Blaise Pascal, the famous French philosopher and mathematician, noted that human beings are creatures of deep paradox: we adapt to both deep misery and immense greatness, often at the same time. All we have to do is look at the headlines to see if that’s the case How many times have celebrities who have done good through philanthropy been e wrapped up in scandals?
Human greatness lies, in part, in our ability to contemplate ourselves, to reflect on our origins, our destiny and our place in the universe; however, such contemplation has an inconvenience, and is its potential to cause us pain. we feel unhappy when we think of a better life that we now enjoy and recognize that we cannot achieve it. We can think of a life without illness or pain, but we know that physical agony and death are true. they know that a richer life is possible, but they are frustrated when that wealth is inaccessible. Sick or healthy, poor or rich, successful or failed? We can all get irritated when a better life stays out of reach.
Scripture prescribes only one remedy for this frustration: contentment.
Biblical contentment is a spiritual virtue that we find illustrated by the Apostle Paul. He says, for example, “Did I learn to live happily in all situations?(Philippians 4:11). No matter how healthy you were, how rich or successful Paul thought it was possible to settle for his life.
At the time of Paul, two eminent schools of Greek philosophy agreed that our goal should be to find satisfaction, but they had very different ways of achieving it. The first, stoicism, said that imperturbability was the form of satisfaction. Stoics believed that human beings had no real control over their external circumstances, being subject to the vagaries of fate. The only place they could have control was in their personal attitudes. We can’t control what’s happening to us, they said, but we can control what we think. , the stoics practiced to achieve imperturbability, a sense of inner peace that would leave them indifferent, no matter what.
Epicureans were more proactive in their quest for satisfaction, seeking a proper balance between pleasure and pain. His goal was to minimize pain and maximize pleasure. However, even achieving a goal in this area can lead to frustration. We may never get what we want, pleasure, or, having obtained such pleasure, we may realize that it does not bring what we think.
Paulo wasn’t stoic or epicurean. Epicureism ultimately leads to a certain pessimism: we cannot obtain or maintain the pleasure we seek; So, what’s the point?Will the apostolic doctrine of the Resurrection and renewal of creation not allow this pessimism To be the redeemed creation of the slavery of corruption to the freedom of the glory of God’s children?(Romans 8. 18-25, see 1 Corinthians 15 ). Paul also rejected the passive resignation of stoicism, because paul was not fatalistic Paul actively strived to achieve his goals and called us to work for our salvation with fear and trepidation, believing that God works in us and through us to achieve his purposes (Philippians 2:12).
For the Apostle, true contentment was not complacency or a condition, on this side of glory, that could not admit feelings of discontent and dissatisfaction. After all, Paul often expresses such feelings in his epistles when he considers the sins of the Church and its own shortcomings. He did not trust his victories, but worked diligently to solve problems both personally and pastorally.
Paul’s contentment concerned his personal situation and the state of his human condition. If he was in need or enjoyed material prosperity, was he happy wherever God placed him (Philippians 4:12). Keep in mind that this is something you have learned, not a natural gift, but something to teach you.
What was the secret of the joy I had learned?Paul tells us in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all that strengthens me. “
In short, the contentment of the Apostle rested on his union with Christ and his theology; he did not see theology as a theoretical or abstract discipline, but as the key to understanding life itself; his contentment with his condition of life was based on his knowledge of life. The character and actions of God, Paul was satisfied because he knew that his condition had been ordained by his Creator. He understood that God brought both pleasure and pain to his life for a good purpose (Romans 8. 28). Paul knew this while the Lord wisely commanded his life, He could find strength in the Lord for all circumstances. Paul understood that he was fulfilling God’s plan, either in abundance or in humiliation. Submission to God’s sovereign government in his life was the key to his contentment.
As we continue to struggle with the desires of the flesh, we may be tempted to believe that God owes us a better condition than the one we currently enjoy believing in something like this is a sin and leads to great misery, which is only overcome. trusting in the providential and supportive grace of the Lord. We will find true contentment only as long as we receive this grace and walk there.