October 24, 2026 -- Day Twenty-four of Joy: Philippians 4:10-12

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. Philippians 4:10-12 ESV
 
A friend posed a question. “What is the difference between joy and contentment?” It is a very good question. We have considered Galatians 5:22-23 several times already in this series. It is the passage that describes the fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit gifts the believer with something he, or she, can not generate in himself. It is of supernatural origin. The word happiness, or its cognates, are used about thirty times in the Bible. The word “joy” about three hundred times. It is an important spiritual concept.
 
Contentment. To get a sense of it, look at the text again. Paul is writing that no matter what his circumstances are “he has learned to be content”. That is the key to understanding the difference between joy, which is a spiritual gift, and contentment which is a spiritual discipline. Believers exercise their faith in the power of the Holy Spirit so they will not get grumpy when the winds of life blow against them. Instead, they lean into the Spirit of God.
 
Christians can throw around language that sounds good but aren’t necessarily good at defining what they mean. For example, it sounds great to say, “lean into the Spirit of God”; but what do I mean by it?! When the troubles of our lives rear up the question is: “will you grumble, or will you ask the Spirit to give you a greater measure of joy?” When you face hardship, will you mine the word of God for instruction and help which will assist you in being content, no matter whatever the circumstances of your life happen to be? That is how contentment gets exercised and stretched.
 
Perhaps you’ve noticed this, complaining is contagious. It is easy to pull others down. You and I know the old saw, misery loves company. I’ve noticed if misery doesn’t have company, through a volley of wailing and groaning, misery will bring others down to its level. But those who are content in Christ, aware of the wrap around protection of our God and Father, will find that they can’t sink to misery. They are, body and soul, bound up with Christ and therefore, their minds and their attitudes are fixed at the place where He is seated, in heaven.
 
Father in heaven thank You for the joy of the LORD which is ours in Christ. Thank You, Father, for the Holy Spirit, through Whom joy is given to us and by Whom we exercise the discipline of contentment until both mature in us. Triune God, let the world see and know Jesus our joy. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/ILpLIcuWwPA?si=PJPStuSx__AQbL-t

 

Copyright © 2026 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.