To Be Content
In Philippians 4:11b Paul made the famous statement, “…for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”
Like Paul, we strive to be content with whatever God gives us, whether we are “brought low” or “abound”. In verse 12 Paul states that he is talking about finding contentment in whatever circumstances he finds himself. Paul’s ability to find contentment in the midst of all circumstances came from his relationship with Christ, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:8).
Not to be Content
While Paul encourages us to be content in our circumstances, he would also be the first to keep us from becoming complacent in our relationships. In other words, in order to grow and develop our relationships, we need to have a healthy discontentment for the status quo. This discontentment is the seed of growth.
God has created us as relational beings. As a matter of fact, Jesus Himself defined eternal life as a relationship, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3). To Paul, and to every child of God, this relationship is and should be priority number one. God forbid that we ever become complacent in it.
My Utmost
I believe we can learn a lesson from Oswald Chambers. Despite the fact that he was a gifted teacher whom God was mightily using to advance His kingdom, Oswald Chambers wasn’t complacent. As a matter of fact he came to a crisis and wrote these words “If this is all there is to Christianity, if I have got all there is, then the thing’s a fraud.” Strong words, but Mr. Chambers was a man who passionately pursued God. During this crisis, he literally set aside everything else in his life and saturated himself with the Word of God. Eventually, God used the Bible teacher F.B. Meyer and his teaching on Luke 11:13 to radically change Oswald Chambers. God lifted him to higher ground. Today we know him for his great work My Utmost for His Highest. I am thankful that Oswald Chambers had a healthy discontentment.
What God did for the Apostle Paul and Oswald Chambers and numerous saints throughout history, He also wants to do for us. The same God that has lifted us from the miry bog (Psalm 40) wants to make us walk on high places (Hab. 3:19). Let’s not become too content with the current view, or worse yet begin to descend back towards the miry bog. Rather, let us pray to God and thank Him for where we are, but ask Him to help us continue climbing the mountain because we won’t be content until we are in His presence.
“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God.” – Psalm 42:1-2.