I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Ever here 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 phones, new job opportunities, new clothes, new cars, etc. After acquiring them, we want more. What if you cannot have them? Will you get lonely? If you will, that is discontent. Contentment, ac- cording 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 your desire. Contentment comes from the heart. It is not based on what we have rather but on how peaceful we are on the inside. If we look at material things in this life, we will be discontented. We envy those who have what we do not and we say we have nothing. But if we look at the things of heaven, we can 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, 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 whether we have little or more in life, for as long as God is with us. So, stay connected to the source of everything. Stay with God.
