The prudent lover considereth not the gift of the lover so much as the love of the giver. He looketh for affection more than the value, and setteth all gifts lower than the Beloved. The noble lover resteth not in the gift, but in Me above every gift.
(The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A. Kempis, The First Book, page 59)
The quote has stayed in my thoughts, weaving its way deeper. Each time I return to read it, I ponder the questions:
- What does true contentment look like?
- Do I truly believe that no matter what life may bring my way, I can truly be content?
Contentment can be defined as being satisfied. It is an ease of mind (according to dictionary.com). Contentment is displayed when we are feeling, or showing, satisfaction with our current possessions, status, or situation.
Contentment means there is no striving to gain yet more.
Contentment does not come from the accumulation of possessions. We can gain, buy, collect, and upgrade without experiencing any sense of satisfaction at all. Paul tells us in Philippians 4, he was content when he had little or much, a full or an empty stomach (verse 12) for he had learned to be content with whatever he had.
Paul had found a way to be content with possessing life’s necessities. Necessities may vary from culture to culture, but withing our own framework, we can come to the realization of having enough.
And this is where Paul and my friend (Tom, above) intersect.
Contentment can be learned as Paul states, “for I have learned to be content with whatever I have” (verses 11).
He also stated …
“I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” (Philippians 4:12, NLT)
Paul had found a way to be content with “enough” and enough was whatever he had in that moment. Each day became sufficient in and of itself.
So what is the secret?
In his book Hearing God, Dallas Willard brought it all together for me:
Our contentment lies not in his presents but in the presence of the One whose presents they are.
(from Hearing God by Dallas Willard, page 60)
We must esteem God’s love for us more than we esteem the gifts He gives to us during our days. It is in God alone, His Presence in my life, that we must be content.
The Secret of Contentment.
Jesus = Everything.
Today I am joining … Testimony Tuesday and Unite and #RaRaLinkup and Tea and Word .
No wonder Paul followed that verse on contentment with his stunning proclamation that he could do all things through Christ. We certainly need His eyes to view our lives through a lens of contentment!
Truly. Our contentment lies in the One.
Thank you for your words today. ♥
Needed this today. Thanks, Joanne.
I like this! If we truly believe He loves us and wants what is best for us, we should be able to be content in what He has provided. If it is good, He loves me, and if it is hard, He knows I need it.
Getting that deep in our spirits is the challenge!
Jerralea, it all comes down to one question doesn’t it ….. Will we believe?
Thank you for boiling it all down!
I remember a lesson learned in contentment many years ago. We were between pastorates and homes and we had moved into temporary housing. My downsized kitchen had one small drawer… in the WHOLE tiny kitchen. I found myself repeating again and again… “Lord, thank you for my one kitchen drawer.” For the three months we lived there I learned a lot about myself and my own value in possessions, money and what it means to be content. After those 3 months we moved into a parsonage at our new church and the kitchen in that house was almost as big as that whole apartment. I remember saying to myself… like Paul… “I have learned what it is to be content… with one small kitchen drawer… and with many drawers and many cupboards.” It was a good lesson for me and every time I remember that scripture I think of that lesson from my life and what God taught me those many years ago.
Thank you for the encouragement! (Stopping by from “Testimony Tuesday”)
Rachel, thank you so much for sharing your experience! It is so true. When we appreciate the one, our hearts will be filled with gratitude for the provision of all He may give. Beautiful testimony!
Great post Joanne! Paul learned how to find contentment in whatever his situation was. I’m hoping to learn too. If God is with me, I can be content in the good and the bad.
Blessings!
#TeaandWord
We must esteem God’s love for us more than we esteem the gifts He gives to us during our days. – Amen. Contentment is peace-full too!
Meghan, yes!!! Contentment is peace-full. So very true. Contentment brings an end to striving and wrestling. So glad you shared!