And are you waiting to enjoy life?

Today's Scripture gives us an incredible key to enjoying life!

"Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength."

Philippians 4:11-13 NLT

Paul takes a north pole south pole approach to this magical word "contentment"! He says he has learned to live on both poles. This teaches us something very important about ourselves. We often believe that the more we have the more content we will be. He is saying you have to learn contentment on both sides of the equation! Contentment is not found in what we have or don't have, it is a learned state of heart and mind that is, for the Christian, based on Christ as our sufficiency! In verse 13 he says;

"For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength".

This is often much misunderstood. This statement is saying whether I have plenty or whether I have a little, my sufficiency is always through Christ. He is where my strength comes! Those with little may pride themselves as being more spiritual than earthly minded, or feel shame simply because they do not have much. Those with much may feel great guilt or pride because of all they have. He is telling us you need to learn contentment on both of those poles.

The key to contentment is to never make them your sufficiency and that is what verse 13 teaches us! It is pride, shame and guilt that rob us of the joy of life. He is saying that contentment is the key, based on Christ as our sufficiency!