“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through him (Jesus) who strengthens.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
The last cat we had, affectionately named Princess Malibu by our kids (or Boo for short!), loved to crawl up into our recliner and take an undisturbed nap. If I came into the room, Boo would stretch out her legs, flex her claws, yawn, and resume her slumber. She was a picture of contentment, not needing anything else. For a cat, contentment comes easy.
For people, it seems to be a fogged-in utopia that the ship never quite reaches. Contentment is a foreign language, undecipherable, undefinable word that is as misunderstood as a vegan carving the Thanksgiving turkey.
In a time of plenty, it seems that few people are content. More seems to be the remedy for their discontentment, except more never seems to be more enough. The epidemic of discontent has its tentacles in all the arenas of life.
Kids have become Amazon consumers. Their parents salivate for the next-level-up vehicle that the TV says will arrive in the driveway with a giant red bow on top. Instead of not being content with the level of their play, more and more college athletes aren’t content with their NIL money amount. Work production is down while employees’ discontentment with their wages is up. There is middle-class discontentment about the amount of taxes that the rich are paying, and discontement amongst the wealthy about the rumblings of them having to pay more taxes.
One needs to fetch high-powered binoculars to find people who are at peace with life, at peace with God, and content with their surroundings.
The Apostle Paul had lived life on the extremes, well-fed and hungry, with money in his pocket or even a wallet that was empty of any buying power. He had discovered that the strength of life was in the One who gave His life. Ironic as it seemed, contentment was connected to the One who hung on the cross. More money is not the answer, although there was a price that was paid.
I need to remember that the next time the high-priced BMW races by me through the school zone, or the next parent of one of my basketball players expresses discontentment about his daughter’s playing time or the lack of jump shots she is getting in game situations. I’ll nod my head, smile, and say to myself, “I can do all things through him who gives me strength.”
Words from WW Blog 