Contentment

1 August 2012       

Philippians 4:11 Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content.

I know of many people that are seeking happiness in their lives, the more they seek it the harder it often seems to be, the more they tend to evaluate their condition, the more they try to find ways to be happy. Often their happiness is determined by what they own, or on the status of the relationships that they are current in. Happiness is largely dependent on chance rather than on choice. We only know when we have been happy, but often when we are happy we are unaware of it.

Being content is an entirely another issue, when one is content it is neither dependent on the materialism neither on the status of the relationship, it is a sense of well being that is from an internal source rather than external chance. This contentment is being able to say I am OK with who I am, and who I am is not determined by external factors but what I believe of myself. Sometimes it is fine to be unhappy or happy, to be sad or glad, these are emotional responses, often not based on the facts but rather on feelings.

As a believer one should rather seek to be content than to be happy, to realise that who we are in Christ determines how we respond to the situations and conditions we live in. The more assured we are of our relationship with Christ, brings about a change in our thinking and thus a deeper sense not only of contentment but also of purpose.

Be encouraged today to be content no matter what.

 

David

 

Point to ponder: Contentment is the fruit of our love relationship with Jesus.

Question to consider: Would you rather be content or happy?

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