Learning to be Content...

Scripture: "I have learned how to be content with whatever I have."(Philippians 4:11)
My grandmother sums up the above verse with, "What is, is; what isn't, isn't. Blessed be the Lord." She repeats this often, but I find her attitude to be remarkable, considering her many health problems and other troubles she's experienced in her more than 80 years. Those who have learned to joyfully depend upon God, no matter their circumstances, are good Christian role models.

Be Satisfied

We have to be careful whom we learn from. Perhaps you have seen or heard about the rich and famous – whom many people look up to – who have many material items, perhaps even huge amounts of money. But do you often hear of them being satisfied? I don't; rather I hear about them greedily trying to amass more and more! King Solomon wrote, "Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!"(Ecclesiastes 5:10) . Instead, the Bible lets Christians know we can trust God, Who will never abandon us, and instructs,"Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have" (Hebrews 13:5) .

Give Thanks

God gives His people many blessings, and many reasons to be satisfied and joyful. If we have no earthly thing – not even food, clothing, or shelter! – we can still rely on God for eternal salvation, which is better than any earthly thing. So we can praise Him no matter what. The Apostle Paul told his friends, "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice!"(Philippians 4:4). St. Paul was enthusiastic with praise, even though he was often persecuted and lacked full health. We should follow that example; God speaks through the Psalms that "giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors Me"(Psalms 50:23) .

God's Gifts

When we walk with Jesus in a God-honoring way, we can trust His promises! We can boldly ask for and receive what we need. Jesus said, "if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him" (Luke 11:13). God gives abundantly to the point of overflow: "God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others"(2 Corinthians 9:8).

Rely on Him

Don't those verses make you want to seek to serve the Lord? We needn't seek to amass an earthly fortune, because "those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing" (Psalms 34:10) and "The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right"(Psalms 84:11) . We can be satisfied with all God gives us and seek to do His will, because "true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth"(1 Timothy 6:6).