Rethinking Contentment: What It’s Not and What It Is
As Christians, we often struggle with contentment. We may think it means having a perfect life, free from troubles and difficulties. But what if our understanding of contentment is misguided? The apostle Paul learned contentment, but his life was far from easy. In fact, he faced numerous challenges and hardships, which he shared with the churches in his letters.
Contentment is Not a Life of Ease
Paul’s experiences in Asia were marked by affliction, burden, and despair (2 Cor. 1:8). Yet, in the midst of these difficulties, he found contentment. This shows us that contentment is not about avoiding hardships or finding a life of perfect balance. Instead, it’s about trusting God while walking through the hard times. Joy and sorrow can coexist, and contentment is not opposed to longing for a better day.
Contentment is Not Indifference towards Others
Paul had his share of relational disagreements, including a dispute with Barnabas over Mark (Acts 15:39). However, his love for others meant that his heart was invested in their well-being. Contentment is not about being indifferent towards others; rather, it involves tears and compassion in their pain. We weep when others weep, and our love for them is deep and genuine.
Contentment is Not Opposed to Longing
When we view contentment as an endlessly positive attitude, we miss out on a deeper relationship with Jesus. Jesus himself was troubled in soul on the eve of his crucifixion and prayed multiple times to the Father for rescue (Luke 22:44). Paul described his own experience with similar distress, longing to put on his heavenly dwelling (2 Cor. 5:2). Contentment does not mean we are free from desires, longings, or heart-wrenching circumstances. We can cry out to God in prayer, seeking solutions and help in our trials.
Contentment is Not Apathy
Paul faced outward danger and inward fear, bearing daily pressure and anxiety for all the churches under his care (2 Cor. 11:28). Yet, he took his fears and anxieties to the Lord and experienced peace in the midst of them. As he instructed the Philippians, we can make our requests known to God, and the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6-7).
The Secret of Contentment
Paul learned the secret of contentment not by freeing himself from earthly struggles or burdens but by experiencing the power of Christ’s presence in both his times of plenty and times of want. He embraced Christ’s goodness in the midst of life’s hardness. All of Paul’s life testified: Christ is enough. It is well with my soul.
Cultivating Contentment
As Christians, we must regularly work to cultivate contentment. By not working on our contentment, we are working on our discontentment. Contentment stems from a thankful heart, and when we lose sight of this, we are not loving God as we should. Proper desire can become coveting against God. May we strive to cultivate a spirit of contentment in a world that often seems dead set on helping us do just the opposite.
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