Contentment doesn’t come easy. Our desires and human nature are rarely satisfied. Advertisers know this all too well. Chip companies, in particular, understand that one serving size is never enough to still our craving and make their pitch accordingly. Pringles brilliantly pointed out our desire for more with their popular ad slogan, “Once you pop, you can’t stop!” Similarly, Doritos concluded their commercials by inviting us to, “Crunch all you want. We’ll make more!” It is clear that we are rarely satisfied and constantly want more.

Surely, struggling to stay within one serving size when it comes to chips, ice cream, or donuts is one thing. Struggling to find contentment in the ebb and flow of life, however, is another thing altogether! Throughout the ever changing chapters of our lives we experience times of bounty and times of lack. Yet, regardless of our circumstances, we struggle to find fulfillment. Clearly, contentment is rarely connected to how much or how little we possess. Those with very little can be highly fulfilled, while those with great riches can be extremely discontent. Then, what is it that can make both, those who have and those who want, find satisfaction and contentment? In Paul’s concluding comments in his letter to the Philippians, the apostle brings two key ingredients to the quest of contentment: gratitude and a desire to esteem Christ. In Philippians 4:10-13, the apostle uses these two ingredients to bookend his growth in contentment. He writes:

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Let’s examine the influence these two ingredients have in our search for true contentment. Why is gratitude a foundational building block to contentment? And why is our union with Christ the secret to growing in contentment?

Let’s begin with gratitude. Thankfulness stabilizes our ever fickle and ever dissatisfied heart, because it reminds us of all we have that we did not earn and do not deserve. The New Testament reminds us that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17, NIV). Nothing that we have wasn’t first given to us by our kind and generous Heavenly Father, who does all things for our good and for His glory (Rom 8:28-30). God “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Eph 1:3) - these include being chosen before the foundation of the world, adopted to Himself through Jesus Christ, forgiven of our sins, lavished with the riches of His grace, and promised a certain hope that is guaranteed by the Holy Spirit. These are just a sampling of the BIG things that are ours. They are realities that change our lives and destinies forever! But there is more. Consider the common grace that extends to all people. Every day these simple, small gifts go unnoticed unless we intentionally consider them as God’s tender mercies - the radiance of a sunrise, the unexpected visit from a friend, the laughter of a child, the taste of delicious food, the harmony of a familiar melody, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee. While these gifts seem small, they are powerful reminders of how God’s blessings extend to our daily needs and overall joy. But gratitude and generosity aren’t limited to our Heavenly Father, but also to our spiritual family. God often uses human channels like our church family to meet our needs. Through giving and receiving, the embers of contentment begin to glow. We learn to humbly accept the generosity of others and joyfully share our means with others. In his wonderful book, Transforming Grace, Jerry Bridges makes this astute observation regarding the connection between gratitude and contentment:

Gratitude is a handmaiden of contentment. An ever-growing attitude of gratitude will certainly make us more content since we will be focusing more on what we do have, both spiritually and materially, than on what we do not have. But contentment is more than focusing on what we have.  It is focusing on the fact that all we do have; we have by the grace of God.  We do not deserve anything we have, materially or spiritually. It is all by His grace.

How amazing is God's grace?! If we embrace this grateful posture, we position ourselves to seek after contentment and grow in its pursuit. This is where we discover our second key ingredient in our search for contentment, because there is a shift in perspective. Twice in this short passage, Paul indicates that he has “learned” the secret of contentment. What is the “secret”? According to Paul, the secret is found in shifting our perspective from our ever-changing circumstances to our never-changing Savior. Speaking from personal experience, the apostle indicates that he was educated through the school of life. Whether Paul had abundance or need, he learned to be content. The secret was determining that he could pass the school of need and the school of plenty with the help of the perfect example, Jesus Christ. “I can do all [these] things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13, NKJV).

“Thank you!” and “Gimme more!” should constantly be on our lips. If we lack contentment may it always be because we desire to treasure our Savior more. “Give me more of Jesus!” So, what are you grateful for? I would suggest you begin and end each day by considering one thing that you are grateful for. Write it down and begin to form a list. Include the big and glorious spiritual realities, as well as the small and often overlooked gifts. You’ll be surprised at how richly blessed you truly are! 

Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV) - “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”