Part 45 - A reason for discontent 

“For I have learned to be content...” Phillippians 4:11

 

The book of Philippians is about finding our strength, to persevere in the trials of life, in Christ. The apostle Paul endured many hardships during his life as a follower of Jesus. As a new believer, he was considered suspect, because he previously imprisoned and killed the followers of Jesus. On his missionary journeys, he was imprisoned and stoned, and he was shipwrecked on the way to Rome.

He endured much for the sake of the gospel. He struggled to understand how a good God could allow such awful things to happen to him. Despite all this, he is very clear; he ‘learned to be content’.

 

Paul was a watcher of men. He understood the hearts of men, who pursued evil and were led astray by the love of money. He saw men fall away from the faith as they got caught up in ‘get rich schemes’ and put obtaining wealth above family and God. He saw the ruin of the lives of men and families as people fell into foolish and harmful desires. He learned a valuable lesson; that we are not to put our hope in wealth, which is uncertain (I Timothy 6:17), but rather to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. That is what is important; life that is truly life! (I Timothy 6: 19)

So today, what is it that is causing you discontentment? Is it the loss of financial gain due to the coronavirus? Is it a stressed or absent relationship? Is it that all your plans for God are put on hold? Whatever it is, know this: that godliness with contentment is great gain! (I Timothy 6:6) Let us be like Paul, and ‘learn to be content’.