Are you Content?

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Philippians 4:11.
Paul had learned to be "Content" in whatever state he found himself, even Oklahoma!! :) Seriously, that is a big thing. Have you ever been selfish? Really, come on now I know more of you should have your hands up, WAY up. My hand is up, both of them, my feet, both of them and my toes all 10 of them. Yes, I have been VERY selfish most of my life. But Paul, it seems, had learned to be content, regardless of his situation. Paul was in a lot of situations, I never want to be in. He was in jail many times for who he was and who he represented. He was shipwrecked, he was beaten, he was ridiculed..........I believe these situations taught Paul how to be content. Not enough food to have 3 meals today, that's OK, at least I am not in jail being beaten. Don't have anything to eat today,, except bread, that is alright, at least I am not eating worms like when I was shipwrecked.
Those many hardships, helped make Paul who he was. He was happy when he had plenty to eat and the world was going ok for him, but he was "Content" when things were not. Why? Because God had brought him through SO MUCH, why would He not bring him through this?
What was Paul's secret, though. Let's look at the verses before this one: Philippians 4:8-9:Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

9:Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Was Paul being arrogant? I mean he said for us to do the things that we see him do, and the God of peace shall be with us. I mean who does he think he is?
Paul's trials and tribulations he got into BECAUSE of his stand for Christ, is what gave him the faith, trust, and Hope in God. He knew EXACTLY what he was talking about, because he had been there.
So he told us his secret to being contempt. It is : Think on these things: 1:Things that are True, 2: things that are noble, 3: Things that are Just, 4: Things that are lovely, 5: Things that are of Good report and then he sums these things up by saying: "If there is any virtue and anything is praise worthy, meditate on these things."
Truth, Nobility, (noble: morally good or generous in a way that should be admired.
Just (guided by reason, justice, and fairness.), Pure (: free from moral fault or guilt )Lovely (to be loveable, how can you love someone and not be lovable in return?) Of "Good Report" (Have a good reputation as a honest, dependable, sincere, of good morals person in the community) To have these things is to have wisdom virtue and you will be "Praise worthy" or receive praises from all those that know you.
Wow, Paul is telling us what to think about? Yes, if we want, virtue, honesty, wisdom, a good reputation, to stand out from the crowd as someone who is morally correct on everything he does, then this is the way to live.
Is it easy, no way, look at what Paul went through to learn this lesson. It takes trust, faith, belief in God that He will do , and is doing a "good thing in you".
I got to admit here, I am no where near to where Paul was when he made this statement. I am selfish, very selfish. My Dad and I were talking the other day how selfish we were and at times still are. Since my Mom died, my Dad has had so many regrets of selfish things he has done during their marriage. I can understand, because since my divorce I have those same regrets. But, I told my Dad and it is true for me and you, To concentrate on those selfish deeds of the past, is to give them way to much control in your present. There is nothing that can be done about the past, it is only the present we can change. We, with the Lords help, can change the present, thereby changing our future. How? Thinking on these things: Truth,Nobel,Just,Pure ,Lovely, of good report, want virtue, what people admiring you? MEDITATE on these things.
To me, Paul is the 2nd person I want to talk to in Heaven. Jesus is the first. I want to know what "thorn in the flesh" was, I want to know, what it felt like to look upon Jesus' face and be blinded by the light. I want to know how he wrote all those letters to the early churches. I want to get to know the man Paul and talk to him and listen to his wisdom. The man who stated:
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
Yes, I am selfish, aren't you? But I want to turn from this and seek God like never before. I want to know Him like Paul did. Does that mean I will have to suffer like Paul did? Perhaps, but does that matter? NO, all that matters is our relationship with Him.
Does it really matter if you have that new car, or that you tell someone about Jesus so that they can Live and Love here on Earth like God intended, and then go to be in Heaven with Him? Not long ago I had to have a new TV, what was wrong with my old one, nothing, but it was not a flat panel with 3d. Is this selfish, you bet it is. God, forgive me.
Priorities, what are yours, really? To work, then get home and relax while watching TV? Maybe we all need to be shipwrecked thrown in jail or something to see what is really important.
I believe Selfishness is a sin, and there will not be any sin allowed into Heaven. Yes, we are all selfish at times, but God will forgive us if we just ask. Who is first in your life? Supposed to be God, then others, then and only then yourself. How many times has it been the complete opposite? I don't want to answer that, because it is embarrassing. How about you?
Can you say, like Paul: Where ever I find myself, I am content? Wow, what a statement. There is no family, no government, no insurance company, no retirement agency, no investment company, no medical company.......that can compare with that statement. Paul was saying that NO MATTER what happened to him, he was not worried, He KNEW that God would take care of him, so he did not have to think twice about it. That, my friends, is Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and the Father.
Let us all "be content, regardless" for there is NO ONE but God Jehovah we need to rely on. Go forward and Be Content.