Contentment

In this week's "Tuesday Tune-up", I talked about the subject of contentment... A very elusive state of mind for most of us. I hope that you will take a little time this week and consider the questions below! I'd love to hear some of your answers and your feedback! Let me hear from you! Email me here. 

The Apostle, Paul explains the path to contentment in Philippians 4:11 (NIV), “…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” God did not zap Paul, and suddenly the man emitted dazzling rays of contentment. Paul struggled through the ups and downs of his walk with God. As his heart drew closer to God Paul’s life goals and his desires changed. Recall his mission statement from Philippians 1:21 (NIV), “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Only when Jesus became Paul’s one thing could the apostle live above his circumstances and model contentment.
We learn new things by investing time in study and practice. We read and research. We capture notes and review. We ask questions of those more knowledgeable on the subject. We discuss our findings with others seeking the same knowledge. Our goal of contentment demands penetrating personal evaluation.
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• What is biblical contentment? How will I recognize it?
  
  
• Which areas of my life reflect contentment today and which languish in the turbid waters of discontentment?
  
  
• What Scripture passages should I memorize to fill my mind with the right stuff as Paul urges in Philippians 4:8?
  
  
• How should I pray to foster contentment in my life?
  
  
• What anti-contentment influences do I need to drop from my daily routine?
  
  
• What do I own that I am not willing to leave behind for Christ?
  
  
• Do I know any contented believers? Might I ask how they do it and learn from their struggle? 
  
  
• Who can be my accountability partner in the quest?
  
  

Choosing contentment carries a price. Are we willing to pay? Erskine Mason (1805-1851), a Presbyterian minister, wrote, “They that deserve nothing should be content with anything…”
That’s something for sinners saved by grace to think about, isn’t it?