After his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul had much to learn about salvation and following Christ. Throughout his life, the apostle shared what he was discovering. In his letter to the church at Philippi, he wrote about a very important life lesson - the secret of being content.
What kind of life do you think brings contentment? You might assume it is one with few troubles or great success. You may want good health, financial security, and a loving family. Paul's life was not at all like this. He was in danger from both his own countryman and the opposition (2 Corinthians 11:23-26). Sometimes the people listened, but more often, they were hostile to his message. He also had a "thorn in the flesh" which God refused to remove (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). And Paul even spent considerable time in prison, chained to a guard. Yet he boldly wrote, " I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation" (Philippians 4:12, NIV).
The secret he discovered was to live on the basis of his position in the Lord, not his feelings. As God's child, Paul knew he was spiritually rich - "blessed . . . with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3) because he had a loving Father and the Holy Spirit's guidance.
Contentment in our media-driven age is hard to find and harder to keep. There's always something newer, bigger, or better to buy and someone else who has what you want. When you feel unsatisfied, try basing your response on your position as a co-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17) rather than feelings.
Taken from "The Secret of Contentment " by In Touch Ministries (used by permission).
