The Secret of Contentment

Our New Testament readings this week have focused on Paul and the church in Philippi. In Acts 16 we read about Paul's second missionary journey: how he was prevented from going to other places and ended up in the prison in Philippi. After leaving the city, Paul faced other hardships, many of which he listed in his second letter to the Corinthians, including being lashed, beaten, and stoned, being in danger from shipwrecks and along the road, and going without sleep and food (2 Cor 11:24-28). Paul knew real hardships while serving to preach the gospel. As he closed out his letter to the Philippian church from his jail cell, he shared with them the secret to rejoicing despite whatever hardships he faced.

Throughout his letter, Paul focused on rejoicing. "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4). He tells them to not be anxious about anything, but to instead present their requests to God in prayer. He also encourages them to think about excellent or praiseworthy things. Through our prayers and positive mindset, we can find the peace of God.

With all the challenges of life, especially in the past year, it's been hard at times to avoid being anxious. At times, prayer hasn't helped with finding peace. The tension and difficulties of all the events and challenges have distracted us at times from the excellent and praiseworthy. Paul must have had many of the same feelings as he waited in chains in prison, but he writes that he "learned how to be content whatever the circumstances" (Philippians 4:11). What was his secret?

Paul told them that he had learned how to be content, "whether well fed or hungry, whether in plenty or in want" (v. 12). It's definitely easier to be content when things are going well, but when they aren't, we usually show our lack of being content by grumbling or complaining - Paul talked about that earlier in the letter (Philippians 2:14-18). The "secret" is that Paul learned to be content by going to the source of his strength: God. "I can do all this through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).

How has God empowered you to endure hardship? Are you finding strength in your relationship with God, through prayer and fasting, in spiritually-focused relationships, by serving others in need? God has provided us with many ways to be strong so that in troubled times we can be content and find peace. Amen.