"I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (NKJV)
Social media seems replete everyday with beautiful pictures and posters encouraging people how to be happy in their circumstances. I often hear from parents how they want their children to be happy. Commercial advertisements are focused on the idea that if we buy their product, those products will make us happy. The saying goes, "Money won’t buy happiness" (but many try to make it so.) There’s even a song about being happy.
Happy. Happy. Happy.
But are we content?
Even in our happiness, are we content? Are we perhaps chasing after the wrong thing?
I’ve lived through a number of cultural shifts in America. I grew up with conservative Southern parents who held onto their middle class 1950's values of a comfortable home, two weeks of vacation every year, and retirement at 65. I lived through the upheaval of values and the beginning of the sexual revolution of the 1960's and 70's. I’ve continued to experience all that has come since: cultural diversity, economic turmoil, and discontent with how things are. And now, as we approach the 20's (in the 21st century), we have become a country that has expanded its vision to include the world, a culture that has become increasingly diverse, and an economy that can no longer be counted on to provide for us throughout our entire life. Yet, we own more stuff than ever, have more access to entertainment and recreation, and seem, well, even more unhappy than we were in the middle of the 1900's. Many people long for the "good ole days" (which I’m not convinced were actually that good, but whatever).
We have more and still isn’t enough. We have the ability to be happier, but we aren’t. It seems like the more knowledge we gain, the more freedom we grasp, the more stuff we own just isn’t enough to make us happy.
Maybe, just maybe, happiness shouldn’t be our goal. Maybe we’re searching for the wrong thing.
Paul talks about being content. That word, in the Greek, is autarkes (Strong’s G842) and means "independent of external circumstances, contented with one’s lot, with one’s means, though the slenderest." The English word content has to do with being satisfied. Basically, it means "satisfied independent of external circumstances."
But what is life without our circumstances? Most of us certainly aren’t satisfied with ourselves. We would like to be healthier, wiser, more successful, more loving, more . . . well, whatever! So, if it’s not about ourselves, what’s it about?
It’s about God. Are we satisfied with just having God in our lives? Is His love enough? If we were to lose everything else (which we will in death), is His love enough? And if it is, then, well, we have that now! We are promised to always have His love in this very moment.
"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39 NKJV).
For I am persuaded . . . convinced to the point that I can yield completely to this truth . . . that nothing shall be able to separate me from the love of God. As I began to meditate on this the other day, as the Holy Spirit began to pour this truth into me, God spoke in that gentle voice that He often uses. He said, "Robin, is my love enough for you? Do you have to have anything else? If you have My love, is there anything else you could possibly need or want?" What an eye opener that moment was. It was one of life’s a ha moments for me. And as I pondered over this amazing thought, I knew what my response to Him had to be: Yes, Lord, Your love is enough!
And so, since that day, every day since, as I walk through circumstances that I cannot control, situations that either bless or pain me, I am learning to say, "Lord, I am content because I have You. Your love is indeed enough." We aren’t called to just stoically "be content" nor to accept what happens to us as if there’s nothing we can do. What we are called to do, as believers, is to grasp the hand of our loving Father and to be completely satisfied with His presence, His blessings, His plan, and His love.
Yes, Lord, Your love is definitely enough!
© 2016 Robin L. O’Hare. All rights reserved. Permission granted for nonprofit and church groups to use this article in its entirety (including this notice). For other uses, please contact servinggodalone@yahoo.com.
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