Jerry Taylor, "The Discipline of Contentment (Philippians 4:11-13)"

In Philippians 4:11-13, Paul speaks of how he arrived at a calm state of contentment, and how he discovered a peace that does not rise and fall with the unpredictable circumstances of this life, whether in need or in abundance. His journey to the inward center of peace did not merely involve the hard practice of endurance but it involved a deep deliberate spiritual study that consisted of a curriculum not censored nor endorsed by Washington. Paul’s inward center involved an educational program firmly rooted in the suffering of Jesus where each trial became a chapter, each hardship became a textbook, and each persecution functioned as a major exam. Scarcity taught Paul as much as plenty, and through it all, he discovered a contentment not rooted in outward conditions but in an inner richness inside a wellspring of strength drawn from beyond himself and beyond his limited human intelligence. Through his mindful, meditative focus on the unlimited divine abundance within, Paul developed a clear vision sharp enough to see beyond the temporary gains or losses this world offers.