Philippians 4:12 (CSB)
I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.
Have you ever wanted something so bad that it consumed your every waking thought? Wants and desires drive our culture in the physical, mental, emotional, and material realms. Paul’s words to the Philippians resonate with a truth that is countercultural and counterintuitive: "I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot… I have learned the secret of being content…" This isn't about self-help or finding the perfect balance; it's about discovering a mystery that Paul who was chained in a prison cell could proclaim with confidence—the mystery of Kingdom contentment.
Kingdom contentment is not found in this world. When I say "Kingdom contentment," I'm referring to the Kingdom of God, where Jesus reigns and rules. This gospel-driven contentment finds its fullness in Jesus, which is so natural and deep that our circumstances can't shake it.
Kingdom Contentment Finds Joy Regardless of Resources
"For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21, CSB)
When it comes to Kingdom contentment, our joy, our life, our everything is tied up in Jesus. It's not anchored to anything in this world. If you're living for the next upgrade, pay raise, or big thing, you're missing the point of Kingdom living. Contentment means that Jesus is our life and everything else is just details.
Kingdom Contentment Is Found in Surrender
"I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13, CSB)
When the circumstances of this life come crashing over you, remember that true strength finds itself in complete surrender to Christ. Contentment isn't about mustering up more willpower; it's the raw admission of our inability, coupled with a firm reliance on Jesus's strength. It's the understanding that our limitations are a starting point for God's power to work in and through our lives.
Kingdom Contentment Endures with Patience
"But endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope." (Romans 5:4, CSB)
What does Kingdom contentment do in affliction? It endures. We don't endure like those without hope; we maintain a perspective of the cross and an empty tomb at the forefront of our minds. From a Kingdom perspective, affliction is momentary, and it is a tool in the hands of God that is producing in us an eternal weight of glory. Contentment is not passive; it is God-fueled endurance laced with expectant hope.
So here is the deal: contentment is countercultural. It is revolutionary. However, it is one of the most tangible ways to know we're experiencing the Kingdom of God. And please, understand this: it's a fight. But it is a good fight, and it is a necessary fight. It is a fight to press on when everything inside you says stop, quit, give up. It's the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit working through you, changing your desires to align with the Kingdom of God. Kingdom contentment is about dying to yourself and your desires, finding that Jesus is more than enough in every circumstance.