WHEN I AM CONTENT?
Written by Senior Pastor Ndayiragije- Misigaro Joel, February 10, 2023
“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be happy. Philippians 4:11...
Life has many up and downs, and the nature of man desires to have plenty of time after time. Knowing whether a person or believer is content is complicated and confusing. However, with all indications, let me say a few words here, to be able to say that “if I am content” would be to have to mature in Christ, learning the deep lesson of life, and that contentment does not only apply to having good. Or acquiring materials. Maturity in Christ is to that extent despite your suffering, and wants, that you still have peace of mind and joy that the Lord provides based on His daily mercy. The apostle Paul writes,
What exactly does he mean in saying all of this? It is from spiritual suffering he went through in his life of ministry and private life as well. The apostle Paul puts his contrast into two perspectives: Temporary and eternal.
1. Temporary perspective.
Man's nature craving for acquiring wealth and esteem, carving for honor and recognition here on earth, cannot be ruled out by the apostle Paul’s life. His earlier life explains it all. When young, he learned from the famous school of Gamaliel. A remarkable teacher of Jewish law history. The apostle Paul grew up with all the fames of higher education, yet found himself interposed to the truth of the gospel and became a disciple of Christ. Paul suffered indeed! (Acts 9:16).
The spiritual suffering Paul went through was known by God. And all he had to do was to accept whatever the case was in his life. But take note that the apostle Paul was not told what that suffering was to be like.
The apostle Paul had to depend on the grace that was sufficient for him in all his sufferings. Whether we look at sufficiency as insufficient or adequate for convincing anyone to trust in the Lord is a problem. All that was there to depend upon is what God could do for any believer’s heart to change and be in contrition of what is right. This is what the psalmist calls “the heart desire” and those who accept what the psalmist says in (Psalm 37:16, 31) are to incline in the right things. God can cause the heart of anyone to derive from the right things.
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal,” 2 Corinthians 4:18
2. Eternal perspective.
The apostle had nothing to lose after understanding his call and the suffering that he went through; His hope and trust made him depend on Christ and the reward that is there to gain after this life. Let us look at those benefits as scripture says. “…but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18
It is in the changing of heart that one can be able to look far deeper into life. Looking into eternity with anticipation of the beauty of life hereafter. The distinctive way would be to have the attitudes, desires, and experiences of eternity. Having life without striving, with no toiling. No need for light, for Christ, is all-sufficient now and in the life after. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out for death into life.” John 5:24
Everlasting perspective is in the way of us as divine beings. We must embrace it and celebrate life after to encompass what Paul says in “in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago.” Titus 1:2
The word of God, as recorded in the Bible, is there to help us understand better and be wise enough to have that conscious awareness of eternity in everything we do most of the time. The word provides all that we need for our salvation and has the compelling power that is there to make us know that God can see us in our past, present situations, and surely even our future. Are we eternal conscious beings? If yes, all our decisions should convey to us that we are eternal beings, who are here on earth as a passer-by. “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13
When the concerns of a believer or any other person begin to shift and be sensitive for eternity; yes, the life of such a person needs to be more interested not in earthly things, but rather heavenly things will be what preoccupy his mindset and heart. “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep his life eternal” John 12:25
To have an abiding life is what Jesus teaches, despite the knowledge that man can have, the qualifications and achievement, and development in all aspects. Without Jesus Christ, it is all vain glory. But to have eternal life. You need Jesus Christ.
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;” John 5:39
The Apostle Paul after understanding that there is life in Jesus Christ wasted not his time on earthly matters, but eternity was his concern. “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” 1 John 5:11 We can have the same dependence on God since He is the only one to give life and in abundance for that matter.
