The Art of Contentment

The Art of Contentment

Philippians 4:10-13

 

10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

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.

13 I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.

 

Introduction

As we step into a new year, many of us are making plans, setting goals, and seeking changes. However, there’s a problem we must address: how do we deal with discontentment, which robs us of peace and purpose?

 

The apostle Paul, in Philippians, teaches us that contentment does not depend on external circumstances but on complete dependence on Christ. Today, we will learn how to shift our perspective, find satisfaction in God, and start this year with the right mindset.

 

1. What Contentment Is Not

 

Before understanding biblical contentment, we must identify what it is not:

1.It Is Not Complacency

•Complacency means giving up or settling for less in life.

•Biblical contentment is active; it is trusting God while continuing to seek His will.

2.It Is Not Having Everything We Desire

•Solomon concluded in Ecclesiastes 5:10: “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.”

•John D. Rockefeller famously responded to the question, “How much money is enough to make a man happy?” with, “Just a little bit more.”

•King David warns us in Psalm 62:10: “If riches increase, do not set your heart on them.”

3.It Is Not an Automatic Feeling

•As Paul said, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11)

•Contentment is a daily lesson, practised through God’s grace.

 

2. What Contentment Is and How to Live It

1.Contentment Is Changing the Source of Our Satisfaction

•Contentment is not based on external circumstances but on our relationship with God. He calls us to shift the focus of our joy from earthly things to eternal ones.

•Colossians 3:2: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

•Matthew 6:22: “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.”

2.Contentment Is Trusting in God’s Provision

•Paul declares in Philippians 4:19: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.”

•This does not mean abandoning progress, but trusting that God will provide as we prioritise His Kingdom.

•Matthew 6:33: “But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

3.Contentment Is Cultivating Gratitude

•Gratitude is key to contentment. When we learn to value what we have, our perspective changes.

•1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

•Paul learned to be content in all situations because he knew Christ was sufficient: Philippians 4:13: “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”

4.Contentment Is Abandoning the Endless Pursuit of Earthly Things

•Often, we are discontent because we pursue what can never truly satisfy.

•Solomon, the wisest man, said in Ecclesiastes 2:11: “Everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”

•As long as we seek earthly things, we will never be satisfied, but when we seek God, we find true peace:

•Deuteronomy 28:2: “All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.”

 

Conclusion: A New Year with a New Purpose

 

We are at the beginning of a new year, bringing with it new challenges and opportunities. In the previous sermon, we spoke about the importance of finishing well because “the end of a matter is better than its beginning.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

 

This year, the challenge is to begin with the right perspective. Let your focus not be on earthly things but on seeking the Lord first. He must be the priority of your life because only in Christ can we find true contentment.

 

Solomon, the wisest man in the world, made the mistake of seeking satisfaction in riches and pleasures but left us with the wisdom of his experience: everything is meaningless without God. Paul reaffirms this truth when he says: “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”

 

May you live a Christ-centred life in 2025, content in the Lord, knowing that He is sufficient and that His blessings will follow those who seek Him.