by As a child, addition is fairly simple. Grow a little older and multiplication facts are thrown daily at each youngster. Over and over, one is told “Memorize, quote, and learn those multiplication tables.” Division gets a bit tougher. Algebra is down-right hard. Calculus – forget it for most people. Only those with analytical brains can comprehend calculus.
Growing up, each of us learn grammar rules, science principles, hypotheses, history facts, formulas, and the list goes on and on of the things teachers try to cram into the moldable minds of each adolescent.
We each graduate high school and feel as if we have accomplished something colossal. However, a high-school education does not get one too far in life; so some people go onto college. Some adults are privileged to obtain a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, or the almost unattainable Doctorate degree. Wow! Now these adults most certainly have accomplished much in life and surely they are qualified to succeed at anything.
However, the people I have met in life that are the most successful in their careers are those who regardless of what college degree they have – or do not have – they are still learning new things in their area of expertise. They go to new classes and lectures. They stay on top of the latest advancements in their field, so they can succeed as new modern changes improve things in their area of knowledge.
Whether one has a big, fancy college degree or not, we are all constantly learning new things every day. For example, buy a new appliance and read the operators manual. Buy a piece of furniture and chances are the buyer will have to assemble it. New things pass through our brains every day. Ever feel in brain overload? I do!
Just a minute now – there is still one thing we must learn. Contentment! Yes, it is something that must be learned. “Aurgh!” I said when I read this verse. “Not something else to learn.” “I am getting too old to learn new things.”
Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
If Paul had to learn to be content, then I must learn this wonderful trait as well. I do believe, most people never fully learn contentment. Myself included in this. I think it is something we will always be working on. Like learning new advances in one’s field of expertise. If one is trying to be obedient to God’s Word, then one will be open to learning new things in the area of being a Christian. With the Lord’s help, we can learn it. We can learn contentment. Prayerfully, we can stand before the Lord someday and quote what Paul said, “for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
As I pondered this further, I thought about how a great doctor is always learning new things in his area of knowledge. He might have to practice a new surgery procedure, take new lectures, learn how to use new tools, etc. We as Christians will go through many trials to keep learning contentment. Many of us are going through health issues, financial issues, family issues, etc. All these trials are helping to teach us contentment along with whatever else God is trying to teach each one of us.
But we cannot give up. We cannot quit school. We must keep learning what God is trying to teach us. We need to press towards the mark of being content. But do not worry if one feels as if he/she has failed in this area; truthfully, I think we all have failed in this area at some time in life. As the old saying goes, dust one’s self off, and move forward. Move towards the “mark for the prize of the high calling.”
Philippians 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
One extra thing to keep in mind, we all learn at different paces. So no matter what pace one learns at, one can learn contentment. With God’s help, we can all “get it” and learn to be content. So, no worries, if one has not learned contentment yet, forget it, move forward and work on learning contentment today!
Philippians 3:13 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,”
We can all learn contentment because:
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
