I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Philippians 4:12 NKJV
We usually want better things in life. We want new cell phones, new job opportunities, new clothes, new cars etc. When we have them, we want more. What if you cannot have them? Do you get lonely? If you do, that is discontent. Contentment according to Paul is something that is learned. It is not inherent in us to be contented in life. Man is always wanting. It is not bad to desire for something better. What is bad is if you are controlled by our desire. Contentment comes from the heart. It is not based on what we have. It is based on how peaceful we are on the inside. If we look at material things in this life, we can be discontented. We envy those who have what we do not have and we say we have nothing. But if we look at the things of heaven, we say we have more than enough. The things of this world give you temporary satisfaction. But if you have the riches of heaven you have inner peace and enduring satisfaction and happiness. The source of all that we need is our Lord God, Jesus Christ. He is the one we should look forward to having in our lives. If Christ is with us then we have everything. We are contented when we have little, the same way that we have more in life, for as long as God is with us. So stay connected to the source of everything, stay with God.
