BEING COMFORTABLE, EVEN IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE CONDITION -THE SECRET

12 "I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little. 13 I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me".

PHILPIANS4:12,13.(GNB).

What is Comfort? Comfort is a state of being free from stress or trouble of every kind. “It is a state of being physically relaxed and free from pain; the state of having a pleasant life, with everything that you need”. - (Oxford Advanced learners' Dictionary).

To be Comfortable means to be Pleasantly physically relaxed; warm enough, without pain, and when you are Comfortable, you are Confident and not worried or afraid. This is a satisfaction you have when you have enough money to buy anything you want, just Name it! And you are not bothered about the cost. Have you ever felt this way before? This is a time when you have just anything, and every at your disposal, and money run errands at your command?  This feeling is good, but there is other way round, I mean there is another side of this feeling which is called;  being Uncomfortable. But the Joy of it all is that you can still be Comfortable, even in an uncomfortable conditions, or a seemingly uncomfortable zone. Ask me the Secret- CONTENTMENT.

Being Contented does not really mean you have everything, but the bottom line is: you are satisfied with the little you have.

Apostle Paul said in our theme

Verse, 12 ."I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little.

13 I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me".

PHILPIANS4:12, 13.

For instance two fish were taken out of the river-their Comfort zone, one was kept in a big pond, and the other one was kept in a very fanciful aquarium, less than a week the one in the pond started to emaciate, developed stunted growth, and a state called 'lag phase', before you know it,  it shrank and shrank until it's finally dead. It never survived it.  While on the other the one In the small aquarium Survived even in an environment far different from its natural habitat,  where everything was far from being natural. Tell me what is the secret behind it survival?

The secret is this, the moment it realizes it's being taken out of the habitat it's used to, he quickly developed a survival strategy called; 'ADAPTATION' which need to be taught In Schools,  not just as a Topic In Psychology and Sociology, but as a very important Course to be made mandatory for all students,  even In Secondary Schools. The reason is most Youths, even Full Adults are not in touch with their Adaptation mode, or coping system, and Principles of adjustment which is what Adaptability is all about.

For Instance your Total income per month was #50,000, you paid Tithe of #5000, and you were patronizing Boutique, made hair of #4000, sometimes #5000, and you change your hairdo every week or two, yet you don't have another source of livelihood, and a Child you are paying School Fees. We've not talk of your feeding yet, and the transport fare to the Office every day;  That is even by the way,  Mr. Biggs, here I come -a Sunday -Sunday affairs.

All Glory to GOD, this year you got admission for advanced Learning; say Open University where you don't have to quit your Job; Do you still need a Brain analyst, or a certified Economist, perhaps the CBN Governor to teach you scale of preference? Or give you a one on one coaching on the differences between Need, and Want, or possibly to teach you the definition of Opportunity Cost, and Real Cost? Perhaps, everybody in Nigeria would soon need such coaching.

So many People are suffering from mal-adjustment syndrome,  but they claimed it is their enemies are at work; whereas it is them who are living in fool's paradise thinking they are enjoying life in an attempt to feel belong to their own detriment. Therefore such People need to be jolted back to reality for they have wandered for too long in the world of fantasy all in the name of making it big forgetting that it is GOD who gives us Power to get Wealth for He owns everything and everyone; so when they fall into some unspeculated errors, or make some terrible mistakes in an attempt to make quick money.

They failed to realize GOD's factor to Prosperity and they get calculated tragedy instead of the presumed 'miscalculated Blessing' forgetting that GOD Himself had said the Hand of the diligent will be richly Blessed, but He who is eager to get rich will not be innocent,  but I Love this Bible version that puts it this way;

"..but he who is eager to get rich will not go unpunished. I feel so sorry for some folks who have fallen in to the trap of some unscrupulous money mongers who in the long run have been thrown into some irreversible disillusionment,  and only by His Grace would they be able to recover from the shock that follows such travails.

  Some would require both Spiritual intervention as well as psychotherapy for them to snap out of the mess they'd found themselves. May GOD Help as He has promised us.

  This is the beginning of the end. For many would still make more investments that would Carter away fund of the Nation, and would deride many of their valuables; unless GOD Himself would intervene,  if not. So let's watch out, and be on our guard for Heavens Help those who help themselves.

  For the Prophecy of King David to come to fulfillment we all need to rise and Pray, so that we won't be prey.

  "Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God".

  Psalms 68:31 KJV.

Here it is not only Euthopia that would stretch forth their hands to GOD of Heaven,  but the whole Africa as a  Continent, perhaps the whole human race.

Remember!  The end justifies the means,  so they say,  but that is not true. Having plenty of money yet no Peace of mind; money is not an end, but means to an end,  but so many forget about that.

Mercy, I mean our bowel of Mercy needs to be revived, reactivated,  and rejuvenated for many are self- centered, and over careful when it comes to helping their Neighbours who are in need because they claimed the money would finish or might not be enough to meet their own personal need let alone having to spare for the needy. Note that;  

"If the food on your table does not or cannot cross to your neighbour, then you are not living, but only surviving".

  DR. PAUL ENENCHE.

Remember; The GOD of All Nations said;

  "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings".

  Hosea 6:6 KJV.

Shockingly enough, Me, Mine, and myself are the order of the day. The reigning language on every lip, but with few exceptions, are you one of the little few?

You might have given sacrificially in the past, or you are still doing presently, GOD wants,  and needs us to go beyond that, just like Goodnews Bible puts it; "Constant Love", and "Knowing GOD, and not animal sacrifice". (paraphrased).

The era of bloody sacrifice is over. It is now era of Mercy for we are now in the era of Grace made available by Mercy to all who desire it Dearly. That is why I Love the Sermon of our LORD JESUS on the Mount. This is when you are being rewarded based on your dealings with your neighbours. It is one of the Sermon on The Blessedness.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy".

MATTHEW 5:7.(NIV).

Do we borrow from Our Brother Moses?

"An eye for an eye,  and a tooth for a tooth "

No! But yes; this one is a Godly payback time, therefore it is time for us to amend our interpersonal Relationships laced good communication skills. JESUS is coming to Reward His Own. It is what you sow you'd reap.

In all our sacrificial giving we need to add Mercy; constant Love,  mutual understanding, that is Compassion, which is a virtue lacking in Christendom, and funny enough; our counterparts who used to be more compassionate when it comes to helping their neighbours/ the needy are beginning to follow suit. This is because it is possible to give without Loving, but it is very rare to Love without giving, and it is not possible to show Mercy without Loving. Hence, giving is the proof of GOD's undying Love for humanity. Our LORD JESUS Christ is that priceless Gift to humanity, so let's start giving, and let Brotherly Love continue.

It is time for us to start showing Mercy, even by Loving the unlovable, and forgive the unpardonable. Then others about the Love of JESUS is worth more Billions in whatever denomination,  or currency; because money is limited in its ability to meet human needs; most especially the aspect of showing Love and Compassion, which is called Tender- Loving- Care.

May GOD HELP US.

SHALOM!