Phil 4:10-23 - Contentment & Compassion

INTRODUCTION:

Today’s text contains a verse that has probably been put on more eye-black, tattooed on more athletes, and leveraged into “merch” than about any other. What if the context of this verse is not about being a superior athlete than your competitor? What if the “all things” in Philippians 4:13 is as much about losing as it is with winning? What if the Lord’s strength is more apparent in defeat, than it is in victory?

In your experience does it take more strength to win graciously or to lose with dignity?

TRANSITION: How do Phil 4:11-12 help us to understand what Paul (writing as a prisoner) is really trying to share with his friends?

Finding Contentment in Christ (Philippians 4:10-13)

Do you think a pacifist or an activist is more committed to his or her cause? I’m convinced that either one could be more committed than the other. Some choose pacifism to avoid conflict (although sometimes their act of resistance introduces conflict). Some choose activism in order to go along with the crowd to which he or she belongs. Either one may be acting out of a profit motive if paid for acts of demonstration.

Ever since I watched paid militants occupy our state capital in Wisconsin as a reaction to Union busting legislation, I have increase my skepticism of demonstrators on both the Left and the Right: BLM, Antifa, and J6 have dulled me to demonstrations of any kind.

I, currently, think that v.11 teaches that contentment is more noble than either pacifism or activism.

Contentment is learned (v.11)

A sense of contentment seems to be unrelated to circumstances.

Have you heard the phrase “desperate times call for desperate measures?”

The reality that Paul was in need, does not seem to elicit despair. But, rather, He had learned to permit need to trigger a learned response.

You may be aware of Pavlov’s dogs. A behavioral scientist learned that dogs could be trained to salivate whenever they heard a bell by associating the ringing of a bell with feeding time. This same learned trigger has been associated to pushing a lever and receiving either pain or pleasure.

4.   If animals can “learn” to make associations like this, then surely humans can learn to disassociate stimuli with responses.

5.   We are not simple animals! As a young child I repeatedly heard my mother (whose birthday I will celebrate this afternoon) say, “David, control your emotions!”

6.   Whatever coping mechanisms you have learned to control temptation or stimuli, the Apostle says he had, and we can, learned to disassociate need from contentment.

Disassociate contentment from circumstance (v.12)

1.   The Apostle mentions being low/abound, facing plenty/hunger, abundance/need.

One of the lessons I struggled with, I actually never overcame it, when I was involved in sales was “prosperity mindset”. I had one employer who trained the sales force to get as much of the customer’s money as we could, regardless of their circumstance. I had gut-honest discussions with my supervisor (who was a believer) about David Ramsey whispering in one ear “debt is an evil master” while our store manager expected every customer to be asked to apply for a credit card in order to increase the immediate sale.

I had another employer who claimed to want us to find the “best solution” for the customer’s situation. And by best, he was looking for the most profitable that would accomplish the customer’s desire.

One employer wanted us to ignore the actual circumstances, believing that the Euphoria of retail therapy would numb the customer until it was too late. The other employer wanted us to minimize the customer’s circumstance for retail advantage.

2.   I felt like the waiter in the 5-star restaurant who could not afford to purchase the meal I am serving, but was supposed to upsell drinks, appetizers, and dessert anyway.

3.   Paul instructs us to permit neither our apparent lack or perceived consumer confidence to undermine God’s preferred perspective—contentment.

Doing All things is not code for “winning” (v.13)

So, if v.13 follows all this instruction about minimizing our situation, it must mean something other than “I will always have positive outcomes”.

Last Sunday I asked one of our youths, “How did you do in your wrestling tournament?” His immediate response was “I didn’t medal”. I then replied, “I didn’t ask you about results, I asked how you did. Did you do your best? Did you learn something new?” He then gained a smile because he found contentment in not medaling.

2.   Doing all things with contentment just may have something to do with NOT making it to the next round of the playoffs, it may just be connected to the promise…

Philippians 4:7 ESV:2016

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

3.   The peace of God is worth more than any medal, trophy or ring!

TRANSITION: How might my learning of contentment impact others around me? Paul said that his contentment made him aware of the kindness of those sharing with his trouble.

I started a daily devotional along with my Daily Scripture reading. The book A Year of Slowing Down: Daily Devotions for Unhurried Living by Alan Fading has been both comfort and challenge. He writes on day 47.

“When you promise to provide us with everything we need, I watch for and receive good things you provide with the intention to be generous with others.”[i]

Demonstrating Compassion through Generosity (Philippians 4:14-19)

Generosity was repeated (vv.15-16)

Dropping your loose change in the red kettle has a good feeling. Giving a hot sandwich to a homeless man satisfies a real need, but true generosity is never limited to a one-time exchange.

Several years ago, our Missions team determined to spread out our giving by selecting a different partner each month who receives the whole year’s participation in one check. While I fully understand that it is easier to write 1 check than 12, there is an unintended consequence. When monthly correspondence comes in, there is both prayer when the check goes out, and praise when the gift is deposited.

We mediate that by having each of our partners connected to an individual on our missions team so that repeated prayers and correspondence happen even if the financial exchange only happens annually.

Generosity benefits (credits) the Giver and recipient (vv.17-18)

The fruit that increases – I appreciate that the Apostle uses the language of fruit rather than just a journal entry.

Fruit is sweet and pleasant

Fruit is timely as it rots if ignored (unlike root vegetables that can be stored in the cellar for long times), but is refreshing when it is fresh.

2. Paul mentions that he received both full payment and more. The more seems to be encouragement related to gifts, offering and sacrifice.

Generosity renewed promise and praise (vv.19-20)

The contentment that Paul had learned, he exhorts to the Philippians in terms of the supply of every need.

Contentment recognizes that we are truly blessed (this was a theme we discussed last Sunday) so that Paul gives glory to God. (v.20) He expressed thanks to the donors, but he gave praise to our Heavenly Father.

TRANSITION: v.20 also supports my final main point, Paul doesn’t only glorify his God, or their God, but our God.

Elevating Community with Grace-filled Greetings (Philippians 4:20-23)

It would have been perfectly consistent with ancient letter writing practices for the epistle to end at v.20. But Paul has more to say!

More than a receipt

This financial sharing results in glory to God

This financial sharing results in greetings between Saints.

Conclusion:

Missions and support-raising are far more than just a financial exchange. When I was paid through faith-based donations, we were exhorted to consider not just building income, but partner development! When we partner with missionaries our faith is developed.

Light to my path

 Biblical joy finds its way into the life that is internally content and externally generous.

Lamp for my Steps

When tempted to grumble, recount my blessings

When I sense greed creeping in, look for an opportunity to extend generosity.

When I encounter others, intentionally choose to greet them.

[i] Fadling, Alan. 2022. A Year of Slowing Down: Daily Devotions for Unhurried Living. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Formatio.