Satisfaction guaranteed?

¹⁰I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²I 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. ¹³I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:10-13

A few years ago, I felt God telling me to give up my job, go to the city (London) and serve the local church. A few weeks later, I found myself ‘in between jobs’ with a bank balance of about 50p. I was struggling to pay the rent, living of Tesco Value chocolate chip cookies and watching Spongebob most of the day. Things weren’t looking peachy, but I distinctly remember telling one of my friends that I had an overwhelming sense of peace.

In the verses above, Paul mentions that he’s found himself in all kinds of situations. He’s been to Mr Wu’s ‘eat as much as you can’ and he’s been on a few unavoidable fasts. He makes the point clearly, though, that he has learned to be content in all of these situations.

To be content is to be satisfied. Contentment is the first sip of warm, freshly brewed coffee in the early hours of a cold December morning. Contentment is peace.

When Paul says that he’s learned to be content during the tough times, he actually means it! He isn’t saying that he managed to pull through with a superficial smile on his face. He isn’t saying that he whimpered ‘fine’ to everyone’s ‘how are you?’. He’s saying quite the opposite. He’s saying that he had an overwhelming sense of peace, which defied his circumstances. He’s saying that it really made no difference to him whether he was in need or had plenty.

Fortunately for us, Paul reveals the secret of his contentment. He says that he’s able to do everything through Jesus who strengthens him. His point is this: Jesus is the one who gives us everything we need. He gives us contentment. He gives us peace. He satisfies us.

Does Jesus satisfy you? Are you looking to Him to satisfy you? Or are you looking to your circumstances? Against its best efforts, the world screams that ‘things’ will never satisfy. You’ll always need that new couch or another pair of shoes.

It’s a few years later and my life looks radically different. God has added to me so much more than I could have ever imagined. Most days, I thank Him for blessing me so abundantly, but I can never allow His blessings to become the source of my contentment. He is the source of my contentment. Jesus is the source of my contentment.

Jesus is the source of your contentment.

- posted by Greg Albrecht, Stratford Congregation

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