Are you content in your current situation or have you become complacent? You do know there’s a difference, right? Yea, I know some will say that both content and complacent mean to be satisfied but there is still a difference. See, content means you’re happy and satisfied with the way things are because you keep striving to make them better yet complacent means you’re satisfied with the way things are without wanting or working to make them better. Still don’t get it? Well, let me break it down and please understand that these are merely my thoughts. Being happy in your marriage behind closed doors because you and your spouse work hard to make it happy is content but acting like you’re happy in front of a crowd yet sleeping in separate beds at home because staying married is the right thing to do is complacency. Going to a place of worship because you’re spiritually fed and you work to keep it that way is content yet going because it’s the “family” church is being complacent. Doing the same thing for years that are pleasing to God is being content yet doing things because its tradition is being complacent.
Philippians 4:11-12 says, “I am not saying this because I am in any need, for I have learned to be content in whatever situation I am in. I know how to be humble, and I know how to prosper. In each and every situation I have learned the secret of being full and of going hungry, of having too much and of having too little.” Why, well that’s because Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Again, this says for I’ve learned how to be content not complacent. Being content says, “Even though I’ve been knocked down, I still trust and believe so I’ll pray and work until my change comes,” oh but complacency says, “I’ve been knocked down and I’ve learned how to be happy down here so I’ll stay.” Being content says, “I wasn’t promoted this time yet I’ll continue to work until it’s my time” but complacency says, “I didn’t get promoted so I’ll just stay where I’m comfortable.” Being content says, “The doctor said he’d done all he can do yet I know a healer who is able so I’ll live,” but complacency says, “The doctor said 6 months so I’d better get my affairs in order to die.” Yea, content says, “All of my good days outweigh my bad so I won’t complain” but complacency says, “If it wasn’t for bad luck I wouldn’t have any.” Complacency is taking lemons and having lemonade but being content is taking lemons adding them to tea, making a lemon martini, a lemon meringue pie … You get my drift. All I can hope for you to get out of this is; stop being complacent is whatever situation you’re in and be content because there’s a difference.
Lakisha, the Author 