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Discontentment may be the greatest trap of our time. It may even be greater than lust, greed, and lying, because discontentment leads to all these other sins and more. It tends to be a well-spring of iniquity. I, Martin, have been in full-time ministry and a lawyer, practicing law for a time as well. Almost 100% of the counseling I participated in, whether it was in ministry or in law, had discontentment at its source. It feels like the entire world is colluding to stir up discontentment within us. Every billboard, every commercial, every brochure tends to communicate, a single message: “You deserve and need more.”

As soon as we think we are content it slips away, due to something we see on television, some stray thought, or a small comment another person makes. It is sometimes the result of circumstances, life is not all roses; trouble comes our way and every once in awhile, it actually wasn’t our fault ; somehow discontentment finds its way into our life.

Is Contentment even Possible?

Paul says that it is. In fact, he says that he has learned to be content in whatever situation he is in (Philippians 4:11). He goes on to tell us the secret to contentment: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). 

Paul isn’t saying he can do all things in Christ as a kind of blanket statement. 

• He doesn’t think he can fly, or
• become the Emperor of Rome, or 
• create a rainbow in the sky.

Many times, the idea of contentment is like the idea of prayer itself. 

• We believe in it, or 
• We hope we believe in it, or 
• We wish we believed in it.  
• We just aren’t sure it is really true.

Faith is so simple, and yet so hard. How often have we run through a version of: “God, Do you really even exist?”  You may be thinking, “Well God, if you do, and I am not saying you don’t, but “If you do; then, do you really love me?” God, “I mean, I don’t particularly like me right now, and it doesn’t seem like you do either”. “I am in trouble and ….” or “I have this struggle or problem or issue that I can’t seem to resolve”. “Where are you God?”   Didn’t you say “I can do all things through Christ?” Well, I don’t think it is working.

This is not what Paul is saying with this verse; Paul is asserting that in all circumstances he can be content in Christ who strengthens him. 

• This is the secret! 
• It isn’t the “get out of Jail free” card in Monopoly.
• It is not ignoring circumstances, 
• it is not rising above them either, and 
• it is not resigning one’s self to them

Does this sound like you today? Are you experiencing doubt, frustration, or discontentment in your life? You are not alone.  

For the Apostle Paul the answer was rather living IN My Circumstances IN Christ. Paul’s statement is an echo of an earlier statement where he says: “For to me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). 

Next time I will explain this idea in more detail and share with you part of Pastor Steve’s journey through his period of discontentment!  There is an Answer.

I would love to hear some of your thoughts on this.  You can Email me at martinboelens@sbcorlando.com

Jay Knight concluded his introduction to the questions of orignins.  If you have questions about any of the following:  Where did we come from?  How did we get here?  Is there any purpose in life?  What is my purpose?  Why am I here?  We invite you to meet with us as we do a study using the first Book of the Bible as our text.