Articles
Content In Everything
Last week, one of my posts dealt with contentment. I quoted Phil 4:12 where Paul says, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
The Greek word translated as "contentment" is "autarkeia". Thayer defines it as "a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed."
Does that throw a different light on Paul's statement? When we think of being content, even our very own Merriam-Websters dictionary defines the state of contentment to mean "feeling or showing satisfaction with one's possessions, status, or situation". Really close, but not exactly the same.
Now if you are like me, that's about all the effort you want to put into a word study, but the point is it's not merely that we are willing to "put up with", in a passive state of mind, our circumstances. We can settle for less than we want, and be satisfied, but still not be overly happy, like when we negotiate the price of a new car. Contentment is more that we see our condition as all-sufficient for the moment, and grateful for the presence of God in our lives, fulfilled with what we have.
The Greek definition just seems to take an additional step past satisfaction. We have the ability to be happy and rejoice, regardless of the circumstances, because we are children of God. It means we have no urge to complain or voice any dissatisfaction.
Paul's example does not indicate God wants us to be lazy, and refuse to work or refuse to make other efforts toward improving our situation if we can, as we see Paul ask God to remove his 'thorn in the flesh". We don't know what that was exactly, some experts believe Paul had arthritis, others bad eyesight. Some claim this was a reference to Satan, but regardless of what it was (after Paul's repeated pleas to the Lord) God replied "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9), to which Paul expressed his contentment by saying, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."
Our job then, is to do the same, grow our faith, build our knowledge and boast even greater about our God no matter our circumstances. We are not merely putting up with our events in life, God is providing what we need and we take that and use it and glorify God in doing so, (as Paul says) "...in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
