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True contentment resides in the Lord
Ken SilvaPhilippians 4: 12-13
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 hungary, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.
The Apostle Paul exhorts us to be content in "any and every situation". Paul writes that "I have learned", that phrase is derived from the word Manthano. Manthano means to learn by experience, to discover and genuinely understand and accept a teaching as true and then apply it to your life. This spiritual contentment that Paul speaks of was learned through many experiences both easy and difficult. He wrote many of his letters while sitting in a jail cell. Through these experiences he learned that the Lord was the source of his true contentment.
This Scripture teaches me that satisfaction is not dependent upon external conditions. A dependence on "worldly things", or others, to find contentment will only leave me wanting. God wants to wean us from the things of this world and truly give ourselves up to Him and His ways. Contentment is truly a gift from the Father to His children. This is great phrase that I came across, "a believer's degree of contentment in this world is a reflection of their degree of contentment regarding the world to come".
Dear Lord thank you for another day of life and learning. Thank you for your Word and the instruction it provides for me each and everyday. Help me to apply your teaching and convert knowledge into wisdom. Help me to be a stalwart servent of your kingdom and a blessing to others. Amen.
