I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content
Today is a rest day from the reading plan. After six weeks we are now past halfway, yesterday being day 35 of the 66 day reading plan. Well done if you are keeping up with us and don’t forget there is an overview for each book to hopefully help.
So this morning I was sat here before going out to get some provisions. It’s a strange perception of the season of Christmas that I have from here being just me and Bertie. Neither of us have the pressure of being surrounded by the glitter and turkey. In fact, if it wasn’t my daughter’s birthday on Thursday, the festive period could have slipped by possibly unnoticed. That is not to say that I don’t celebrate Our Saviours birth, or I have an opinion being against the homogenisation of a pagan festival into a Roman plan for appeasement. No I’m just quite happy as I am. So I had a little read through Philippians in the New Testament this morning. To get a better perception of the verse 4:11, about the Apostle Paul being content in whatever state he was in. Either having feast or famine, he was content.
Content in the Greek language is ‘Autarkes’ which is to be self-sufficient, adequate, needing no assistance.
Well Paul is quite content, bearing in mind he has now at the time of writing of this letter, been in prison for about two years. That’s an unwavering faith. Paul doesn’t need anything above the basic essentials, in fact, if we read First Timothy 6:6 + 8, we read;
“Now godliness with contentment is great gain.”
“And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”
I suppose at this time of year for many the pressure of providing. The wanting of certain material objects or the desperation that mutates of loneliness, is never far away. So this is not just the season to celebrate Jesus’s birth, but an opportunity to help others and shine the light of Jesus through ourselves by not getting embroiled in the emotional roller coaster upheavals.
Christians can stand above and overcome worry and worldly desires regardless of their circumstances. Being content is not instantaneous but a skill that is learned with overcoming previous obstacles. By making a purposeful decision to be content and putting all our trust in God that He will provide what we need and not what we want. Our focus should be turned from being materialistic and into doing what is pleasing to the Lord.
Whatever your position or condition at this time, I hope and pray that you are content in all things. As the Apostle Paul later says in Philippians 4:13;
“I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.”
God Bless