The Eagle in the Chicken Coop: Finding True Contentment in Christ

Have you ever felt like you were created for something more than the life you're living? Like there's a deeper purpose calling to your heart, but you've been told lies about who you really are? One of my favorite radio pastors, Chuck Swindoll, tells a powerful story about "a picture of an eagle in the middle of a chicken pen." A farmer found an eagle's egg and placed it in his chicken coop. "That mom, that mother hen, raised that eagle to be a chicken. And so this chicken, its whole life spent" pecking and picking up seed, eating worms. But one day, this eagle looked up and saw something flying beautifully across the sky. "Something about it was just calling to that. That bird. He thought he was a chicken, but something in his heart said, no, there's more to life than this." "The problem for the eagle was he had been told a lie, and he spent his whole life living a lie."

The Greatest Lies of Our Generation

I believe there are "two big lies that have ruined countless lives" in our modern world. The first came about 175 years ago when Charles Darwin introduced evolution, teaching that "we don't need a God to create everything." This lie has caused people "who God created to be eagles" to get "their beak down in the dirt and they're eating worms." But "the second greatest lie" may be even more destructive. Modern psychology, influenced by humanism, teaches "that you and I have the power to make ourselves better. You and I have the power to make ourselves happy." It has "taken away the idea of sin" and removed God from the equation entirely. Yet "thousands of years ago, the psalmist wrote great peace have they which love thy law." When we love and obey God's word, "God gives you peace."

Paul's Prescription for Peace Through Contentment

Tonight, let's examine Philippians 4:10-13, where the Apostle Paul writes: "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at the last, your care of me have flourished again, wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Now, not that I speak in respect of want. For I have learned in whatever state I am therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased or to have little, and I know how to abound or have much. Everywhere and in all things. I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." Remember, Paul wrote this from prison, chained to a Roman soldier. This man had been beaten with rods three times, received 39 lashes five times, was stoned once, and shipwrecked three times. "Is there anybody on planet Earth in all of human history that could probably say, I have some PTSD?" Yet Paul declares, "I rejoice. I rejoice greatly."

Four Principles for Lasting Contentment

Principle 1: Contentment is Possible

Paul proves that regardless of circumstances, contentment is achievable. "You and I, do we not make excuses of how hard we have it? I don't think any one of us can even come close to comparing ourselves to the Apostle Paul."

Principle 2: Contentment is Learned, Not Achieved

Paul emphasizes, "I have learned in whatever state I am therewith to be content." He says, "Everywhere, in all things I am instructed." Contentment "does not come naturally" or "mystically." Like a muscle, "you have to exercise it. You have to learn it."

Principle 3: Contentment is Not Based on Circumstances

Paul knew "both how to be abased and I know how to abound." Many believe contentment comes from closing the gap between what we want and what we have. But even John D. Rockefeller, when asked how much money it takes to make a man happy, answered: "Just one more dollar." During my time in the Philippines, I witnessed this truth firsthand. In Manila's shanties, "where as far as the eye can see are just shanties," with horrible conditions, "you will hear more laughter in those communities than anywhere. The Filipinos are some happy people." This proves that "poverty does not demand misery."

Principle 4: Contentment Can Only Be Found in Christ

"You will never find lasting happiness and contentment apart from Christ. Period. Full stop." Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4:13-14, "Whosoever drinketh of this water, thirst again. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst." When Paul says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me," he's talking about "the greatest struggle that humans face, the struggle to be content."

Putting It Into Practice

Here are four practical ways to develop contentment: Be Grateful: "Stop what you're doing right now. Get out a piece of paper and start writing down things that you can thank God for. Be specific. Be stupid specific." Be Teachable: "Instead of asking God to change those circumstances, ask him teach you the lesson that he has intended for you." Be Flexible: "Be willing to change... Let God be the captain of your ship." Be Confident: "Moment by moment, relationship by relationship, decision by decision... be confident. God is on your side." Don't be the eagle in the chicken coop, eating worms when God created you to soar. True contentment comes only through Christ, who provides the living water that satisfies our deepest longings.