08 - The Key To Contentment 2019 By Pastor Jeff Wickwire Notes

Philippians—The Joyful Letter

Part 8

“The Key to Contentment”

Last time we closed with chapter 4:9 where Paul encourages the Philippians to follow his example by praying through problems rather than worrying about them.

Now in verse 10, the Apostle will thank the Philippians for their financial support:

4:10 “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.”

In Paul’s day people under arrest were not cared for by the state. It was up to the prisoners themselves to see that their physical needs were met. Paul had no means of support, thus was cast solely upon the Lord for help.

This makes his statements about not worrying, but praying through every problem and need more easy to understand. He had given the Lord his needs, and God had used the Philippians to meet them!

Notice his use of the phrase “now at last.” Apparently his needs had reached an 11:59 moment. God needed to move NOW. Paul had long before learned to wait patiently for the Lord to act, and did so up to the last minute.

Meanwhile, the Philippians had wanted to do something, but they “lacked opportunity.” There were no mail services then. No FedEx or Amazon. So God got it there through Epaphroditus!

Next Paul turns his thoughts to the power of contentment:

4:11 “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:”

With all of his many trials and tribulations where nothing in life was certain, Paul had learned the key to contentment. He tells the Philippians that, while he is thankful for their gift, he had learned to be content no matter the circumstances.

This is something we should all strive to learn. Paul was a thankful man, and thanksgiving is the doorway to contentment. It’s hard to find a discontented thankful person, and much harder to find a contented unthankful person.

Paul was always found rejoicing in the Lord alone. This was part and parcel of why he possessed such an indomitable spirit. Hence, he enjoyed the blessing of contentment of heart and mind. He had learned to live in complete detachment from his circumstances.

4:12 “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.”

The word “abased” here is used elsewhere in the Greek language to describe a river in time of drought. So Paul’s words can be rendered, “I know how to run low.”

Most of us know the experience of running low. But do we know HOW to run low victoriously? We also know the experience of abounding. But do we know HOW to abound?

Paul said he learned the HOW of both!

For instance, have we learned how to face lean times financially without panicking? Have we learned how to face disappointment, persecution, rejection for Christ victoriously? Have we learned how to walk through a valley of sickness or setback without losing faith? Paul knew HOW.

Conversely, have we learned how to experience prosperity without getting proud? Have we learned how to handle success and good times without it going to our head? The fact is, it’s easier to pass the valley test than it is the success test. Paul knew HOW.

Next, Paul gives the secret to doing all this:

4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

The secret, says Paul, is Christ! Christ who strengthens him through it all! Paul had learned to face all of life in the strength of Jesus Christ.

The more I go on in God, the more I’ve learned to draw from His Spirit day by day, hour by hour, sometimes moment by moment. When I’m tired I draw from Him. When discouraged, I cast it onto Him. When perplexed, I ask wisdom of Him. When I don’t know which way to go, I seek His direction.

Everywhere and at all times, I’ve learned to draw deep from the wells of salvation for all my needs. As the great old hymn says:

Learning to lean

Learning to lean,

I'm learning to lean on Jesus

Finding more power than I've ever dreamed

I'm learning to lean on Jesus.

Sad broken hearted,

at an alter I knelt

I found peace that was so serene

And all that He asks is a child like trust

And a heart that is learning to lean

There's a glorious victory,

each day now for me

I've found peace so serene

He helps me with each task, If I'll only ask

Everyday now I'm learning to lean

Learning to lean

Learning to lean,

I'm learning to lean on Jesus.

Finding more power than I've ever dreamed

I'm learning to lean on Jesus.

Amen!

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Next, we discover the reason for Paul’s desperate financial need:

4:14 “Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.”

Paul had always worked at the trade of tent-making to provide for his needs. But by the time he wound up in Rome, he could no longer support himself while in chains. But it was totally unlike him to tell of his needs to others. As he instructed in vs. 6-7, he prayed about it, giving his needs to God. Things had ultimately reached the point of his being in “distress.” The Philippians had come through with the needed finances.

Notice next how his needs had been totally overlooked by churches he’d founded at the beginning of his ministry:

4:15 “Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.”

What a sad statement. Paul had led thousands to Christ, and had established multiple churches. He was the spiritual father to untold numbers. Yet none of those churches had lifted a finger to help him in his travels! Not the church at Antioch nor Galatia, just to name a couple.

Where were Mary, Andronicus, Junia, Urbane, and all the others he greets at the close of the book of Romans? And now in Rome, history was repeating itself and Paul was being left to starve.

As then, so now. It is a subtle trap to become so engrossed in only what is happening in and around your own life that you forget to give to the work of the Lord by supporting those in service for the Lord of the work!

4:16 “For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.”

Giving to Paul’s ministry was not a one time thing for the Philippians. They had done it “once and again” when he was in Thessalonica. Thessalonica was around 100 miles away from Philippi, but this distance didn’t stop them from helping their apostle, even though he was there a scant 3 weeks.

4:17 “Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.”

Paul, ever the unselfish one, tells them that their spiritual progress is more important to him than the gift itself. “The fruit that abounds to their account” was Paul’s deepest desire.

The Philippians were laying up treasure in heaven in their unselfish giving to Paul’s ministry. One preacher was heard to say, “If you want treasure in Heaven, you’d better give some money to someone who’s going there!”

In actuality, the Philippians weren’t just giving to Paul the man, but to the ministry God had given him. Their giving enabled Paul to keep reaching people for Christ. Hence, fruit abounded to their eternal bank account!

4:18 “Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.”

Bible translator J.B. Phillips renders this verse beautifully: “Now I have everything I want—in fact I am rich...Such generosity is like a lovely fragrance, a sacrifice that pleases the very heart of God.”

What if every time we gave our tithes and offerings, we imagined God smiling with pleasure, with an expression of just having smelled a beautiful fragrance?

This verse from Paul is proof that God watches our giving. And when it is done with good cheer and a giving attitude, it brings pleasure to His heart!

_____________

Next, we come to the verse we all know regarding God’s provision:

4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Many love to claim this verse. But let’s keep in mind that this promise is given to a church that had continuously given to the work of the Lord.

It’s not that God won’t help us whether or not we give. He does. But it does point out that giving to God’s work brings a reciprocity from God. It shows that you can’t out give God, and that if you give to further His work, He will see to it you are blessed in return!

Now Paul brings his letter to a close. As was his custom, he sends greetings to the saints:

4:20-21 “Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.”

Verse 22 shows that, during his incarceration, Paul had reached members of Caesar’s household with the gospel! The Caesar was Nero, one of the worst emperors Rome ever had. Yet this had not stopped Paul from reaching some of his slaves, and people who filled all kinds of offices connected with his administration.

We can learn much from Paul here. Even if you are in very adverse circumstances, you can still minister, still testify, still reach people. Paul blossomed anywhere he was planted!

The Philippian epistle began with grace in 1:2, and ends with grace:

4:23 “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with [h]you all. Amen.”

Jesus has been the theme of the letter, and joy the result of knowing Him. His name is mentioned more than 40 times, an average of once in every two or three verses.

Let’s finish by quoting together one of Philippians’ most encouraging verses:

1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

Amen!