Creating a Thankful Home

Title: Creating a thankful home pt1

Text: Philippians 4:10-13

D.T Condition should not dictate contentment.

Introduction: Philippians 4:13 is one of the most recognizable passages in the New Testament. Countless people have used this passage to motivate them to rise above and meet whatever challenges they encounter. One of the most famous examples of this passage being used comes from this person right here. Tim Tebow would write this passage on his eye black before football games. If you remember watching Tim Tebow play, then you remember that when he’d put that verse on his eye black, you really did believe that Christ had given Tim Tebow divine power. Tebow would lower him and engage linebackers and physical defensive players in contact. He could physically run over the competition, and would carve up the defensive secondary when he passed the football. Tebow's performance would inspire many Christian Athletes to make Philippians 4:13 the text which motivates them to rise above. This would include another quarterback who played in the NCAA around the same time as Tebow. This quarterback likewise displays Philippians 4:13 in writing on his person. I couldn’t tell you who this QB played for or who he was, I just know things didn’t go well. Christ may have indeed given this mystery strength, but his offensive line offered him no protection. This guy would be sacked like 4 times, he threw for at least 2 interceptions and fumble the ball at least once. If I was a non-christian who was led to believe this passage was meant to inspire others to be motivated to rise above the occasion, how would I react to this situation?

I would probably look at the other kid and tell him something like this. I would probably tell him “Obviously Jesus likes Tim Tebow better, because he gave him more strength! Obviously we know this idea is preposterous, Christ loves both athletes equally despite their polar performances. This brings up a conundrum with this passage.

If this passage is meant to motive, inspire and propel others to rise above, what happens when the people in question don’t rise above?

What happens when 2 Christians are competing for the same job, and they use this passage to motivate them to give a good job interview. One gets the job and the other doesn’t. If you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength, what happens when that strength never materializes?

Something doesn’t add up, at some point we have a disconnect. Perhaps the problem lies in how we apply this text? While this passage is often used for motivation, I can confidently say this isn’t the way in which Paul intended this passage to be used. I’m not saying use this passage to motivate you, but I am saying that interpretation of the text sells it short. So how should this text be understood? In order to answer this question, we must first establish the context in which Paul wrote these words. The passages leading up to this verse provides the needed context.

READ Philippians 4:10-13

Philippians 4:10–13 ESV

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. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 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. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

When Paul wrote this passage, he did so while being imprisoned for preaching the gospel. His life is drastically different from the position of privilege he had as a Pharisee. However Paul seems fine that privilege is no longer available to him, because to him he’s found something better.

Paul's says he knows what it's like to have plenty, aka to live in privilege. He also knows what it’s like to be brought low as well. In both cases he has abounded. The key to this passage isn’t found in Philippians 4:13, instead verse 11 holds the key to this passage. I have learned to be content in whatever situation I am in. In verse 12 Paul says I have found the secret to finding this contentment. The secret is that he can do all things through Christ who gives him strength.

This passage is about contentment. Whatever motivation is found in this passage isn’t grounded in rising to the challenge of an occasion. Instead the motivation is found in growing in contentment in Jesus Christ.

We started this message by talking about Tim Tebow, and how we would proudly display this passage on his eye black. Listen to how he interprets this passage. I think you may find it familiar.

What we are blessed with or not blessed with can change in a moment's notice. We can go from having plenty to nothing in the eyes of the world very quickly. However Christ is ever consistent, he is with us whether we have plenty or in need. Human friends and even family may leave us if we lose everything. Those we love may tell us to curse God and die, as Jobs' wife did. However Christ remains forever.

Paul knows he can find contentment in Christ regardless of his circumstances, because it’s ultimately Christ who gets him though those circumstances.

If this passage is interpreted through the lens of being motivated to rise to the occasion, this passage collapses in the midst of failure.

If we interpret this passage through the lens of contentment. This passage remains as true as ever in the midst of failure.Why? Because Jesus is enough. He sustains us when we have success, he sustains us in the midst of failure. In this passage Paul is teaching us that if we learn to make Jesus enough for our lives, then we will reach an inevitable conclusion. Which is this, Condition should not dictate contentment.

Is this true in our lives? It can be really easy to be discontent, because we often believe that we need xyz to be content. Can we be content without them? If not, do we have the correct priorities in life? Is this passage challenging? Do you feel like it would be an immense struggle to reach this point of contentment? If the answer is yes, then it probably means you're being honest with yourself. What do we need to do to make Jesus enough? Because our careers, possessions, achievements wouldn’t be enough to strengthen us in times of hardship and bleakness. Only Christ can strengthen us during times of plenty and blessing, and times of little. Making Jesus enough for our contentment will likely be incredibly challenging. However if we want to ever find contentment should we find ourselves in seasons of bleakness, Jesus will need to be enough.

We are starting a series called “Creating a thankful home” and we are starting with this passage because contentment is such a key aspect of thankfulness right, you may even say they are interchangeable words. However Thanksgiving has a better ring to it than contentmentsgiving. Since Christ is the key to contentment. Since condition does not dictate contentment, wouldn’t you say its important to start off this Thanksgiving season by asking ourselves this question. Is Jesus enough? If not, what do we need to do to make him enough? Afterall we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.