One of the most significant areas that leads people to feel discontent is their life circumstances. We look at the vacations our friend is able to take, the closeness that the person in our small group’s family has, or the promotion that our coworker received and cannot help but feel discontent with our own circumstances. We begin to think that if we can just meet a specific goal, such as marriage, a desired profession, or a tight-knit friend group, then we will feel content. The truth is contentment is not found in our life's circumstances. In fact, once we meet our desired circumstances, we will find another goal that we want to achieve. True contentment is found solely in Christ.
The apostle Paul understood that contentment was not found in His circumstances. Even when he was in prison, he was content. He wrote about his contentment in Philippians 4. In this passage of Scripture, which he wrote from prison, he wrote, “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little” (verse 12). Paul did not find his contentment in his circumstances. He understood that circumstances are fleeting. Our circumstances can constantly, sometimes unexpectedly, change. If we look to our circumstances for contentment, we will always end up disappointed and disillusioned. Instead, we must look to God, who said in Malachi 3:6, “I am the Lord, and I do not change.”
If we want to find true contentment, we must look beyond our circumstances, which are ever-changing and fleeting. We must, instead, look to God. He does not change. May each one of us have the wisdom to look beyond our circumstances to God, who remains faithful and will never change.
Have you been placing your hope in a particular circumstance? Make a list of the life circumstances you have been looking to for contentment. Then, write out Malachi 3:6: "I am the Lord, and I do not change." Let this be a reminder to look solely to Him, who does not change, for satisfaction.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.
2 Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.
4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.
