MEMORISE: Philippians 4:11

“Not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

READ: Philippians 4:11-13 (KJV)

¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.

MESSAGE

The interesting thing about contentment is that it is something you can learn. Paul said he had learnt to be content whether he had plenty or little. You can learn contentment and you can start learning it right now. Everybody needs to learn to be content. When you look at Paul’s statement, you can understand his mindset. What he was actually saying when he said that he was content whether in plenty or in lack is that he knew that no situation is permanent. This is a very important mindset to help us learn contentment. When you know that your present situation is not permanent and things will soon get better, then you will be content with what you have now. When you know that every day is not a feast, you won’t be expecting to eat every delicacy possible every day. In any case, all you need is to eat enough to give you strength for the day.

The moment you learn contentment, you begin to enjoy the peace of God that passes all understanding because you won’t worry about tomorrow. Once you are content, nobody can tempt you to steal or falsify records and once you have not stolen or falsified records, you then suddenly discover that there is nothing any man can do to shake you.

It is when lack of contentment has led you to do something that you shouldn’t have done that you suddenly become afraid. Jesus Christ said;

Hereafter I will not talk much with you; for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. – (John 14:30)

If you are content with whatever God gives to you, then you will not go after what the devil is offering you. In Luke 4:2-8, the devil offered Jesus a lot of riches and influence; even though Jesus was hungry and tired at the time the offer was made, He did not take the offer because He was content with what God had given to Him. If you know that the Lord has prosperity planned for you, then you will not spoil your chances of getting that prosperity by being covetous now. Not being content has made many people steal thousands and lost the billions that God was planning to give them.

PRAYER POINT:
Lord, please teach me to be content.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 3 – 5

HYMNAL:
Hymn 29 – Will your anchor hold in the storms of life

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