Being Contented
by Pastor Marty Ocaya
'I want a Nokia Lumia phone!'
'She's got a dress from Forever21, I want one!'
'I want to be as handsome as Kuya Daniel (nyahahaha)!'
I want this. I want that.
I WANT EVERYTHING!
Sounds familiar?
For more than once in our lives, we have used the phrase 'I want...' in various situations. Sometimes, we have this tendency to desire material or emotional matters that we feel we lack.
Heard about the Kulang Mentality?
Basically, the Kulang Mentality occurs when we base our contentment on what others have. For example, our parents bought us a new Iphone 4 for our birthday and we our giddy with joy. It's an IPhone 4! The must-have of the century. So you go to school, excited to show your friends your new phone. But when you enter the room, your winning smile vanishes when you see that one of your classmates apparently also has a new IPhone and what's worse is it's an IPhone 4S. Much better than yours :(
Or let's say that you come to JZone excited to see your crush (ehem, ehem). Beforehand, you had a haircut and you're pretty sure that your crush will notice you and your new hair. But when you arrive, you see your crush with ANOTHER GUY (Yikes!) and they're attending together. Your heart breaks when you see them sit beside each other and even jump and down in the mosh pit together.
And you're like
'COME ON! Why can't I have that?'
Discontentment develops inside of us.
We realize that we lack something. When we see others possess something that we don't, we become unsatisfied with what we already have, thinking that it's not enough. Jealousy and insecurity arises and sooner or later, the Bad Vibes take control of us, causing us to be moody most of the time.
If there was anyone who deserved the chance to complain or grumble for lacking so many, it would be the Apostle Paul.
When Paul wrote the book of Philippians, he was currently imprisoned. The majority of his life dedicated to ministering in the name of the Lord was not exactly a walk in the park. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-25, we learn the Paul was beaten 5 times with 39 lashes, beaten with rods thrice, stoned, shipwrecked thrice and spent a night in the open sea.
Talk about mega discouragement!
Other minsters did not experienced what he went through and he had every right to compare himself to them. Yet despite everything, Paul was in Good Vibes- ALL THE TIME.
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.
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If there was anyone who deserved the chance to complain or grumble for lacking so many, it would be the Apostle Paul.
When Paul wrote the book of Philippians, he was currently imprisoned. The majority of his life dedicated to ministering in the name of the Lord was not exactly a walk in the park. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-25, we learn the Paul was beaten 5 times with 39 lashes, beaten with rods thrice, stoned, shipwrecked thrice and spent a night in the open sea.
Talk about mega discouragement!
Other minsters did not experienced what he went through and he had every right to compare himself to them. Yet despite everything, Paul was in Good Vibes- ALL THE TIME.
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.
Philippians 4:12
Because we keep comparing ourselves and believing that we lack something, we tend to forget the simple yet valuable things God gave us. The mere fact that there's food on the table is something to be thankful because let's face it, there are others who only feed themselves with salt.
Our insecurity often leads to us worrying of not having enough. When we worry, we become discouraged, losing all hope and when we become discouraged, we will eventually become bitter! MEGA BAD VIBES!
This world will keep on making things that will lead to our discontent. There will always be another IPhone version in the coming years. A new fashion trend will eventually die out. The latest trends will always come to an end and we will merely exhaust ourselves if we try to keep up. People will also change. They will like you at first and end up disliking you in the end.
Instead of keeping up with all of this, we should follow what Paul said:
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
Philippians 4:11
"Kahit anong situation ng life ko, GV ako!"
We should learn to be content, no matter what the circumstance is. Hard yes, but we should learn this.
We musn't depend on people because if we do, we will find ourselves deeply disappointed and hurt. Don't look at people, instead, trust God because He will never fail you.
Perspective determines our attitude. Our viewpoint affects the way we respond to situations. For example, instead of thinking that we're such losers because we don't possess an Iphone 4s and only an Iphone, let's think that we should be thankful because let's face it, it's still a phone that we can use to call or entertain ourselves. Never think that you're without, always think that you're supplied!
Paul had a different perspective in life. He was not focused on the latest trends of the world. Nope. He was focused on Something that mattered the most. Paul contented himself in the love of God and despite everything that happened to him because of his ministry, he still has the energy to write:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord.
God gives us what we need. We sometimes take it for granted though.
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
Want to find out the secret to true satisfaction?
The apostle Paul wrote it down for us.
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13
God is our great provider and He is always there for us. He know what we need and what we want. He provides them according to His will and His time. All we have to do is to have faith in His power and He is the source of our satisfaction.
We do not lack when we have Christ. We have more than enough.
When he was 18 years old, Scott Rigsby and his friends rode at the back of a pick-up truck after a hard day of working as landscapers. They were basically chatting away about the future and girls when a passing 18- wheeler hit their truck, throwing him underneath a 3-ton attached trailer and dragging him 300 feet.
The accident caused Scott to suffer third degree burns in his back and both legs amputated because they could no longer be saved. He endured years of doctor visits, surgeries, medications, fear and depression because of this unfortunate event. He had no steady future and life as he knew it, was over.
It was on 2005 that his life made a full turn. It was when he met Jesus.
Getting back on track was no easy task but he held on to God, contenting himself with the promise that God will always be there for Him. He was eventually given prosthetic legs he can utilize in triathlons and races that seemed impossible for him to compete before.
By the grace of God, Scott eventually completed 13 triathlons and 5 road races, a feat that he never thought he could complete.
He says this of his experience:
"I want to place my ordinary life in the hands of an extraordinary God so that He can do extraordinary things."
Contentment can never be found in the things of this world. Instead, believe that God knows what's best for you. If you have the joy of Jesus inside, you'll find yourself never looking for more because you already have enough.
Jesus is more than enough for us.
HAVE A GV-FILLED WEEK!
thankyou Ash :*
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