The Secret to Contentment

I lived for many years with latent frustration that came from being envious of what other people had. The adage is true–pastors don’t pastor because of the money, but because of the calling.

I became frustrated in churches where wealthy and more well-off church members would take expensive vacations, drive new cars, and upgrade their homes. I compared myself with what they had and realized how short we came up from being able to do the same things.

I even had one man, who served as an elder and knew what I was paid, tell me that I should buy a truck and camper and go camping with them more often. I stared at him with a vacant look, and let his comments send me into a spiral of bitterness that took me a while to come back from.

I felt inadequate in my job and like a failure for not being able to provide “enough” for my family.

I wasn’t content.

The apostle Paul’s words in the biblical book of Philippians helped me, over years, to change my mindset away from anxiety about what I didn’t have to contentment with what I did have. I wouldn’t say I’ve completely arrived at contentment, but I’m a lot closer than I was even just a few years ago.

When Paul wrote this letter, he was in jail for preaching about Christ. He wasn’t sure if he was going to live or be put to death. People were preaching the gospel because it made Paul’s situation worse.

Yet, in the midst of it all, he wrote these words:

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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” (Philippians 4:11–12).

As I’ve meditated on these words over the years, I’ve come to realize that contentment is found in letting go of the ego. It is the ego that drives us to want and desire more and bigger things, a better job, and more money–the quests for fulfillment that create anxiety.

When we let go of the ego, and its drive that keeps pushing us to achieve, we can find true contentment.

For Paul, contentment was found in trusting Christ and being strengthened by him. We can find the same by looking at what we focus on–either on the things that produce anxiety or the things that produce contentment.

Where will you focus today?

If you want to explore this topic with more depth, I address contentment in chapter six of my new book, Joy in Jesus.

— — — — —

Join my “Daily Discipleship” community and receive my free prayer guide, 7 Days to More Effective Prayer.