Being Content2)

Title: Being Content

Text: Philippians 4:10-20

Introduction: Have you learned how to be content?

Heb 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

1 Tim 6:6-8 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

Many of you in here are fixing to start a new work preaching the Gospel somewhere. Some of you preachers’ wife’s, some servants in the Lords Kingdom.

First years as well, you are going to blink, and you will be walking across that stage.

At your new work, it can be really easy sometimes to be discouraged by seeing brethren showing up every couple year with a new car.

Or showing you their new toys, they just bought or telling you about their week vacation in Hawaii or somewhere beautiful.

As many of you know preaching is not going to make you rich. Many of us will start out at the bottom.

It is really easy to be tempted to go buy a new car just because you’re tired of your other one. To go buy the new boat with all the bells and whistles because you love going fishing.

It is easy to get into dept really fast. A Christian must be wise in their financial decisions.

Years ago, the woman stayed home and took care of the kids and worked around the house and the man of the house worked and provided for the family.

We live in a whole new generation where everyone is working, and it because we tend to get into so much dept that we all have to work.

Not only that but we have to work overtime to pay for all our toys, hobbies, and everything else. Paul teaches us how we are to be content in Philippians 4:10-20.

The letter to the Philippians is one of the most joyful of all Pauls letters, in fact he writes of joy 5 times, and rejoicing 9 times in this short letter. 3:20 He talks about our citizenship is in Heaven. 4:3 talks about those written in book of life. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always.

First, we will see Paul say’s I am Content (Philippians 4:10-11).

Second, We will see Paul say’s I am instructed (Philippians 4:12-13).

Finally, we will see Paul say’s I am full (Philippians 4:14-20).

Thesis: This world teaches us the more you have in life the more blessed you are; the Bible teaches us we are to be content with the things we do have, so we can survive the storms of life.

I. I am Content (Philippians 4:10-11).

a. Vs. 10A Paul rejoiced greatly because of the love and care they showed him (Philippians 4:14,18) provided for him in has affliction. Providing so he was full.

i. He rejoiced not so much for the gifts but because of the givers love.

b. Vs. 10B Wherein ye were careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

i. Apparently, there was a time where the church could not provide for Him. In 2 Cor. 8:1-2 we see where the churches of Macedonia where in a time of affliction and deep poverty.

ii. Now their able to care and provide for Paul again.

iii. Flourished- this is blossomed.

1. Think of plants of how they go through their seasons to be fruitful, some years their may be droughts and famine and not produce as much.

2. There was a time the church was lacking resources, but their love was still there waiting for opportunity to help again.

c. Vs. 11 Paul says not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therefore, to be content.

i. Paul was not wanting.

1. You know how a child they are constantly wanting things: money, presents, toys.

2. However, a parent is never wanting or expecting anything from their children; but they are so appreciative and love them for thinking of them.

ii. Paul says he has learned.

1. Paul is writing this letter in prison! He is content in all sitiuations. Paul went through many tough times in life. He was stoned, he was afflicted, he went to prison several times. He was not rich. He learned from going through tough times how to survive.

iii. Paul had not always known how to be content.

He Learned from his past on how to be content.

On how be happy with the things he had.

. He did not always have everything he wanted but what he needed.

d. Application: As Christians (Gospel Preachers), there will be times where it seems like everything is going good to everyone around you.

e. We should not try to live outside our means by buying a new car, going on expensive vacations, getting credit cards and going on shopping sprees.

Because there will come times where the car breaks down, the roof needs repaired, you have medical bills; and then you are stuck with a big bill.

We must be always content in our lives and be happy with the necessities.

II. I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry (Philippians 4:12-13).

a. Vs. 12A He knew how to both be abased and how to abound, everywhere and in all things.

i. Abased is to be humbled or brought low.

ii. Abound- To have more, be in excess, exceed.

iii. Paul saying, he knows how to live in time of poverty and times of prosperity.

b. Vs 12B Paul says every were and in all things.

i. There were possible time he did not have a place to lay his head for the night, were times he did not have a lot to eat, times where he did not have good transportation.

ii. Sometimes Paul had good journeys to places, and sometimes he was shipwrecked. Sometimes he would be treated good by the people and other times he would be beaten and stoned.

c. Vs. 12C I am instructed to both be full and to be hungry, both to abound and suffer need.

i. Some translations say “I have learned the secret”!

ii. The I am instructed, or the secret is Paul learned from the past to be content! No matter what situation Paul is faced with he has learned to just be content. Contentment is state of happiness and satisfaction. Paul learned to be happy when he had a lot to eat and when he had not much.

d. Vs 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

i. Paul’s Famous quote, see it on billboards, bumper stickers, shirts, etc.

ii. Paul was not saying he would be an Olympic gold medalist, bench 500 lbs., swim across the Atlantic Ocean; he was saying through the difficult times in life like suffering, he drew all his strength from Christ.

iii. In vs 11 Paul was independent of the circumstances because he was dependent on Christ in vs 13. Paul was not worried about the present situation because Paul knew the reward. He was totally.

e. Application: As Christians we need to be independent on the present circumstances by drawing our strength on the One where our dependance needs to be and that is through Christ.

f. We should not be asking the questions: If only I had a better Job? If only I had a better marriage? If only I had better transportation?

g. The true answer to all these questions is God!

h. If we would put the Father’s business above our own then he will take care of us. When we are always wanting more for ourselves, we are being about our own self (selfish), and not about God.

i. Paul learned the secret on “how to be full” to be satisfied.

III. I am full (Philippians 4:14-20).

a. Vs. 14 Notwithstanding ye have done well, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

i. There is no doubt that Paul faced a lot of afflictions in all of his missionary journeys.

ii. Paul says they did well by helping Him.

iii. Would be like us saying:

1. I don’t know what I would of done with out your help.

2. Ever been struggling in life and out of nowhere good things come your way? When you are putting the Kingdom of God over your own needs, the Father will help take care of yours.

b. Vs. 15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

i. The beginning of the Gospel was most likely when Paul went there in Acts 16:9-40 where Paul baptized Lydia and the Philippian Jailer after being thrown in prison.

ii. However, when Paul left the country of Macedonia, no church supported him but Philippi only.

iii. Paul tells the Church at Corinth in 2 Corinthians 11:7-9, that he preached the Gospel to them for free because the brethren in Macedonia supplied all he was lacking.

c. Vs. 16-17 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

i. The Church at Thessalonica the capital of Macedonia, was where Paul went to leaving Philippi where the Jews received him not. But we see the Church at Philippi was helping Paul immediately, even though they were a brand-new congregation.

ii. They did not have years of being established before they started supporting the work of the church.

d. Vs 17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

i. Paul did not desire gifts, he desired to preach the Gospel and be fruitful in the Kingdom. He was evangelizing.

ii. Abound to your account- He was not worried about his own finances, but for the spiritual bank accounts from their generosity. Matt 6:20-2- True example of laying your treasure is Heaven!; 1 Tim 6:17-18.

iii. When someone supports someone to preach the Gospel, the fruit of the labors goes into their bank account as well!!!!

e. Vs 18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sentfrom you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.

i. Because of their support, Paul is not lacking. He is full. His cup flowing over.

ii. They were not just sending funds, but perhaps clothing and supplies.

iii. The gifts sent to him he considered a sacrifice that is acceptable to God.

iv. The OT the priest would offer sacrifices for the people, they had to give their best. This pleased God when people gave their best.

v. 1 Peter 2:5,9. We are a priesthood to offer Spiritual sacrifices.

vi. Rom 12:1 We are to offer our very best as living sacrifices.

f. Vs. 19-20 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

i. They had met Paul’s needs, now God will take care of all of their needs.

ii. Perfect example of sowing and reaping good.

iii. Then Paul finishes Glorifying God. Forever and ever is meaning nonstop. Our God lives for eternity through the ages.

g. Application: Matt 6:25-34. If our lives are centered around God. We will live our lives for Him and not care so much about the now situation. We must seek first the Kingdom of God. He will take care of all our needs if we are doing our part.

Conclusion: We see Paul learned from experience on how to be content. He spent a lot of his life traveling for the work of the kingdom and was never home.

He gives us the blueprint on how we should be when it comes to being thankful for the things we have.

We will face storms in life, maybe it’s a high medical bill, the engine goes out on car, the roof needs replace; all of these are huge bills that could put us in dept really quick.

The devil wants us to be in dept, because the more we worry, and the more we have to work extra overtime at work; these are all distractions in our lives to keep us away from studying our Bible and possibly missing worship.

If we learn to live with the necessities in life, and we are patterning our lives around God, He will take care of our needs. When we are suffering, we need to be dependent on Christ and getting our strength through Him We to can do all things through Christ who strengths us.

First, we saw Paul say’s I am Content.

Second, we saw Paul say’s I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry.

Finally, we saw Paul say’s I am full.

Are you content with your current life? If not, why not? Let us help you put the Kingdom of God first in your lives!