God's Goodness, Contenment, and Resources

Introduction

Paul experienced God’s goodness time and time again. God in his inspiration of scripture has chosen to through Paul’s verbal testimony, letters, or narrative written by Luke show us His goodness.

God’s goodness was a constant motivating and impactful factor in Paul’s life. Paul mentions over and over again God’s mercy, grace , and love even amid his struggles with sin and life in general. God’s goodness drove Paul to make Christ the focal point of his life (Philippians 1:21 “21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”) and the gospel message the focal mantra of his life (Philippians 1:27 “27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;” ).

Philippians 1-3 express the overall truths of the advance of the Gospel and Christ is the center of the church and the joy we can have in life. In some fashion, Philippians compliments and reinforces the centrality of Christ Paul writes to the Colossae church.

In Philippians 4:1 we are encouraged to stand firm in the Lord. In verses 2-3 we are to live in harmony with each other. Paul in verses 4-7 expresses the importance of rejoicing in the Lord all the time! It is this rejoicing that combats the worry and anxiety that all too often creep into our lives. Paul then focuses these truths to a key principle. This principle is that right thinking produces right behavior. We need verses 8-9 to be real in our lives in order to stand firm in unity through prayer and rejoicing in Christ. The peace of God comes through having the mind of Christ (2:5, 4:8). The joy we have in Christ comes through right thinking. When our thinking is right our actions will be right. We see in chapter 3 that Paul’s actions as should our actions be focused on Christ not our past or future. It is this mindset that Paul shares with the Philippians principles regarding the handling of the resources God has given them. In his exhortation, Paul shares a secret he came to discover. This secret paved the way for him to be able to live for gospel advancement regardless of surroundings or circumstances.

How many here remember writing thank you notes for your high school graduation or college graduation or higher learning degree (Joke: actually it seems the longer you are in school the less people are excited…)? Maybe you remember writing them in relationship to your wedding or maybe some other event? Maybe it is a deeply personal thank you note to a single individual or couple.

This evening we are going to look at a thank you note Paul wrote to the church at Philippi. This letter Paul wrote was not just a fly-by-night, last minute letter. It was not hurry and write the same thing on every card so I can get done. It was not copy and paste from last Christmas thank you card. It is a letter that is personal but centered in everything that Paul has been sharing earlier in the letter. He discusses living worthy of the gospel, he references church unity, spiritual dependence on Christ, and the advancement of the gospel.

Our main point this evening is going to make up each main idea.

Our main idea has three elements: contentment, investment, and acknowledgement. Contentment regardless of circumstances. Investment in gospel advancement. Acknowledgment the origin of my resources.

Our main idea stated this evening:

Every Christian needs to be content with what we have, concerned with investing what we have, and conscientious that God is the source of what we have.

I. Every Christian needs to be content with what we have.

It was spring, but it was summer I wanted,

The warm days, and the great outdoors.

It was summer, but it was fall I wanted,

The colorful leaves, and the cool, dry air.

It was fall, but it was winter I wanted,

The beautiful snow, and the joy of the holiday season.

It was now winter, but it was spring I wanted,

The warmth, and the blossoming of nature.

I was a child, but it was adulthood I wanted,

The freedom, and the respect.

I was 20, but it was 30 I wanted,

To be mature, and sophisticated.

I was middle-aged, but it was 20 I wanted,

The youth, and the free spirit.

I was retired, but it was middle age that I wanted,

The presence of mind, without limitations.

My life was over, but I never got what I wanted.

(Lehman, “Present Tense”) Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2016), 188.

Contentment defined:

feeling or showing satisfaction with one's possessions, status, or situation (by Merriam-Webster)

Internal satisfaction which does not demand changes in external circumstances. (Chad Brand et al., eds., “Contentment,” Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 335.)

Great gain (1Ti 6:6 “6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.” )

Paul in Philippians 4:10-13 shares with the Philippian believers a secret that he had uncovered. Through the various circumstances that had come in his life he discovered the key to consistent gospel joy was contentment. Paul begins these verses by thanking the Philippians for being concerned about him and his ministry even when it was not opportunistic for them to do something about the concern.

It is from this that he explains to them that no matter what the circumstances were in his life, he had discovered to be content.

Each of us have experienced a wide array of situations and circumstances in life. We like Paul have experienced times of profit and all our needs are comfortably met. We have experienced the opposite where the water heater goes out, or the furnace during the winter, or the power goes out for a day or more due to a storm. We have experienced wondering where money for groceries will come from, or what to do with the extra food we cannot eat because we are full.

We have all gone through highs and lows of life. What are you going through currently? Are you on a higher or lower moment, a failure or success? We need to be like Paul in every circumstance—CONTENT!

Paul in Philippians 4:13

Philippians 4:13 NASB95

13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

gives to us the secret to his contentment. This verse is been made popular by many professional athletes who profess Christ. Within the last 10 years two athletes have made this verse a mantra for them. The athletes are Tim Tebow and Steph Curry. These two athletes profess Christ. They have placed the reference and text on a variety of their paraphernalia. Unfortunately the way in which they and so many Christians use this verse is slightly out of context. Yes, this verse speaks of the power of God. However, it is not referring to the idea that if I trust Christ I can accomplish anything I set my mind to do.

The word all is connected in the context to the word circumstances in 4:11 which he describes in 4:12. What Paul means is that in ever circumstance he finds himself he can live content because God’s power enables him to live content.

The secret to contentment is as Paul expresses wonderfully in his letter to the church in Colossae — CHRIST IS ENOUGH!

So what about you?

Is Christ enough when your water bill is higher because the hose got left on all night?

Is Christ enough when you are gifted a free place to have a family vacation?

Is Christ enough when you are diagnosed with some type of health concern?

Is Christ enough when those around you prosper and you stay status quo?

Is Christ enough when your car insurance premiums raise?

Is Christ enough when your political prerogatives are not met?

Is Christ enough when the one you love refuses to submit to God’s gift of salvation?

The questions could go on. Are you content/Is Christ enough when___________?

You and I need to live content lives and we do so by adopting the Paul’s example…trust in the power of God for it is God’s power that gives you the strength to be content!

The Letter to the Philippians VIII. Thanks for Gifts from Partners (4:10–20)

He has the power to endure all these extreme situations, all these ups and downs, without anxiety, with the peace of God guarding his heart and mind in Christ Jesus (4:6–7).210

We are to be content with what we have! Not only are we to be content, we see in this text also that the Christian is to be concerned with investing the resources we have.

II. Every Christian needs to be concerned with investing what we have.

As we strive to live content in every circumstance, we need to also look to invest the resources God has given us for the advancement of the gospel.

Paul takes 4:14-18 to commend the church in Philippi on their concern and action on their concern on Paul’s behalf. Paul recounts the partnership the Philippian church had with Paul and his ministry. He mentions how they were the sole church to invest in Paul. He mentions how it was not just once but multiple times. Paul goes as far as to say that he looked forward to and sought their gift for the purpose of seeing them blesses by God not for his own profit. He describes their giving and investing as a sweet fragrance or aroma to God.

The text does not say specifically what the resources were that the Philippian church gave to Paul. It is good reason that some of it was financial. It would not have been surprising if he also received clothes or food. He may have even received personal encouragement.

The Letter to the Philippians VIII. Thanks for Gifts from Partners (4:10–20)

A timeline accounts for the support provided by the Philippians. They became Paul’s partners soon after they heard the gospel: in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel. This translation in TNIV helpfully p 318 interprets the phrase, “in the beginning of the gospel,” as a reference to the Philippians’ beginning with the gospel, not Paul’s beginning of evangelistic activity.229 This interpretation of the phrase concurs with a similar temporal expression in the opening section of the letter where Paul thanks God for the Philippians’ partnership in the gospel from the first day until now (1:5).

The Letter to the Philippians VIII. Thanks for Gifts from Partners (4:10–20)

Paul’s use of the verb “became a partner” to explain the nature of the Philippians’ partnership with him (1:5) points to the financial dimension of the partnership with the Philippians and also to the deeper experience of reciprocity in his friendship with them. When Paul writes that the church in Philippi “became a partner” with him in the matter of giving and receiving, he borrows Hellenistic commercial language for the “settlement of an account of debt and credit.”

The church at Philippi had chosen to partner through giving for the advancement of the gospel. Praise the Lord for the missionaries we as a church have partnered with for the same reason. This week Camp Impact had roughly 70 campers hearing the preaching and teaching of God’s Word.

We have vacation bible school coming up. This provides an opportunity to partner together as a church family to reach our community with the gospel.

As a church we have been praying for God to lead in our ministry to plant a church in a Detroit area that has no good gospel preaching church. What of your resources are you willing to give?

We need to be willing to give of our resources for the advancement of the gospel. Paul is not only speaking of material and financial resources but also spiritual resources.

The Letter to the Philippians (VIII. Thanks for Gifts from Partners (4:10–20))

Even in this sentence, the reminder that the partnership began in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel points to the spiritual foundation and motivation for the partnership. The spiritual dimension becomes Paul’s primary focus in verses 17–19.

What are you doing with your resources? What are we doing with the resources we have collectively as a church? What are we doing with the resources to reach the community God has placed us in?

In 4:17 you can kind of see Paul’s excitement over the Philippians generosity and using of their resources to partner in gospel advancement. He emphasizes that he seeks the gifts from the Philippians not for his own gain but for the blessings and spiritual benefits the Philippians receive from God.

Do you find it exciting to be partnered with many around the world for the advancement of the gospel?

Do you get excited as we pray for God’s leading in partnering with someone to plant a church in Detroit?

We all have financial and non-financial resources God has given us. We are told in scripture to be stewards of what God has given to us. Paul here commends the Philippian church for using them to further advance the gospel. What are you doing with your resources?

Our resources are a sweet aroma to God. Using our resources for God’s glory and to advance the gospel pleases God. Using our resources for the gospel can also and should also involve sacrifice. Paul also understood that using one’s resources for the advancement of the gospel is pleasing to God like a sweet aroma. This sweet aroma emphasizes the high level of pleasing using our resources for advancing the gospel is to God. When you and I use our resources for the advancement of the gospel, it is like a sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.

We should be striving to give of our resources in a way that is acceptable and pleasing to God. As we do give in a pleasing way Paul shares our final truth, all of our resources come from God.

Paul is pleased because he knows God will bless the believers for laying up treasures in heaven, not on earth. We need to live with this divine perspective. God will honor people’s faithfulness and fruitfulness in this life. Jesus taught this subject in several places (e.g., Matt 6:19–24; Luke 12:32–34). Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2016), 195.

So, we as Christians need to be conscientious that God is the source of all that we have.

To review, Every Christian needs to be content with all that we have, concerned with investing all that we have—

Now we will look at every Christian needs to be conscientious that God is the source of all we have.

III. Every Christian needs to be conscientious that God is the source of what we have.

Philippians 4:18-20 says

Philippians 4:18–20 (NASB95)

18 But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

We have just looked at the importance of investing what we have for gospel advancement. Paul when writing this letter to the Philippians was chained up in a Roman prison. He could not physically reciprocate the godly and loving acts of giving they expressed toward Paul. Paul hence wrote to them saying that though he could not physically reciprocate in this partnership and friendship, the giver of all gifts can and will.

We have all heard the statement, “you can’t out give God.” It is true because of this verse and James 1:17 which reads “17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” Paul in Philippians 4:19 states that we can be content and use our resources for gospel advancement because the resources came from God in the first place and he will continue to supply our needs as we give of our resources.

This verse like 4:13 can sometimes be applied in isolation without its immediate context and even without the last part of the verse. We memorize and quote and teach this verse but focus primarily on the first part— “My God shall supply all your needs.” When you practically leave off the end of the verse it sounds like a blank check that if I please God by giving he will give me what I want or assume I need. The problem with this practical application is that God really is not included. God does give us good gifts. He gives us gifts so that we can use them for His glory. Philippians 4:18 highlights for us that God supplies our needs according to His riches in glory in Jesus Christ.

The definition of needs in the context as the material needs of Paul caused by the troubles of his persecution and imprisonment (4:14–18) implies that Paul’s reference to the needs of the Philippians also focuses primarily on their material needs.258 Paul clearly expresses his solidarity with the Philippians in their experience of suffering (1:29–30). Although suffering comes as an unavoidable consequence of serving Christ, Paul experienced God’s care in his suffering and expects God to care for his friends in their suffering. The gospel of Jesus Christ does not promise the absence of suffering, but it does promise the presence of the God of peace (4:9) in suffering. My God will be with you, my God will take care of your material needs, Paul promises his friends in Philippi.

In other places throughout the letter Paul’s prayer for the Philippians and his pastoral instruction demonstrate that the needs of the Philippians include more than their material needs.259 Paul prays that their love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight (1:9). He urges them to be like-minded (2:2), to have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had (2:5), to rejoice in the Lord (3:1; 4:4), and to let [their] gentleness be evident to all (4:5). These prayers and challenges point to the spiritual needs of the Philippians. By stressing that God would meet all their needs, Paul is including the whole spectrum of needs, both material and spiritual.

(258 Martin and Hawthorne, 273: “The needs that are under consideration here are similar to those kinds of needs that Paul himself had experienced due to hardships, suffering, deprivations, and afflictions (θλίψεις [v. 14]) that could be alleviated only by earthly goods and services and by human associates.” 259 Bockmuehl, 266: “God’s ‘full provision’ should be understood to cover material needs, but presumably also their need for the qualities which Paul has been encouraging in this letter: joy and steadfastness in Christ, humility and concord amongst each other.” Martin and Hawthorne (273) poses a false dichotomy between the material and spiritual needs by asserting that Paul is concerned only with material needs in this context and “has not suddenly shifted to discuss spiritual needs.” Silva (240) challenges this exclusive concern with material needs: “Should we view material and spiritual resources as mutually exclusive categories? While Paul does not ignore the realities of physical discomfort and suffering, his main concern is to help the Philippians find their true contentment in the peace and power of God (4:6–7, 11–13).” G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009), 325.)

I find that it can be all too easy to forget that what we have has been given comes from God. Maybe we do not forget but is becomes purely academic and stops becoming something actionable in our lives. Jesus in Matthew 25:14-30

Matthew 25:14–30 (NASB95)

14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 “To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 “Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 “In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 “But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 “The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 ‘And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ 26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 ‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 ‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ 29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 “Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

teaches about being a good steward of what God has given us. We need to stop operating and using our resources like we accumulated them. We need to start living out what we know to be true—everything comes from God. God provides resources to each Christian. It is vital that we remember it has all come from God.

When we are constantly remembering where our resources come from, it makes it a little easier to live out Philippians 4:6-7.

Philippians 4:6–7 NASB95

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

George Mueller is a modern day Christian who understood contentment. He understood how to use the resources he had for God’s glory.

The Philippians “supplied” Paul’s needs sufficiently, and now Paul assures them that God will supply all their needs out of His infinite resources. Paul doesn’t promise the church that God will provide for their greed, but for their need. While Paul surely has material provision in view here, we shouldn’t limit the application to this dimension. God also supplies every spiritual need, including the ability to be content and to find sufficient strength in Christ. Paul is saying that God will provide everything we need to live for Christ.

(Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2016), 196.)

What about you? Does the practical day to day of your life testify of consistent focus on everything comes from God?

Philippians 4:19-20 “19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” speaks to the truth that our needs are met from God’s riches. God’s riches never disappear. God gives to the believer what he needs from his limitless resources. God resources are eternal in nature and surpass any earthly valuable. Paul clarifies that it is not everyone who receives these gifts. One must be saved! They must be in Christ!

Why does God do this—4:20 to glorify God!

So are you living conscientious of God being the source of all that you have?

Conclusion

Tonight in our text we looked at three key principles which when put together give us our main truth this evening.

Our main idea stated this evening:

Every Christian needs to be content with what we have, concerned with investing what we have, and conscientious that God is the source of what we have.

Some of you know that the music pastor at First Baptist Church in Troy, Steve Allen, is very close to me, like an uncle, and my family. He and my father have been best friends since they were basically Owen’s age. You may ask why bring this up?

He just recently retired and this afternoon they had a service to reflect on his and his wife’s 40 years of ministry. As I listened to the testimonies given I began to think of this sermon. It was stated multiple ways how both Pastor Steve and Jacqui sought to live content and lived with the realization that what they had came from God and needed to be invested for the advancement of the gospel and to God’s glory.

Testimony was given from a husband and wife who were their neighbors until a couple years ago that they were the reason for hearing the gospel and each member of their family getting saved. Another individual shared how Jacqui was directly used by God to lead her to salvation. Others gave testimony that they were now serving God in large part to Steve and Jacqui submitting their resources to grow Christians through various means.

You and I need to live this out in our lives. What will be said of you and what you did with the resources God has given you when you die?

Are you living content?

Are you investing your resources in eternity?

Are you conscientiously living in the reality that all you have comes from God?

Every Christian needs to be content with what we have, concerned with investing what we have, and conscientious that God is the source of what we have.