Being Content In All Our Circumstances
"I have LEARNED in whatsoever state I am,therewith to be content."(my emphasis)(Philippians 4:11)
To be content in all our circumstances.That seems impossible.Paul say's I have learned or the Greek word for "learned" has to do with learning by use and practice.I believe he is saying,"I have learned by use and practice to be content in all my circumstances."
If this process began with Paul on the Damascus road,then we can picture him lying blind wondering what God had in store for him now,then from there right on through the next 35-40 years until we see him imprisoned in a dungeon in Rome awaiting execution and making the statement,
"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."(2Timothy 4:6-7)
A triumphant message from a dungeon cell on death row.Here we are really getting into the mind of the Apostle as we are,I believe getting the last inspired writing of his which is of great importance to us just as he is the great example for us as we face uncertainty's in each of our lives.
Being content in all our circumstances could be a challenge for Christians at any time and place,but I believe it is of utmost concern for the ones living in the last days of the church age of which I believe we are living in now.
It's just about impossible to remain content in our day with so much information from the media that is thrown at us from every direction.Couple that with all the events that effect us personally or the ones that could effect us.I believe the "what ifs" that we let in is what effects our contentment more that anything.That is one thing we don't hear come from the pen of the apostle Paul.He was secure in what he believed concerning his present situation and he was certainly secure in what the future held for him.That I believe is the key to contentment,secure in what we believe and that comes from being in God's Word and continuing to grow in grace and knowledge of our Savior and reminding ourselves that this scene we're in now is temporary.
It is very easy to murmur and complain because it comes naturally,but to be content we have to learn it and it is a process that develops over time as we grow and mature in the Grace and Knowledge of our Savior.
Being content in all our circumstances is certainly a test of our faith don't you think?
But let's not pass over the next statement Paul makes.
"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."(2Timothy 4:8)
Yes I believe our learning to be content hinges on what we believe about being with our Savior and the hope instilled in us if we die in this life we will immediately be with our Lord,or if we're alive when He comes for His Church,we'll be changed in a moment,in a twinkling of an eye and go to meet Him in the air.
Yes our learning to be content is for certain connected with our hope.