Learning to be Content
I've been thinking a bit lately about what it means to be content in all circumstances. The Apostle Paul said:
"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need." Philippians 4:11-12
Paul says he has learned that in whatever situation (and I tend to believe he has the authority and experience to truly speak about all circumstances), he is to be content. He did not say that he is to be content only in some or most situations, but in all situations. I am under the opinion, that we are called to the same.
Oh how far I have to go in this regard.
And so here I am, writing this from Paris, a city often times regarded as the most beautiful in the world. Not to sound overly black and white in my thinking and speaking (writing), but I believe this to be true.
I spent the entire month of August walking past Notre Dame Cathedral and through the Luxembourg Gardens each morning and afternoon on my way to and from class - to and from class at one of the "most prestigious private universities in France."
I have been eating wonderful French cheeses and drinking incredible French wines. I have had meals that consist of gourmet delicacies including caviar and escargot. I have gone for evening strolls along the Seine, and down the Champs Elysees.
I truly am in the most beautiful city in the world.
And yet I find myself longing to be back in North Africa, living among the poor.
Several people have told me that I need to "lighten up a bit" and "enjoy this opportunity that God has given and blessed me with." They probably are correct.
However the point I am seeking to make (mainly to myself, but also for others) is that we often times find ourselves places in which we normally would not choose to be, and yet God not only desires for us, but also calls us to be content in these circumstances.
There are people who due to health, family, financial and various other reasons, have had to leave the ministry in which they felt that God had called them. I have met some of these people and have found them to be content in their present circumstances.
There are those who desperately desire to go overseas and serve, and for some reason God is asking them to stay, or to wait. I have met some of these people and have found them to be content in their present circumstances.
There are believers all around the world being beaten and tortured in prisons simply because of their faith in Christ. I have also met some of these blessed people, and have found them to be truly content in their present circumstances.
Each of these people has ministered to and taught me about being content in all circumstances.
And yet I still must cry out and say…
Oh how far I have to go in learning to be content in all circumstances! When I am hungry and when I am filled. When I am rich and when I am poor. When I am accepted and when I am rejected. When I am understood and when I am gravely misunderstood. When I have community and when I am all alone. When I can sense that God is with me and when I feel completely abandoned by Him.
Yes, I have a long ways to go.
Peace,
Matthew Pascal
"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need." Philippians 4:11-12
Paul says he has learned that in whatever situation (and I tend to believe he has the authority and experience to truly speak about all circumstances), he is to be content. He did not say that he is to be content only in some or most situations, but in all situations. I am under the opinion, that we are called to the same.
Oh how far I have to go in this regard.
And so here I am, writing this from Paris, a city often times regarded as the most beautiful in the world. Not to sound overly black and white in my thinking and speaking (writing), but I believe this to be true.
I spent the entire month of August walking past Notre Dame Cathedral and through the Luxembourg Gardens each morning and afternoon on my way to and from class - to and from class at one of the "most prestigious private universities in France."
I have been eating wonderful French cheeses and drinking incredible French wines. I have had meals that consist of gourmet delicacies including caviar and escargot. I have gone for evening strolls along the Seine, and down the Champs Elysees.
I truly am in the most beautiful city in the world.
And yet I find myself longing to be back in North Africa, living among the poor.
Several people have told me that I need to "lighten up a bit" and "enjoy this opportunity that God has given and blessed me with." They probably are correct.
However the point I am seeking to make (mainly to myself, but also for others) is that we often times find ourselves places in which we normally would not choose to be, and yet God not only desires for us, but also calls us to be content in these circumstances.
There are people who due to health, family, financial and various other reasons, have had to leave the ministry in which they felt that God had called them. I have met some of these people and have found them to be content in their present circumstances.
There are those who desperately desire to go overseas and serve, and for some reason God is asking them to stay, or to wait. I have met some of these people and have found them to be content in their present circumstances.
There are believers all around the world being beaten and tortured in prisons simply because of their faith in Christ. I have also met some of these blessed people, and have found them to be truly content in their present circumstances.
Each of these people has ministered to and taught me about being content in all circumstances.
And yet I still must cry out and say…
Oh how far I have to go in learning to be content in all circumstances! When I am hungry and when I am filled. When I am rich and when I am poor. When I am accepted and when I am rejected. When I am understood and when I am gravely misunderstood. When I have community and when I am all alone. When I can sense that God is with me and when I feel completely abandoned by Him.
Yes, I have a long ways to go.
Peace,
Matthew Pascal
posted by Matthew Pascal @ 4:07 AM
7 comments
7 Comments:
Word.
ironically, when I turned to the citation you gave, Philippians 3:19, I found "Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things." It is because your mind is so much _not_ on earthly things, that you aren't as content in your present magnificent circumstances as you think you should be. I am still on the "struggling to be content in the bad circumstances" side of things...so enjoy a nice Gewurtzraminer for me. And eat plenty of cheese - you'll be missing that soon.
interesting thoughts on being content. something i have given thought lately. is it truly possible for us human beings to experience full contentment? worrying about it seems to negate the concept. ha. being with God in the moment and allowing myself to be present with him i find small fractions of what it truly might be like to be content.
lmm
Anhomily,
Thanks for the comment. It is ironic that I made that citation error... I am going to go ahead and correct it on the main page though. Et aussi, je vais boire le Gewurtzraminer avec les fromage (le fromage munster, parce que, ils sont tre bon ensemble)
Lauren,
Good point. Worrying about it does seem to negate the whole concept on contentment... I had never thought about it like that before.
I think that it is important to know and understand the meaning of the word content, and how Paul would have defined it. I'm no bible scholar, but I think there are a couple different meanings of content. There is the satisfied and comfortable meaning, and there is the patiently at peace meaning. I think Paul was refering us always being rooted and grounded in God's love through Christ, which should allow us to be content, or at peace always. We should be completely satisfied in Chirst. Yet, I don't think he was saying that he wanted us to be satisfied and comfortable in every situation, which is more what I think you might have been referring to??? But like I said I'm definately not a bible scholar...just my thoughts.
Paris? Most beautiful city? Nonsense. You have obviously never been to Telford...
Let me fuse a couple of your musings together and say that I can understand you desire to be with the poor after being in such a nice city. I have so often found so much joy and peace in the faces of children and the poor. I also see the pain that they often times never feel. I just see their situations and assume it is painful, when in reality it may be all they know. They may see themselves as rich, and translated into my own perspective, the joy they often display IS priceless.
I have found so many lessons to be learned from those with so little. Blessed is the poor man... It has a strange a beautiful new meaning to me. Thanks Matty P for sharing your passion.
Biggie
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