Attitude of Contentment

Attitude of Contentment was the topic of our study last Monday.  We looked at the example of Paul and Silas while in jail in Philippi and how they rejoiced in though they were in chains.  Then, we focused on the words of Paul in the letter to the Philippians, when he says that he has learned to be content in any circumstances.  We concluded that while disappointments and difficulties will often occur in our lives, we can learn how to be content with what we have.  God has promised to be with us forever and to bless us with everything we need.  We can trust God’s promises and we can expect Him to be with us throughout all our lives, if we are seeking Him and trying to follow His word.

These are the notes of our discussion.

March 28, 2011

Attitude of Contentment

Opening question: Have you ever been in a situation when you or someone close to you had experienced a great disappointment, but later on you found out that something even better happened in your life?

No matter how hard we try to achieve our goals, there will be times when we miss our mark, when we experience disappointment and what we fall short of our expectations.  What does the Bible say about these times?

We will look at a couple of examples from the life of Apostle Paul, which will help us to understand what should our attitude be when we are in these situations.

1.         Singing in Jail

In the book of Acts of the Apostles, we read about the activities of the early church, the apostles and the first disciples and how they taught people about Jesus.  Paul, one of the apostles, went on a few missionary journeys to tell people about Jesus.  The story we are going to read about today takes place in Philippi, which was a town in today’s Greece and is found in Acts 16:16:25:

16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.  17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.”  18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.  19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.  20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”  22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.  23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.  24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.  25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

Although Paul and Silas had done nothing wrong, they were beaten and thrown in jail.

How do you feel when something unjust is done to you?  Let’s say you received a mark that you do not think you deserved?  Or you were at the bus stop at the right time, but the bus is early and he leaves without you?  How would you feel if you did something good and you were thrown in jail?

Of course, our initial reaction is disappointment and perhaps anger.  And it is natural to feel that way.  But, the Bible is teaching us to have a greater, better way to deal with such disappointment.  The teaching is that we can trust in God and know that He is with us and is going to take care of us regardless of the circumstances.  It is easy to be happy and cheerful when everything goes well, but the true character of a person is shows by his actions in a time of trouble.

Why were Paul and Silas singing?  What was the source of their contentment?

Jesus has said it clearly just before leaving his apostles that He was not going to abandon them.  He told them in Matthew 28:20: 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

God will always be with as long as we trust in Him and seek Him.  The story of Paul and Silas continues in verses 26-34: Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.  27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.  28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”  29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”  32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.  33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.  34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

While today God does not intervene in a miraculous way, He is always present in our lives and we can see His blessings every day.  He has provided us with good families, good health, jobs, school and many opportunities to do good and to help one another.

2.         Content in Any Circumstances

In the letter to the Philippians, Paul is saying in chapter 4:11: I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  Then, in the next verses, 12-13, he explains the reason why he can be content in any circumstances: 12 I 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. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Why was Paul content no matter what happened to Him?  Who is he referring to when he said “I can do all this through him who gives me strength”?

What had happened in the life of Paul, other than being imprisoned in Philippi?  In 2 Corinthians 11: 24-27, Paul describes some of the most unfortunate moments in his life.  He says: 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.  25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.  27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

If God could help Paul overcome all these disasters in His life, He can help us too in our lives.  Even if we may not go through all these difficulties that Paul experienced, whenever we are in moments of trouble, disappointment, anger, sadness, whatever the circumstances, we know that we can be content and always trust in God.  He will always provide for us what we need.

Conclusions

While disappointments and difficulties will often occur in our lives, we can learn how to be content with what we have.  God has promised to be with us forever and to bless us with everything we need.  We can trust God’s promises and we can expect Him to be with us throughout all our lives, if we are seeking Him and trying to follow His word.

Campus Bible Talk 2011