Learning to be content

Hello everyone.

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord. We thank God for His mercies, His kindness and for establishing us in righteousness. Indeed He is faithful!

Primary Text

“Much of the time we don’t have enough to eat, we wear patched and threadbare clothes, we get doors slammed in our faces, and we pick up odd jobs anywhere we can to eke out a living.” 1 Corinthians 4v11 (MSG)

“To this hour we have gone both hungry and thirsty; we [habitually] wear but one undergarment [and shiver in the cold]; we are roughly knocked about and wander around homeless.” 1 Corinthians 4v11 (AMP)

Paul continues his letter to the Corinthians, telling them some of what the apostles go through. Sometimes they are hungry, and thirsty, cold, and without a home, and doing whatever work they can. One can imagine going away from home for a mission, perhaps to an initially unknown land and having to get around and fend for oneself. Moreover, the journey may be dangerous and upon arrival, given the message you are sharing is new, you are misunderstood. This is some of what the apostles experienced. But Paul in Philippians 4v11-13 (AMP) gives us some insight into how he moves through the various circumstances – “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. I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare and going without and being in want. 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].” Beloved, have you learnt the secret to be content in any and every circumstance that you are? In hunger, thirst, cold, heat, abundance, trials? Have you learnt to be self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency?

Supplementary Text

“You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].” Isaiah 26v3-4 (AMP)

Prayer

Father, we thank You for Your Word. Lord we ask, for the grace to be content and at peace in every circumstance, trusting in You, relying on You, committing ourselves to You, and being ready for anything and equal to anything through Christ who infuses strength into us, in Jesus name, amen.