The Competence of Contentment.

Philippians 4:10–13 NASB95

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

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I don’t know how many of you are into action movies, but if you’ve even seen one you may recognize a common theme in the first half hour that’s in just about every action movie. You’re introduced to the protagonist early in the movie, and they’re evidently the person you’re rooting for. There’s something that tells you you’re supposed to like this person and root for them even if they’re flawed in some way, but after you know who you’re rooting for, there’s a moment where their potential becomes evident. It’s often just a hint, but you catch just a glimpse of all this person of good character is capable of and that’s where the movie starts to be exciting. You start asking yourself, “What exactly is our protagonist capable of?”, “What victories will they win with all this potential?”, “What kind of adversity will they face that will challenge this potential?” By the end of the movie, the protagonist has won battles, overcome adversity, and his full potential comes to bear in some final battle or challenge. It’s a simple script if you think about, but I’d like us to ask, “What kind of script has Paul given us?” Does it fit the same pattern of so many great stories or is it different?

We come to a passage today we might be familiar with that has a truly wonderful verse,

Philippians 4:13 NASB95

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

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Normally I would simply start from the beginning, but I’d like us to see where we’re going because every verse leading up to this one helps to define the script if you will. If we simply address this verse by itself without its context, I’m afraid there’s a tendency to follow the same pattern we’ve been taught to follow with so many actions movies. We see in ourselves all this potential in God who strengthens us, and perhaps try to fill in the rest of the story. We might ask ourselves similar questions, “What am I capable of?” “What victories will I win?” “What challenges will I overcome?” I think it’s good for us to ask the questions, but let’s consider how Paul might help us answer those questions. I hope we can see here a bit of a different script in Paul’s letter than we might be used to, but at the end recognize the truly magnificent story it tells, a story better than any man could tell!

The strength of the church is evident in our ability to be content with more or less.

Content with the Concern of the Church

Content with Less

Content with More

Content with the Concern of the Church

Philippians 4:10 NASB95

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.

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Paul wants to make sure the church is aware of his rejoicing and great contentment in his abundance, but its not an ordinary kind of abundance. Paul is content and rejoicing in who he has supporting him, not necessarily the means or potential he has at hand. The church has for some time been concerned for Paul’s well-being but only recently come to a revived concern which likely refers to their material support of Paul in His gospel ministry. At the end of chapter two we were introduced to Epaphroditus, a faithful brother who nearly died in order to bring the financial support provided by the Church at Philippi, which becomes clear at the end of chapter 4. As much as Paul might have reason to be thankful, content, even joyful for the material provision given him, Paul explicitly refers to their concern for him. We should see the fruit of their concern in their financial support of Paul and his ministry, but recognize Paul’s joy is in more than the material, it’s in the heart of the church for Him, their concern for him.

Already we have a bit of a different script developing. If we keep the conclusion of Paul’s argument in view,

Philippians 4:13 NASB95

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

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and set it up against verse 10 I think there’s something striking here. You might expect Paul to rejoice in the potential he has through the strength he has in God, yet Paul’s rejoicing stems from something completely outside of himself that he has no control over. I don’t mean to say we ought not worship and rejoice in all that God has given us in the Spirit. Each of us individually as Christians holds a strength and potential in Christ that we shouldn’t diminish at all. We all have the power of prayer available to us. We are each given gifts to use for the good of the church. All this remains true, but I hope we would see the source of Paul’s rejoicing as the source of true abundance.

Paul being an apostle, it may be tempting to cast him for the role of the protagonist in so many of our familiar stories. Look at this man of great character and gifting. He’s an evangelist to the farthest reaches of the known world at the time. He writes inspired Scripture. Look at all the strength and potential God has given him… Maybe I can have a fraction of his potential so I can do great things for the kingdom? ... I don’t know that this traditional narrative holds up when we see our protagonist rejoicing over the support and care of such an ordinary little church in Philippi. Even with all the potential Paul may find in himself his joy is found in the care and cooperation of the church.

We’ve looked at this little narrative from Paul’s perspective, but what about from the church’s perspective. There’s something noteworthy about comparing vs. 13 to the church as well as Paul. Perhaps the church at Philippi looks at one another and can come to the same conclusion Paul has,

We can do all things through Him who strengthens us!

In whatever circumstance we find ourselves in, the power of God grants us the means to be content, yet Paul clearly acknowledges a concern they still have. It seems antithetical if we step back and look at it, The church is praised for their concern, yet also given this great example of contentment Paul will lay out in a moment.

Here’s what I’d like us to notice: Consistent with the immense potential and provision God has given us for our contentment is a deep desire for the support and needs of the church. That is a desire to be supported by the church and be supporting as the church.

The context of Paul’s potential and contentment is not individualism like so many of the stories we know begin. Should we read, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” and come to the conclusion that we don’t need the church or that others don’t need us, we’ve removed the text from its context.

Application

I hope we would consider for a moment those who we might assume are doing just fine. They’re believers, they can do all things with God’s strength, they have the means in Christ to be content, as much as that is true, might we be concerned as the church at Philippi was for their abundance and joy. We’ve all been given much in Christ, we’ve been given strength, even strength to be content when we’re alone, but no one thrives in isolation. Rarely is their joy and abundance in isolation. As much as we might know that contentment in Christ, might we remain concerned for the well-being and joy of those in difficult places.

Paul goes on to explain, as much as I rejoiced in your support and your concern, I was never in want of material provision.

Content with Less

Philippians 4:11–12 NASB95

11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

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I’ve eluded to it already, but verse 11 is key to our understanding of verse 13. As we approach that passage that may be familiar, let’s be looking for Paul’s understanding of “I can do all things...” . Let’s be looking for what the presence of God’s strength in Paul actually looks like.

Contentment is such a simple idea. It’s plain and ordinary! How many movies start off with the main character just longing and dreaming to be content in their ordinary life? What kind of story would that be? Paul you have all this strength and potential what are you gonna do with it? You’re in prison, maybe you should start by freeing yourself. Paul says nope. I’m good. I’m content with being brought low, but I’m still concerned for the church at Philippi so I’ll write them a letter and send Epaphroditus to make sure they’re doing well. All of Paul’s potential is worked out for his own contentment wherever he may be and for the good of the church.

Paul in our text today is speaking largely in material terms, but the impact of true contentment goes far beyond contentment with our material possessions. It’s perhaps more common in our younger years, but how many people cling to the idea, “If only I had ____________, everything would be great.” They may not even acknowledge it, but there’s very often one thing in the back of their minds that promises them satisfaction and contentment. It starts early doesn’t it.

“If only I could be done with school, everything would be so much better.” I’ll admit to that one. I’ve been there, rather recently actually.

“If only I had a better job...”

“If only I had this or that relationship...”

“If only my health were different...”

“If only the state of our nation were different...”

No matter the season of life, there’s very often a greater good just out of reach that promises some kind of greater contentment.

I want to pause and say, I hope you don’t hear this as a rebuke as if we shouldn’t want or pray for any of these good things. All of these things are indeed good desires! The desire to be done with school, The desire for more productive work, a friend or a spouse, better health. All of these are good desires that we should bring before the Lord in prayer, but I think we need to ask, “What do I expect of this good thing which I desire?” Should we expect any of these things to provide a deep seated contentment then we expect to much from ordinary blessings.

Even Paul wasn’t indifferent to the support of the Philippian church as if he didn’t desire their support in any way.

Philippians 4:10 (NASB95)

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.

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Paul’s contentment doesn’t mean he’s indifferent to all greater blessings.

Epaphroditus travels for days, nearly dies to provide a financial gift to Paul from the church at Philippi, and Paul responds with cold indifference, “What’s this for? I don’t need this, I’m very content.” No Paul says, ‘I rejoiced greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me.’ In some kind of way Paul has looked forward to this abundance, yet it was not necessary for his contentment. He says, “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”

In just a couple weeks we’ll begin looking at the story of Israel and their Exodus from Egypt. It’s a story that begins with a people with a good desire, but as the story goes on we’ll see that Israel never found that deep seated contentment. They continually looked for the next good thing to satisfy them in a way that only God could.

Exodus 2:23 (NASB95)

23 Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God.

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The story begins with a good desire. The underdog desires freedom from his bondage. There’s nothing wrong with that desire! God heard their cry - He heard their prayer and he provided, and yet we’ll see that even such an abundant provision was not enough to grant them contentment.

And so the story goes on through much of the Old Testament really...

“If only we had meat...

“If only Moses would come down from that mountain sooner...

“If only those giants in the promised land weren’t so big...

“If only we could keep just a bit of the plunder...

“If only we had a king...

I find it interesting that Paul finds himself in similar circumstances to Israel. He in his own bondage could have rightly cried out to the Lord for deliverance, a good desire, yet he finds himself content. With particular focus on his contentment with less, he addresses his humble means, his hunger, and suffering need: All this apparently bearing no influence on His contentment.

In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul gives us a list of just how humble and needy his circumstances have been.

2 Corinthians 11:24–30 (NASB95)

24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.

25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.

26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;

27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

29 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?

30 If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness.

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Surely, in all of that.. contentment would be impossible, yet even here Paul’s circumstances are reasons for boasting and not pity. On top of it all this, his stated ‘concern’ is for all the churches and their spiritual walk. I hope we would see that in all of this struggle, toil, hunger, and need, Paul knows an enduring contentment because the basis of his contentment is rooted in His unchanging and gracious God. This is what Paul means when he says, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

No matter the circumstances we find ourselves in, the power and strength of our unchanging, loving Father is for us - sufficient for our contentment, sufficient for us to look beyond our own needs in concern for the church.

I want to acknowledge immediately the sheer burden the call to contentment can be on its own. I think if we’re honest, and we look at our own hearts we recognize longing and desires for good things from a place of discontentment. A discontentment not unlike that of Israel having experienced such a miraculous deliverance in salvation.

It’s important we remember that deliverance - that great salvation. Remember He who was content for us. When Christ came to fulfill the law on our behalf that we might receive His righteousness through faith, His righteousness in contentment is included! Jesus desired a good thing, the fellowship of the Father, when he asked, “Lord is there any other way?” , yet he was content with the Father’s will to crush Him, to suffer crucifixion that we would be saved. Paul suffered much, but it was nothing in comparison to what Christ suffered, and Christ with a perfect contentment. When we see our own discontentment our failure to follow Paul’s example, we repent and look to the sufficiency of What Christ has accomplished for us. His perfect record of contentment is counted as ours through faith! From a position of acceptance and righteousness do we pursue the contentment Paul describes.

And it needs to be said, we do not pursue contentment by merely trying to be content with less, but by being content with all that Christ is! Paul mentions even the seasons of abundance in which he knew contentment making it clear to us, it’s not about being content with less as if being in need is right. It’s about being content in all that God is independent of our circumstances.

If we think about it, Paul’s argument here is completely dependent on a Christian worldview. It’s just foolishness in the eyes of the world.

Content with More

Philippians 4:11–13 NASB95

11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

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We’re following Paul, this all makes sense (content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means,) And then he says, “I also know how to live in prosperity.”

followed by, “I have learned the secret of being filled … having an abundance.”

Any ordinary person, us included might start to ask a few questions.

Paul I don’t think there’s anything praiseworthy or difficult about “knowing how to live in prosperity.”

I’m sure if prosperity just dropped in my lap one day i’d figure it out!

Also, what’s so secret about being filled and having abundance? Once you have an abundance you have everything you could want. That’s it… Or is it?

Maybe Paul is on to something!

Paul recognizes from personal experience that contentment is necessary no matter how much we have because no matter how much we have, the human heart will never be content apart from Christ. Prosperity, being filled, having abundance their all relative terms. No matter how much we have, little or much, it all falls short of the supreme satisfaction found in God Himself.

The Preacher in Ecclesiastes attained for himself an unparalleled wealth and yet concludes

Ecclesiastes 2:10–11 (NASB95)

10 All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor.

11 Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.

We have no shortage of modern examples either.

John D. Rockefeller, founder of the Standard Oil Company in 1870, was the richest man in America during his day. He was asked the question, “How much is enough?” He famously answered, “Just a little bit more!”

Elon Musk is the richest man on the planet today. If you’re not familiar with him, he’s known for wanting to put men on mars. Apparently this planet and the moon isn’t enough.

I believe Augustine said it better than most.

“You have made us for Yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.”

No matter our material provision, we will never find contentment and remain restless until we find our rest in God. It’s how we are made. We can’t properly function apart from the presence and power of God in our lives. When Paul says, “I can do all things…” he’s not just talking about the adversity of life, the test we’re about to take, or the big game we’re about to play. He’s talking about all of life: The hard days, the ordinary days, even the days when life is easy and blessing is abundant. We can’t do even the easiest of tasks apart from the strength of Christ because without Him, we’re still discontent. Perhaps quite a bit can be achieved in a worldly sense apart from God, but what is all worldly achievement if at the end of the day there is no contentment?

For us as Christians, I hope we would take this as good news! No matter where you are right now, whether you’ve come to know an abundance of blessing or an abundance of humility, contentment is possible because God is for us in power through the presence of the Holy Spirit! A power which may not present itself in ways the world might expect, but rather a power of faith which rests in our Savior’s work for us, the Father’ sovereign work for our good, and the ever present Spirit who comforts us.

As much as I might prefer a script with a little more action in it, I do enjoy watching It’s a Wonderful Life every year. We’re introduced to George Bailey, a man of character with all kinds of ambitions and potential. He’s going to travel the world... until real life hits. You never get the satisfaction of seeing all that George would have done with all his potential like you do in the action movies. Maybe that’s why I thought it was so boring as a kid. From beginning to end he’s never content. He has the continual thought, “If only I could see the world...” “If only dad hadn’t died...” “If only I didn’t have this old business...” “If only uncle Billy hadn’t lost all that money...” Until he realize all he has:.. the people in his life, particularly his family. In the gift of family and friends he finally comes to find contentment. It’s a good script! Somewhat like the one Paul gives us. At the end of the day our contentment isn’t in what we have. It’s never right around the corner. It’s not even the friends and family in our life, but it is in a person. The person of Christ! The abundance we have in salvation is sufficient for our contentment. That is our strength as the church! Not necessarily the ability to achieve extraordinary feats of heroism, but rather the ability for everyone to gather together content such that we can be concerned for the well-being of one another.

We don’t set ourselves apart from the world by being able to be content with less. It’s actually the opposite. We set ourselves apart from the world by being content with more - with God Himself, who is more than all the world’s possessions and well-being could offer.

Might we take to heart the words of the Psalmist:

Psalm 34:8 (NASB95)

8 O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

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for when we taste and see the goodness of the LORD and are truly content, that’s the day our concern can turn from our own circumstances to that of our brother’s and sisters. And should the Lord provide for what we pray and bless us with more good than we deserve, we can be truly grateful.

Let’s Pray