Finding the Secret

Paul talks about the secret of contentment - the hidden treasure unseen by a casual observer.  Contentment is never found in the places we think, it does not fall into our laps with a certain level of education, financial freedom or status.  The secret source of contentment is divinely rooted.

The cornerstone of contentment is the Cross.  Remember what was done for you on the Cross.  It is there where friendship with God is restored.  The Cross is where freedom from the slavery of sin begins.  Because of the Cross, our salvation is assured.  Our future in  heaven is guaranteed.  Isn't this enough?  What else really matters?  God has already taken care of the big things!

The secret of contentment is also found in the act of letting go of the past.  We will never find this hidden treasure by hanging onto past hurts, abuses, failures and mistakes of ourselves or others.  There is a difference, obviously, between forgetting the past and ignoring it.  God doesn't ask us to ignore what has happened, but process through it.  Go through the act of forgiveness.  True forgiveness requires we see the wrongs clearly, articulate them, release them to God and then walk away from them.  It might take time and assistance but without it we can never live with a contented heart.

Learn to live one day at a time.  Wait right here for God.  Don't allow envy to distract you by what tomorrow might bring or to lose focus by looking at things and others.  Look for God today, live each day in his glory and in the beauty of the relationship with him.  Everything else pales in comparison.

Finally, find sufficiency in Christ Jesus.  In the context of the New Testament, "contentment" means being at peace with Christ's sufficiency.  With Christ, all things are possible.  While our human determination and toughness can help in some ways, it's only through Christ's supernatural power and strength that will allow us to live with a contented spirit in a discontented world filled with envy.  In the final analysis, contentment lies not in what is ours but in whose we are.  True contentment is impossible apart from the supernatural work of Christ in our lives!