Contentment: An Ingredient of Peace

. . .for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. . .I have learned the secret of being content in every situation. (Phil 4:11b,12b)

Paul wrote to the people at Philippi an important fact of his life. He was content with who he was and what he did. While we focus on his letter to the Philippians, we need to remember he wrote these words from prison.

A friend recently told me she was happy for the first time in her life. I understood what she meant. I. too can say, I am the most satisfied I have been in my adult life. If someone were to look at my life, they might think otherwise. But my state doesn’t come from this world. It comes from God.

“ Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win he prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 3:12-14.)

In a Bible Study on Philippians, theologian Warren Wiersbe explained that while we may have things of our past come up, we don’t have to be controlled by them.

Jesus told us we could rely on him “For my yoke is easy and my burden light.”
(MATTHEW 11:30 )
We all need to turn our burdens and cares over to Him each day because he makes them His and we no longer have to worry about them.

I feel it is important for every child of God to find contentment and peace in his or her heart. Personal peace is the foundation of interpersonal peace. In turn this leads to peace of a nation, which leads to peace in the world. But, we won’t have true, lasting peace until Jesus comes to reign.