By Bungaran Gultom
One afternoon, I was chatting with my best friend. We started with jokes, but soon we were talking deeply about life. Our talks now feel more real and based on experience, not just ideas. One topic we discussed was whether we are content with our lives.
Now that we’re in our fifties, the question of being content with life is even more interesting! After finishing school and working for many years, you’d think we’d easily say, “Of course we’re content.” But it’s not that simple. The years after school and being apart have given us different experiences. We realized that being content with life isn’t about what we achieve, but how we find meaning in life itself.
The Bible also talks about being content with life. For example, the Book of Psalms boldly says that we lack nothing because the Lord is our Shepherd (Psalm 23:1). This “lacking nothing” can be seen as a form of contentment because, when we have enough, our desires no longer crave anything else. However, in this reflection, I want us to explore the concept of contentment through someone who might understand it best: Apostle Paul.
Paul’s “version” of Contentment
In Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT), Paul writes:
“I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians while he was in a small, harsh prison cell. Roman prisons were far from livable—they were often dark, damp, and filthy. Prisoners faced not only physical suffering but also heavy psychological burdens. They were separated from their families and communities, living with uncertainty about their future. Yet, in the midst of such bleak circumstances, Paul confidently declared, “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.”
Paul’s statement invites us to dig deeper into the biblical principles that shaped his mindset. In a situation where Paul endured the cold and harsh realities of prison—not because of crime, but as a result of his commitment to serving God—he faced torture, persecution, slander, and unjust imprisonment (2 Corinthians 11:23-27; Acts 14:19-20; 16:22-24; 2 Timothy 3:10-12). All of this suffering ultimately culminated in a gruesome death.
Paul endured incredibly harsh punishments. He was a human being like us, just as vulnerable. Yet, thanks to the Holy Spirit, he was able to position himself like a captain steering a ship in the midst of a storm, still able to say, “I have learned how to be content.” How was this possible? And why did Paul find contentment, even while he was confined in prison?
The secret to Paul’s contentment lay in his closeness to Christ, who gave him the strength to endure anything in life. In the following verse, Paul states, “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13 NLT). At a certain point in his life, Paul no longer measured contentment by the success of his ministry. Instead, he humbly acknowledged that his true strength came from Christ.
Paul’s perspective is very different from how many people—including myself and my best friend—often see life. We tend to view life as a battlefield with two clear outcomes: victory or defeat. In this view, those who overcome life’s challenges are considered winners, and to achieve victory, one must have great ambition, no matter the risks. The desire to reach goals—whether in career, education, or personal life—often turns into an excessive pursuit of ambition.
While having ambition is natural, it stops being just a desire and begins to define who we are when it becomes excessive. Without realizing it, we can become overly ambitious. This is not to say ambition is all negative, since it brings motivation and persistence; still, too much of it can come at the cost of other important things, like relationships and mental health.
In our search for contentment, we often fall into the trap of expecting that achievements will bring happiness. In reality, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Blindly chasing accomplishments can lead us to lose sight of deeper meaning in life. Jesus’ thought-provoking question, “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” (Mark 8:36 NLT), reminds us of what we should pursue. Paul showed us that his contentment didn’t come from worldly achievements but from a deep relationship with Christ, which, for him, was the most important thing in life. We are reminded once again that true contentment lies in understanding what truly matters in life. For Paul, that was Christ.
Living This Year with God-given Contentment
Returning to my conversation with my childhood friend about whether we were content with our lives, we both fell silent before answering. Our minds replayed and reevaluated memories of the ambitions, dreams, and goals that had driven us since our youth.
In life, we’ve likely heard stories of highly ambitious people who worked tirelessly to achieve their dreams. Yet behind their achievements, there were also challenges, such as stress and pressure, that affected their mental well-being. This doesn’t just happen in academics or the corporate world but also in various organizations, including faith communities.
As Christians, we are called to live in peace (John 14:27; 16:33; Matthew 11:28-30). The key to enjoying this peace lies in our ability to find contentment in God. Having a passion for pursuing dreams is a good thing, but we need to remember that no achievement can provide true contentment. Only Christ, with His wisdom and love, can guide us toward achieving our dreams—and even beyond—if it aligns with His will (Ephesians 3:20-21).
I am deeply grateful for the friends I have made in my life. Though life has shaped us into ever-changing individuals, our experiences have taught us one invaluable lesson: “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
May Christ’s contentment be with you all year long!
Watch Also:
Raih Cuan dan Jadilah Kaya
Money is important, so we can’t handle it carelessly. But, with so much information and life’s growing demands, managing it can be tough.
Check out the Episode 9 of Podcast KaMu with Christian Fredy Naa, a teacher and practitioner. He’ll talk all about money—investments, saving, offerings, and how to balance your wants and income (video in Indonesian).
Our Daily Bread Ministries in Indonesia is supported by the freewill offering of individuals in Indonesia, who through their gifts enable us to continue to bring the life-changing wisdom of the Bible to many here. We are not funded by any church or organisation.
