Philippians 4:12

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”

I don’t know about you, but I have definitely had times of plenty and times of need. Of course, compared to most of humankind my lows aren’t so bad and my highs are off the charts, but that kind of relativity doesn’t really make it any easier when you are in the moment.

Paul certainly had experienced many highs and lows in his day. Scripture gives us plenty of details about his tough times, and his life as Saul the Pharisee was undoubtedly filled with as much privilege and opulence as that position could afford. Yet, in the end he had learned to be content regardless of his station in life. Paul could say, quite simply: I have enough.

So what was the “secret” of Paul’s contentment? I taught a series of classes on this when I was struggling with it myself, and here are five points I discovered from Scripture:

1. Learn to be thankful, no matter what.
2. Learn to trust in God’s providence, which requires that you know His character.
3. Learn to be satisfied with your needs, rather than your wants.
4. Learn to find fulfillment outside of your circumstances.
5. Learn to be pre-occupied with the well being of others.

It’s easy to study this subject and conclude there is something wrong with the drive to succeed or advance. Ambition is not necessarily a bad thing, if your motives are pure, but like the love of money, it can prove to be a snare.

Can you say, “I have enough?” Contentment is worth learning because it allows you to cut off the shackles of this world…and walk freely into all of the riches that Christ purchased for you at the cross.