“And I am not saying this because I feel neglected, for I have learned to be satisfied with what I have.” (Philippians 4:11)
Some background on the circumstances for this verse: Paul was in prison; most say Rome but it could have been Ephesus. He was jailed for preaching the Gospel of Christ. Most probably it was written during his second imprisonment in Rome. In the previous verse, he writes the Philippians about how joyful he was to receive provision from them. It had been a long time coming and Paul writes to tell them that he has learned to be satisfied with what he has.
Paul writes, “…for I have learned to be satisfied…” Contentment with what we have has to be learned. It is not natural to be content or satisfied when we have expectations. And all of us have expectations for every area of our lives. One of the main reasons for divorce is because of wrong expectations. We have these expectations, yet we don’t make the right choices that will bring us those expectations. We expect the impossible with the wrong choice for a spouse because we want what we want.
Paul had learned to be content. “I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little.” (Philippians 4:12) He writes that he has learned this secret. It is a secret we must learn because God is not pleased when we are not content.
We see many examples of this in the book of Exodus after the Israelites were freed from Egyptian slavery. After they crossed the Red Sea and went through the Desert of Shur they grumbled because there was no water to drink. (Exodus 15:22-24) Two and a half months later in the Desert of Sin they murmured and grumbled about not having meat to eat. Moses spoke with wisdom saying “…When you complain against us, you are really complaining against the LORD." (Exodus 16:8) Their complaining brought them death. “"How much longer are these wicked people going to complain against me? I have heard enough of these complaints! Now give them this answer: 'I swear that as surely as I live, I will do to you just what you have asked. I, the LORD, have spoken. You will die and your corpses will be scattered across this wilderness. Because you have complained against me, none of you over twenty years of age will enter that land.” (Numbers 14:27-29)
We do well to remember that when we murmur, complain and grumble with dissatisfaction about our lives, we are murmuring, complaining and grumbling against the Lord. In this time of His grace and the sacrifice of Jesus, the Almighty God may seem lenient. For the unbeliever it is God’s patience waiting for them to come to their senses. “The Lord is not slow to do what He has promised, as some think. Instead, He is patient with you, because He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins.” (2Peter 3:9)
But for the believer it is doubt in God’s Goodness and His faithfulness in keeping His Promises. “No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) What can we do? Repent first of all for doubting God’s Goodness. Seek direction. We don’t know what to do, but God does. “When, however, the Spirit comes, Who reveals the truth about God, He will lead you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own authority, but He will speak of what He hears and will tell you of things to come.” (John 16:13) The Holy Spirit has come. He came to indwell believers in Jesus at Pentecost. (Acts 2:1-41) The Holy Spirit will lead you in the right direction.
You may think you’ve been dealt a bad hand. Don’t murmur. Don’t complain. But instead allow God to glorify Himself by showing Himself strong in your situation. Give God the authority to do what He wants. It will be better than anything you have wanted.
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