Be CONTENT!
Discontentment seems to be a regular part of our lives today. That is truly unfortunate. Did you know that one of the roles of advertisers is to create discontentment?
Did you know the typical supermarket in 1976 carried 9,000 items, in 1994 it carried 30,000 items (Our Daily Bread, May 26, 1994. sermonillustrations.com]).
And according to the WalMart website: In 2005 the discount stores average 107,000 square feet, employ an average of 225 associates and offer 120,000 items. walmart.com
Listen to the what God’s word says, the apostle Paul writes:
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have LEARNED in whatever state I am, to be CONTENT… Philippians 4:11 (NKJV)
The Amplified Version says: Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.
(CEV) I am not complaining about having too little. I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have.
(MSG) Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances.
Consider that: QUITE content regardless of the circumstances! In Philippians 1:12 we find out that Paul wrote these words about CONTENTMENT when he was in PRISON! What sould that say to us today???
Herb White, formerly a regional vice-president of an insurance company but then an associate Pastor @ Neighborhood Bible Church in Sacramento California, when we were youth pastors, used to say:
“I’ve had LOTS and I’ve had LITTLE and LOTS is BETTER!”
(GW) I know how to live in poverty or prosperity. No matter what the situation, I've learned the secret of how to live when I'm full or when I'm hungry, when I have too much or when I have too little.
(NLT) 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.
(MSG) 12 I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty.
(HCSB) 12 I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.
What is the SECRET of CONTENTMENT??? It is found in verse 13:
(AMP) 13 I have STRENGTH for all things in Christ Who EMPOWERS me [I am READY for anything and equal to anything THROUGH HIM Who INFUSES inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].
Be sufficient in Christ, be CONTENT today!
Be blessed!
