“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” – Philippians 4:11
Adrian Rogers said, “Paul came to a place in his life—not a physical place, but a spiritual place—where he felt divine contentment. Most people think they know what this word “contentment” means, but let me tell you what it means in God’s Word—“self contained.”
In the context of this passage, we learn that Paul was thanking people for their love gifts to him, but he wanted them also to know that he was not dependent upon them because God had brought him to a place of sufficiency in Himself alone.
That is, Paul was able to say, “I have learned that I don’t need anything or anybody else, but the Lord. I have Him, and therefore, I am self-contained, not self-sufficient. I can do all things through Christ.” Do you have a contentment today in Christ alone?”
So how was it that Paul learned to find what most people never discover? The key is Phil. 1:21″For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” As F. B. Meyer said –“Christ is the essence of our life…the model of our life…the aim of our life…the solace of our life…the reward of our life.” When we truly believe that we will be content regardless of the circumstances.
