“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Memory Verse: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
If someone knocked on your door this morning and asked you “what can I do for you to make you happy for the rest of your life” What will your answer be? Without much thinking, most people will instantly list their immediate wants or needs, usually material, because we think having those things will make us happy once we have them. Responses will go in line of things like I want a child, a husband, a wife, a house, a car, a job, promotion, recognition and the list of our heart desires are endless but once given those things then what next?
Often in life, we assume that naturally we are unhappy because we lack certain things that others have and at such we think we are really lagging behind so we begin to struggle to get those things in an attempt to feel some sense of completion but as time goes by, we realise that no matter what and how much we have, there is something else we will always desire and need. We continue the race for contentment and spend our lives on pursuing but with every milestone attained and achieved, we begin again.
In today’s bible text we see that Apostle Paul discovered a secret which he shared with us. He had mastered the act of contentment in every situation he found himself and this didn’t mean he became lazy and stopped working towards achieving things in life but he realised that only God give us the ability to do all things in life. He therefore learnt very quickly to be contented in the Lord.
It’s okay to want all the beautiful things of life but we need to always remember that only God gives the power to make wealth, Deuteronomy 8:18. It is therefore important that while desiring those beautiful things of life, contentment must be kept as a constant factor and not forgetting that how far God has brought us is not by our strength or power.
Being contented means we have peace that comes from being right with God and knowing that He is in control of all that happens to us. The secret of contentment is focus on God in every situation.
Contentment births thanksgiving which opens doors for abundance 2Corinthians 9:8.
PRAYERS:
- Father I thank you for your grace, favor and all you have blessed me with
- Thank you for making all things work together for my good
- Help me from today to be contented and see it as a great gain
- Let each and every day of my life be about you and not on material things
- Forgive me of my shortcomings o Lord and help me to live above sin
- Receive my sacrifice of praise for in Jesus mighty name I pray, AMEN.
