WORRY-Be Content Instead

Philippians 4:10–13 NIV

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Context

Paul is in prison, and the Philippians are being persecuted

This is important because this isn’t just, here’s general advice on happiness and contentment

The advice is - here’s how to be content when things are difficult.

The Secret to Contentment -

You need Christ. You don’t need stuff.

This verse doesn’t mean ‘I’ve learned how to survive when i’m poor because God will give me riches’ or ‘i’ve learned how to be emptier because God will fill me back up with all those other things i’m missing’.

it means

‘I’ve learned how to detach myself from the false strength that things tempts me with’.

If you think about it - Paul doesn’t say, i’ve learned how to survive being poor. He says - i’ve learned how to survive being poor AND being rich.

Being poor carries a set of problems. And so does being rich.

If we’re honest with ourselves - A lot of the time,

We feel safe with a lot. We don’t feel safe with a little.

This doesn’t automatically mean just money. It means any quantity of stuff that we collect to make ourselves feel better.

Even Jesus says - wealth, stuff, abundance in general makes it harder to get into the kingdom.

Paul encouraged timothy -

1 Timothy 6:17 NIV

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Again, paul doesn’t say, don’t trust the wealth you get yourself, only trust the money god gives you. He says -

don’t trust stuff. period.

Trust God who is the provider.

Wealth is so uncertain. Stuff is tempoprary.

Proverbs 30:8–9 NIV

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

Paul is saying, i’ve learned that I need Jesus’ strength when I have little. And I need Jesus’ strength when I have much.

Paul calls this process ‘contentment’. It just means, a state of satisfaction and happiness. I have what I need! I’m good!

It’s opposite the image of this wild rush to pleasure, or security, or anything like that.

Having God and Contentment is powerful

1 Timothy 6:6–10 NIV

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

I heard this quote once. ‘He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose’.

Paul wants us to have a proper view of this world - that we didn’t start off with stuff, and we won’t finish with it either. So just aim for God, and whatever you need day to day.

We need to

Learn to trust God alone - and distrust stuff

The key here is - constantly work towards trusting God ONLY. Not, trusting God in addition to health, or wealth, or a nice house.

Matthew 6:24 NIV

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Monitor your stuff level, and more importantly - how much you’re looking to it for comfort.

This isn’t going to be an absolute number or a line in a bank account. I’ve seen people idolize a hundred bucks and brush off a hundred thousand. It’s about what’s in our hearts.

Sometimes, we’re not the best judge of this. Find someone in your life who you trust, and give them permission to say - hey, i think you’re leaning on this thing a little harder than you should.

Learn to pray against stuff, when you’re asking for God

Jesus referenced Solomon’s prayer above. How did Jesus teach us to pray? .… Give us this day our daily bread.… That’s not just a random line.

Pray, Lord - don’t give me too much or too little, just give me what i need today. Because I know I NEED to rely on you, and I NEED to trust you FIRST.