My son and I were shown our accommodations in Kumbungu, a little village in the northern district of Ghana. I was impressed immediately with the fact that we were staying in a room with four walls and a ceiling. It is not always that way on the mission field. One of my friendslikes to tell people who are traveling with him to Africa or India that he can guarantee they will stay in four- or five-star accommodations. He watches their eyebrows rise in delight and then adds, "Yes, I promise that when you lay you head on the pillow at night, you will be able to see at least four or five stars." It reminds me of another friend who was lying on a bunk in Haiti when he heard an awful racket in the rafters just a few feet above his head. Two rats were fighting with each other. Suddenly, they fell from their perch and landed on his chest. That was probably 20 years ago and I think the facial tic he developed that night is almost gone.
    Luke and I were delighted to be in a room that had two beds, a bathroom and even air conditioning. Upon further examination, though, we discovered that there were no lights in the bathroom, the toilet wouldn’t flush, and none of the receptacles worked. I had imagined that I would keep my satellite phone charged during the three days, and Luke had hopes of keeping his iPod going. We told the pastor in charge about the concerns, and he asked the caretaker to come and check it out. The next day we were told that the problems couldn’t be fixed but that we could move to another room. I was thinking about that when I noticed Luke’s head shaking. He said, "It’s OK, we don’t have to move. We can do without those things, Dad." Tears come to my eyes even now when I think about it. My son led the way that day, reminding me what I have "learned" on the mission field so many times before: contentment is not the real thing unless it is unattached to circumstances. Paul said, "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need" (Philippians 4:11-12). Do you see that? The apostle was not just content when he had his belly full. He was content when he was hungry as well. He was not just content when he was in a safe place. Paul was content when being shipwrecked, stoned and left for dead, or beaten with 39 lashes five times. Don’t confuse complacency with contentment. The former can accompany bitterness and a hard heart. Contentment accompanies trust. It is the companion of the one who is able to say, "Lord, you are enough. Your glory is all that matters. I will accept whatever comes from your hand with gratitude and even with joy."
    Every time I go to another country and minister the gospel of Jesus Christ, I am reminded of how powerful contentment is and how little we in America understand it.
    How many of you want to be filthy rich? Paul said, "Godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Tim. 6:6). There is no greater gain than to know Christ and to learn to be content with what he gives and where he leads. Even the rats can’t get you down, then.