The Problem
Recently, I was struggling with a situation in my life and pondered what the Lord was trying to teach me through the experience. After some prayer and contemplation, I thought that perhaps I should just be satisfied with how things were and not take any action. After all, I reasoned, perhaps this was just a “thorn in my side”, and I should merely be content and not dwell on the issue. However, the more I reflected on this, the more the prospect of simply becoming resigned to the circumstances came to mind, and I had to ask myself if I was being content or just complacent.
According to Merriam-Webster, “complacency” is defined as “self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies”. It is also described as “an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one’s situation or achievements”. Any time I see the word “self-satisfaction”, a red flag goes up! In this case, the definition of complacency sounds suspiciously like a synonym for being prideful or arrogant in one’s status or situation to the point where it’s fine to just sit back and do nothing because we are “satisfied” with the ways things are.
Conversely, the definition of “contentment” is “the state of being satisfied with one’s possessions, status, or situation” and that everything needed to fulfill the biblical responsibilities that God has for one to accomplish, He will provide. Notice, the prefix of “self-” is not attached to the word “satisfied” in this definition. Contentment involves acknowledging certain circumstances are beyond one’s own control and trusting God to achieve that particular goal or purpose through His power working in you. It is the acceptance that, as Paul wrote in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
So, how can I be content without becoming complacent?
One of the most familiar verses about contentment is Philippians 4:11, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” One of the most important words in this verse is “learned”. Contentment is not automatic. It is a learned response.
The Preparation
Preparing to learn is critical if understanding and growth is the desired outcome. The Bible states in 1 Peter 1:13, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”
1) I must be a student who has a heart that is open and desiring to learn.
- “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” – Psalm 25:5
- An active faith is demonstrated by seeking God and His wisdom.
2) I must have a teacher who is knowledgeable.
- “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” – John 14:26
- With God as my teacher, I can rely on every morsel of knowledge He gives as truth because He is truth!
3) I must have a reliable textbook.
- “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” – 2 Timothy 3:15
- The Bible is the Word of God. It is essentially “The Lord in print”. No errors; no lies, and it will endure forever.
The Precedent
Complacency stifles spiritual understanding and growth. It is characterized by a spirit that is noncommittal, accepting what is without any aspiration to become all that you can be… all that God desires for you to be. This is the “whatever” mentality, and Jesus speaks to this in Revelation 3:16 when He addresses the church in Laodicea, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Complacency is being lukewarm. It is also NOT a learned response. It is part of the sin nature of humanity. Complacency stops us from becoming all that God intends for us as we go through our lives. Becoming satisfied in the “whatevers” of life is not glorifying to God, nor is it an attribute He desires to see in us.
On the other hand, I may be unsure of what to do in a given circumstance, but learning contentment allows me to have a mindset that regardless of who I am, where I have, what I have… God has a purpose for me, and He will equip me to do the work. Contentment gives me enthusiasm and excitement in serving the Lord regardless of what challenges I may face in my life because I am consciously aware that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). The ONLY way I can learn this is through experience.
God allows challenges in my life to help me learn some very important concepts that will help me develop a deep satisfaction with my life in Him, and that will lead to a strong and abiding contentment in my heart and soul.
Here are three Biblical examples of individuals who learned contentment through adversity:
- Joseph – This young man was hated by his brothers, sold into Egyptian slavery, falsely imprisoned, and forgotten by all except God. Eventually, he became a ruler in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh, and saved his family from famine. Joseph endured great hardships in his life, but through it all, he held on to his faith, trusting God for the outcome. Genesis 50:20 records his words, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Joseph’s life is a picture of contentment in the Lord regardless of the circumstances.
- Ruth – This young Moabite woman had gone through the loss of a husband, a father-in-law, and a brother-in-law. Now, she was facing a future of poverty and rejection from a culture that was an enemy of her homeland when she accompanied Naomi, her mother-in-law back to Israel. Because of her faith and trust in the true God, Ruth demonstrated contentment to go wherever He would lead her when she said to Naomi, “… for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:” (Ruth 1:16). Her contentment resulted in her becoming the great grandmother of David.
- Paul – A few of the experiences that Paul endured included being beaten with rods, stoned, imprisoned, and shipwrecked, still he continued to do God’s will in his missionary journeys. Additionally, Paul stated he had a “thorn in the flesh” that God did not remove despite his praying for deliverance from it. Through all adversities, Paul stated he had learned to be content in all situations (Philippians 4:11). His contentment resulted in the gospel message being shared with the Gentile nations.
Notice that each of these three individuals (as well as others in Scripture) went through difficult times that they were not able to control; they had to rely on God, but that did not stop them from taking action. They didn’t just sit back and take a “whatever” attitude. They never allowed their circumstances to replace or even dampen their faith in God or their service to Him. They may have had moments when they cried out to God in anguish, but they were always accepted His decisions, and they chose to obey and keep going. Through their experiences, they learned to be content, not complacent.
To be content like these Biblical examples, I, too, must have a pro-active faith. I must do what God directs me to do; I must trust Him to do that which I cannot; and I must be willing to allow Him to be holding the reins at all times. Never should I never usurp His position as God for He reminds me, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
The Plan
Here are the four steps of the Biblical formula for contentment.
1) Trust in the Lord – “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” – Psalm 37:3
- Placing my trust in the One who will never make a mistake in guidng me is the first step. Knowing God will always lead me in His paths of righteousness toward what is best for me and to what His will is for me gives me peace and contentment.
- My faith must be actively “doing good” to perpetuate contentment. Passivity only breeds complacency.
2) Delight in the Lord – “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” – Psalm 37:4
- Delighting in God means to take great pleasure in Him! When I immerse myself into my relationship with Jesus, and my will begins to align with His, I find my heart and soul experience unexplainable contentment. The closer I am with God, the greater the contentment.
3) Commit My Plans to the Lord – “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” – Psalm 37:5
- Committing my plans to God means I must partner with Him via prayer and Bible study. I must direct my actions to bring Him glory and honor! I must share my heart with Him and then rely on Him to guide me throug His Word to a successful outcome. Without His involvement in my plans, I will become complacent, satisfied with the world’s view of “whatever”, and miss out on God’s blessings through His interactions with me.
- Whatever I am facing in this life, when I seek God’s will and guidance, dedicating my actions to bringing Him glory (refocusing from me to Him), God will make it happen. He brings to pass my safe navigation through whatever challenge or struggle I am facing. There is no obstacle too great for God to overcome. The key to contentment is letting God make it happen in His time frame.
4) Rest in the Lord – “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” -Psalm 37:7
- This is perhaps the most difficult step of all for me. Resting in God means trusting Him to meet all my needs and surrendering control to Him. It means to trust Him to leadand release all anxiety and worry in that trust.
- Waiting patiently on God is another area of difficulty for me. It is good to remember that longsuffering is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, which means that I need to cultivate it by striving to wait patiently on God to direct me on how to proceed as I face challenges in my life. This is done through His Word and prayer.
The Payoff
Contentment in the Lord doesn’t mean that my life is void of conflict, struggles, or frustrations. It means that despite these things, I am content because I have shifted my focus from me to Him. When I am content in the Lord, I have the following:
- Joy – “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” – 1 Peter 1:8
- Peace – “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” – Isaiah 26:3
- Hope – “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” – Romans 15:13
Have I mastered the art of contentment? Not at all. It is, and will continue to be, a continual learning process for me that will most likely continue until God calls me home. The good news is I am actively learning that “… in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11)
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
(from “It Is Well With My Soul” by Horatio G. Spafford)
“And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” – Isaiah 58:11
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Where’s your focus today? Are you looking inward or upward?