30-something : Secret Sauce... The Secret of Contentment (my verison)

From mid-May to mid-June 2013, my church did a sermon series called “Secret Sauce… The Secret to Contentment”.  As the name implies, the sermon series was about how to be content and was also a walk-through Philippians, about Paul being in prison writing to the saints in Philippi.  In a nutshell, Paul has learned during his travels and while he was in jail to be content in all circumstances.

How does my story relate to a guy in jail?  How does anybody’s story relate to a guy in jail?

Many of us have related to Paul in many of his other journeys as written in the New Testament.  Have you been legalistic?  Paul has been the most zealous, legalistic Jew you have ever seen.  Have you never had faith?  Paul didn’t have faith until he was knocked blind for three days.  Have you starved?  Paul has.  Have you been broke?  I’m sure Paul has been broke many times.  And have you been broken?  Please say yes.  Paul probably has been broken many times too.

And what about being unmarried?  Although it is not known if Paul was married, or have been married, or was unmarried, he wrote to the church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 7 concerning these things –

³² I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. ³³ But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— ³⁴ and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. ³⁵ I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

Paul writes to Corinth, which was a pretty messed up society in all areas, especially in the area of marriage and issues with worshipping other gods dealing with fertility and the likes.  You get the picture, I hope.  And of course, there are always disputes amongst the followers.  Such as this, to be married, to be unmarried, what should you do if you’re engaged, etc.  But Paul makes it clear: If you are not married, you are concern about the Lord’s affair.  But if you are married, your interests may be divided.

This chapter does go into marriage.  If you are so burning with passion, get married.  If you are engaged, get married.  If you are married, stay married.  But as long as you’re unmarried, live for the Lord.  But that’s not to say that if you are married you cannot be devoted to the Lord.  I know many married Christians who are just as devoted as before they got married.

I believed we’ve all been there: unmarried and we seek to be understood.

But here’s a question: Does it matter if someone, in the earthly sense, understands me?  Probably not.  Ask yourself, “Who gives a crap about me?”  Almost that question, right there, should speak of discontent in your heart.  “Poor me, nobody loves me!”

However, what I’ve learned is this: God understands me and He graciously loves me like crazy.  It’s not so much, from my personally journey, to be understood by anyone.  Like I said, “Who gives a crap?!” 

But God understands.  That’s why He sent us Jesus to save us from our sins and also Paul to write all that he did about legalism vs. faith, starvation, being broke, being broken, and especially being unmarried.

It is part of this journey of life to understand God, who He is, and how He has made me.  God has made you the way you are.  God has made me the way I am.  Through this madness of life, He made me go through this journey I’m going through to have faith and understand Him.  It has taken me quite a while to be at this point in life, to be confident, and acknowledged in mind and heart, that He has fearfully and wonderfully made me (Psalm 139).

Of course, this is only a sliver of my thoughts.  I'm sure there are tons more experiences which I can share about the graciously and generosities of God.

Ultimately, I've learned to be content in all circumstances, whether you are unmarried, married, and dealing with stuff in life. 

When I first read this many years ago as a young Christian, I felt at the time I understood what it meant. However, as time goes on, God has shown me time and time again of how to be content in so many areas of my life.

Philippians 4:

¹¹ 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. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.