“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know both 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. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.”
Philippians 4:10-13 CSB

Contentment from the world’s system seems to come with a boutique price tag. From the window, it looks comfortable and appealing. From the dressing room, it is ominous and ill fitting. Costing more than we can pay, it requires us to continue to go back for more because, well, it is never quite enough. The latest fashion, the newest technology, the fastest car, the perfect significant other, all of these seem to change on a regular basis. Elusive contentment leaves us always looking for more or different.

Oh, but Paul! Paul says that he found the secret to contentment. Of all people, Paul should know what it means to have abundance or to be in need, after all he was on the Pharisee fast track to high priest only to end up in prison garb and chains because of the Gospel of Christ. This secret to contentment was found in the person of Christ alone, not in any accomplishment or material possession. It was in Christ he found his strength to persevere. Christ was enough for Paul.

“I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me,” is a popular t-shirt print, slogan for our Bible cover, lock screen for our phones, image for our Facebook or Instagram accounts, but do we believe it? Doing all things through Christ who gives me strength is difficult if you’ve not found Him to be enough for you in all things. We want the comfort of being eternally secure without the conviction of Christ being enough for us. If we are experiencing discontentment in any area of our lives, we must examine our hearts and lives, asking ourselves, “Is Christ enough in _______________?”

There are no areas of our lives that can remain hidden from Christ as Lord. Every area must be exposed. My house is lived in daily. Often times company doesn’t have the privilege of seeing laundry baskets in the living room or dishes in the kitchen sink. Only on rare occasions does company get to wander into the master bedroom and bath. That area of my home is for a limited few. Aren’t our lives lived in a similar way? We prefer for things to be just so when others are around. A little mess here and there is okay, just means we’re human. Yet to let people into the most intimate areas of our lives is scary, so we tend to bar the door. Even though The Creator God who formed us in our mother’s wombs and knows even the number of hairs on our heads, desires to be allowed into the most sacred places in our lives, we tend try to keep Him in the most public areas of our lives. He is enough for me at church, at Bible study, or at camp. But I want to control things in my career, my relationships, and my decision making. Contentment is never a place or thing that can be found apart from Christ.

Questions for Reflection

• Is Christ enough for you in ALL areas in your life?
• Where have you barred the door for contentment? For Christ?

Jesus, thank you for being enough for me in all areas of my life. For being The One who knows me inside and out even when it is uncomfortable for me. Amen.