Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am. I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and
live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the
secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry,
having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want. Philippians 4:11-12 (AMP)
I am not saying I need anything. I have learned to be happy with whatever I have. I
know how to get along with little and how to live when I have much. I
have learned the secret of being happy at all times. If I am full of
food and have all I need, I am happy. If I am hungry and need more, I am
happy. Philippians 4:11-12 (NLV)
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the 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. Philippians 4:11-12 (NIV)
The thing about being content is that it's easiest when you have. When you feel like you are in place where you don't want anything, you can happily talk about how content you are. The hardest thing about being content is that it works best when it's heart knowledge. We all know in our heads that we should be content. We are told over and over again, but do you know this in your heart. Heart knowledge is the kind of stuff we truly believe and has an influence on our daily life. These are truths we stand on. Heart knowledge are the lessons that are often the hardest to learn. They aren't learned overnight. These lesson aren't like the simple math problems like adding, they are like complex trig lessons and after a whole semester of class you may still have no clue. Paul experienced this on high level. One minute, he's sailing on a ship to be held prisoner in Rome and the next he is shipwrecked on a strange island, before you know it, the inhabitants of the island are throwing a great party. Learning to be content van be hard, but it's valuable. Those that are content seem to have the most blessings. Being content with what God has given you opens the door to even more blessings. If you are discontent with the things God has given you, why would He give you more? Contentedness is like patience, when you ask for it, God won't give it to you. He'll put in a place and situations that allow you to develop it. This is one of those things I advise that it is something you really want, and are willing to go through the trails to obtain it. Paul put it best when he called it a secret. Not everyone knows it and many never will. You must ask the holder of the great secrets to give it to you. We all need to learn to be happy with what God gave us and understand that whether we are well fed or hungry we have plenty.
