greed. If I need it God will provide it; if God doesn’t provide it I don’t need it. Greed simply says, “I want more. I want something I don’t have.” Greed and covetousness is a deadly sin that is extremely difficult to get rid of. If we could really learn to be content with whatsoever state we are in we could say, “I do not want; I am content.”
Learning contentment may seem impossible, but God is in the business of the impossible. He has done it already and He can do it again. He is willing to teach if we are willing to learn. But there is the problem: we don’t want to learn. We would rather complain or feel sorry for myself or blame others than we would learn to be content. We will resist the learning, but God will not give up the teaching. God wants us to be content.