Contentment

1  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11–13

How content are you? In today's fast-paced world, contentment is often unreachable. Our society and culture constantly push us to strive for more, to accomplish more important things, and to attain higher status. Yet, the Bible teaches us a different lesson: true contentment comes from our relationship with God. Philippians 4:11-13 and Psalm 23:1 invite us to discover the secret of contentment through our faith in Jesus Christ and trust in the Lord as our Shepherd.

The Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians while imprisoned. He writes about his journey toward contentment. He shares that he has experienced abundance and need, and through it all, he has learned the secret to being content in any situation, including prison. That secret lies in the strength given to him by Jesus Christ. Likewise, Psalm 23:1 reminds us that when we trust in the Lord as our Shepherd, we lack nothing.

Dear Church, we must recognize that our contentment does not come from our material possessions, relationships, or achievements. Instead, it is found in our intimate relationship with God, who provides for all our needs and guides us through the ups and downs of life.

As we turn our focus toward God during this Lenten season, let us trust in His strength and provision and find true peace and satisfaction in any circumstance. May we take to heart the lessons from today's text and learn to rest in the loving arms of our Shepherd, who provides all we need.