The Joy of True
Contentment in Christ
Philippians 4:10-23
Introduction: We arrive at the end of this
series in Philippians, and at a point of transition after 10 and a half years
of serving God together. As I read and reflect on these final words of Paul to
this church which he knew and loved, I hope I can share from my heart with you
as well. The dominant theme of this letter has been joy in serving Jesus, and
that is my prayer for you and I hope your prayer for Mary Ann and me, that we
will continue to rejoice in Christ, and serve Him faithfully.
Here
Paul emphasizes that no matter what the circumstances, if we have Jesus we have
enough, He is sufficient to fill our every need. Paul talks about contentment
in Christ in these verses. Remember the context, contentment is not
complacency. Paul has talked about pressing on, striving for more depth and
intimacy in his relationship with Christ. Yet even as a prisoner, with an
uncertain future, Paul is filled with joyful contentment in
Christ. We are facing some uncertainty as a nation at this moment in
history. The upcoming election, the deep divisions in our country… We are also
facing a time of transition as a church. In God we trust. He who began
a good work in you will bring it to completion in the Day of Christ Jesus.
Paul closes this letter by sharing a lesson God had taught him, that is finding
contentment through trust in God, no matter what the circumstance might be that
we are facing.
The Maine* Idea: God is pleased when
we are good stewards in every aspect of life, both content and generous with
the things he has entrusted to us. True contentment is found in
trusting God’s providence and so being independent from circumstances, which
allows us to seek to meet the needs of others and so, to bring glory to God.
I. A Contented Person is Confident in
God’s Providence
(4:10).
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.
First,
we see one aspect of the occasion of Paul writing this letter – to affirm the
generosity of the Philippians in sending along with Epaphroditus an offering to
meet Paul’s needs in his imprisonment: “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly
that now at last your care for me has flourished again…” (NKJV). He
expressed thanks for their partnership in the Gospel from the first day
until now back in 1:5, and he now returns to that subject. God’s
provision through the church brought joy to Paul’s heart. We have tried to care
for the church, and have experienced your care for us as well. That is cause
for rejoicing!
Secondly
we see Paul’s recognition of the sovereign hand of God in his circumstance: “…though
you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.” Paul knew the
truth of Proverbs 16:9 where it says “The mind of man plans his way, but the
Lord directs his steps.” Or, as it sometimes it seems, “Man plans, and God
laughs.” We have our ideas, our goals, our plans for the future, but
God knows what’s best for our good and for His glory. Providentially, He works
through the circumstances of our lives to accomplish His purpose in us.
Paul learned to be content through the different circumstances
of life. It might be helpful to reflect on what God might want to teach us, not
only when things are going well, but maybe especially when they aren’t, when it
seems are prayers are unanswered or we hit bumps on the road, struggles in
life. He is in it, working for our good and His glory. For a time at least,
circumstances did not allow the Philippians to minister to Paul in the way they
wished. They lacked opportunity. Those circumstances did not
surprise God by the way!
The
story of Joseph in Genesis is a great example of this truth (see 45:5,8;
50:20). Think about the things Joseph endured. Jealousy, hatred,
betrayal, (and all that at the hands of his own brothers!). And then being
falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and imprisoned. And there forgotten by one
who he had helped! But God didn’t forget Joseph. He was paving the way for
Joseph to be exactly where he intended in order to preserve life and fulfill His
promise to the Fathers. I am not sure how I would have reacted in Joseph’s
situation—What about you? Do you understand that God is present and working in
every situation of life? Do you trust that whatever we go through
God is there, and He will work it out for our good and for His
glory? God enable Joseph to see the big picture, Joseph understood
that God was present and working even in the most difficult times of his life.
God is good ALL the time, not just when things go the way we want!
Paul
was convinced that life was not a series of accidents, but rather a series of
“divine appointments.” God told the psalmist “…I will guide you with my eye…”
(Ps 32:8. Abraham called God “Jehovah Jireh,” “The
Lord will provide” at Mount Moriah when God himself provided the lamb (Gen
22: 14). Jesus said in the Good Shepherd discourse, “And when he
brings out his own sheep, he goes before them” (Jn 10:4). We
have a good Shepherd, a loving Father, who is present and working in the good
times and even through the difficult times. Are we confident in His providence,
that His overarching sovereignty guides to the details of our lives for our
good, for our spiritual formation? True contentment is found in trusting God’s
providence and so being independent from circumstances, which allows us to seek
to meet the needs of others and so, to bring glory to God. Because we are
confident in God’s providence, godly contentment…
II. True Contentment is Independent
from Circumstances (4:11-13).
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. 13 I
can do all things through him who strengthens me.
“And
not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever
circumstance I am…” (4:11). Even chained to a Roman soldier, Paul?
Apparently so! Was it one of the Rockefellers who, when asked, “how much is
enough?” replied, “Just a little bit more…” Bigger house, boat, car, then I’ll
be happy, content… no you won’t! We need to learn the truth that a
man’s life does not consist in the abundance of things that he possesses.
Moving helps you take a look at your possessions, and in many cases we’ve had
to ask, “Why were we saving this?” Stuff!
Paul
says, “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to
live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of
being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.”
(4:12). I’ve seen people with almost nothing, filled with joy and contentment.
And I’ve seen wealthy people who were the opposite. Here, Think of Paul’s biography
to this point: He had been cast in prison, shipwrecked in a terrible
storm, beaten and stoned and left for dead, and yet God
also gave him opportunity to stand before kings and testify for
Christ. His contentment was not in things, not in possessions or
wealth, it was in Jesus. He had Jesus, so he had enough. It is easy to trust
God, and rejoice in his goodness when things are going well. I have heard many
people say, after an answer to prayer or an unexpected blessing, “God is good!”
And He is! But let me ask again, is he less good when the news is
bad or when times are difficult? Do you remember the prayer of
Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:12. 12 "O our
God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude
who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You." When
crisis comes, when the threat is imminent, when our comfort and our security is
in question, God is still good.
I’ve
told you the story of Al Groves, one of my seminary professors, just a couple
of years older than me, who was diagnosed with a terminal, incurable cancer in
2006. He continued to preach and teach, and while he was able, still continued to
giving some classes. He kept a blog, journaling his experience of walking with
his family, and with God, through his final months… There were tears and
sadness… death is an enemy, but several times over those months he confirmed
that though this was not the course he would have chosen, because of what he
learned about God’s love and grace he would not change any of it (Let me
recommend the book his wife Libby wrote, Grief Undone). When crisis
comes, when the threat is imminent, when our comfort and our security is in
question, God is still good.
It
is then, strengthened by God’s power and indwelt by His presence we can still
find contentment in Christ (4:13). Our ultimate sufficiency
is in Christ. No matter what our situation, if we have Jesus, we have enough, it’s
going to be ok. This is actually a tricky verse to translate –
“everything” “I am strong” “in the one who empowers me”. What
things? What is he talking about in the context? In plenty
or in want, in poverty or in prosperity, we can live victoriously, in Christ.
He is our life, our strength. To live is Christ! True contentment,
Christian contentment, is not complacency. It is a quiet confidence found in
trusting God’s providence and so being independent from circumstances. It is a
contentment that allows us to seek to meet the needs of others and so, to bring
glory to God.
III. A Contented Person is Preoccupied with
the Well-Being of Others (4:14-19).
14 Yet it was kind
of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians
yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no
church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you
only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for
my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the
gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I
have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from
Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable
and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every
need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
There is
support in Christian Fellowship. If we know true contentment in Christ we are
free to get the focus off of ourselves and onto others. Paul was grateful for
the Philippians. He clearly affirms that he had been blessed by their
generosity. He recognized how they had sacrificed and sought to support him as
he served God. Paul was thankful, and God was pleased with their
generosity.
They
“did well” in ministering to his current need (v.14). Their generosity and care
for Paul was a good work that resulted from their genuine faith. In 15,16 he
affirms that they had done well in the past, from his earliest time in
Macedonia they sent offerings to help with his support. This is the shocking
affirmation Paul makes here: his motive in lauding their generosity toward him
was not “gain” for himself, but that they might experience the
blessing of giving. It’s an old saying “it’s more blessed to give than to
receive.” That was clearly Paul’s perspective. Is that your perspective? As a
missionary on support we depended on God supplying through the gifts of his
people. I was sharing with the guys Tuesday morning that we were grateful that
God consistently met our needs, but I think my focus was exactly that—our needs
were met. How much did I really think about the blessing God would give the
givers? Paul really did that. That was his focus, his joy.
In
v.19 notice that Paul affirms his confidence regarding God’s provision of every
need of the Philippian church: “And my God will supply every need of yours according
to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Is that not the testimony of
BBC? As I read the story of our 200-year history I can see that there were
times of struggle and times of growth, but in all of it, God proved faithful.
He supplied. Over the last 10 ½ years that we’ve been with you, even as we
faced some capital projects: converting the youth house into offices and a
parsonage before we came, the renovation of the sanctuary, putting in an
elevator, replacing the boilers, etc. God is faithful, He has supplied for this
church for over 200 years, that’s quite a testimony to God’s faithfulness! True
contentment is found in trusting God’s providence and so being independent from
circumstances, which allows us to seek to meet the needs of others and so, to
bring glory to God.
IV. A Contented Person seeks God’s glory and
lives in His grace (4:20-23).
20 To our God and
Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. 21 Greet
every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet
you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those
of Caesar's household. 23 The grace of
the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Our
goal in stewardship is to be faithful, and so to bring glory to God (v.20). He
get’s the glory because every good and perfect gift is from above (James
1:17). Paul asked the Corinthians, “…What do you have that you did not
receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive
it?” (I Cor 4:7). We trust God, we recognize His
provision and are grateful for His grace. And so, He gets the glory.
We
should be generous, faithful stewards because in Christ we’re set apart from
the world. We were created for eternity. The suffering of this present
age is not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us.
Here Paul alludes to what God was doing in his imprisonment. Greet the saints,
and, by the way, “All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s
household” (21-22). Paul had been a prisoner for four years in
all, two in Caesarea, then the voyage to Rome after appealing to Caesar, and
two more years in chains. But the mission went on. There were
saints, that is, genuine believers in Jesus, in Caesar’s
household. Paul was still able to write letters, he had a few brothers
like Timothy and Epaphroditus visiting him, but he had a guard chained to him,
and perhaps contact with others. He seized the opportunity to give a reason the
hope that was in him! He was content, but not complacent. He
had joy in what God was doing.
As
he began the letter, Paul again affirms the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
(Phil 1:2,7). We are saved by Grace, God’s unmerited, undeserved
favor. He sent Jesus to die for us – he has made us his children – instead of
judgement we are forgiven, we have eternal life through faith in Christ! Of Him
we are in Christ Jesus, to God be the glory!
What is God saying to me in this passage? True
contentment is found in trusting God’s providence and so being independent from
circumstances. That allows us to seek to meet the needs of others and so, to
bring glory to God. Paul found his sufficiency in Christ. As Psalm
73:25 says, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on
earth that I desire besides you…” Jonathan Edwards in a sermon on that
verse said,
“…whatever
changes a godly man passes through, he is happy; because God, who is
unchangeable, is his chosen portion. Though he meet with temporal losses, and
be deprived of many, yea, of all his temporal enjoyments; yet God, whom he
prefers before all, still remains, and cannot be lost. While he stays in this
changeable, troublesome world, he is happy; because his chosen portion on which
he builds as his main foundation for happiness, is above the world, and above
all changes. And when he goes into another world, still he is happy, because
that portion yet remains. Whatever he be deprived of, he cannot be deprived of
his chief portion; his inheritance remains sure to him. How great is the
happiness of those who have chosen the Fountain of good, who prefer him before
all things in heaven or on earth, and who can never be deprived of him to all
eternity!”
What would God have me to do in response to
this passage?
1.
Do you believe that God is with you, that life is not a series of accidents,
but rather a series of divine appointments? God is working through the
circumstances of life to accomplish His good purpose in you. Have you seen the
statement, “No Jesus, no peace. Know Jesus, Know Peace.” If you have Jesus, you
have enough! This letter talks about a peace that passes understanding – a
godly contentment that is not bound by circumstances.
2.
If that is true, you are freed to seriously think about others, and so being a
steward of all that God has entrusted to you. Paul said in I Cor 4:2 “It is
required of stewards that one be found trustworthy…” Your material
possessions, your finances, your time, your spiritual gifts… If we are content
in Christ, we are freed to use wisely what God has entrusted to us.
3. Stay in the
Word. Insist on biblical teaching. Pray without ceasing. Walk in the Spirit.
Love God. Love one another. Know Jesus, know peace, that is godly
contentment. AMEN.
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