Untitled Sermon (4)
Finding Joy in Every Situation
Bible Passage: Philippians 4:11
1. Learning Limits Leads
2. Perspective Promotes Peace
3. Strength in Situations
The Secret to Lasting Joy
Bible Passage: Philippians 4:11
1. Joy Unlocked By Faith
2. Contentment In Christ Alone
3. Learning Lasting Gratitude
Desired or Required? There are two terms in the New Testament that are both often translated as need, but there is an important distinction between them that Paul relies upon in this passage. It is akin to the difference in English between lack/shortage versus need. The former is quantifiable and does not refer to the total absence of something. The latter is generally not quantifiable; it’s either there or it’s not. Why is this distinction important here? When Paul talks about learning to be content in 4:10, he is talking about a lack or shortage. When he talks about God meeting needs, he is referring to that non-quantifiable must-have—the thing needed to accomplish a given task. The lack/shortage term can be thought of as something that is desired, not required. The other term most often refers to things that are necessary or required.
As Paul talks about learning to be content in all sorts of circumsta
Being content is not contingent upon having all that you want, but on being thankful and satisfied with what you have. the more we get the more we want
14. CONTENT IN CRISIS
The apostle is imprisoned in Rome, chained to the elite Roman guards who serve in Caesar’s household. He is awaiting trial before Caesar with his own life at stake, confined under house arrest, and unable to move about with freedom. As for any active man, being shut up under house arrest in chains for two years must have made him feel like a caged lion held against his will.
Paul’s Contentment
But still, we must ask, how can Paul be rejoicing in the midst of imprisonment? How can he know gladness while being unjustly treated as a common criminal? The answer is found in what follows: “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” (v 11). This is a staggering statement for Paul to make, given where he is and what he is suffering. Paul can say, All my needs are met. “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned …” Let us just stop right there.
What Paul learned is what you and I must learn. Paul did not learn this sitting at the feet of Gamaliel, the rabbi who schooled him in Judaism (
The Widow’s Offering
41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
a penny The Greek word used here refers to a small monetary denomination worth 1/64th a denarius. A denarius was worth about a day’s labor.
12:44 her whole means of subsistence This links the widow’s action to the greatest commandment (see note on v. 30) and to Jesus’ explanation of what belongs to God (see note on v. 17).
11. Content (αὐτάρκης). Lit., self-sufficient. Only here in the New Testament. A stoic word, expressing the favorite doctrine of the sect, that man should be sufficient to himself for all things; able, by the power of his own will, to resist the shock of circumstance. Paul is self-sufficient through the power of the new self: not he, but Christ in him. The kindred noun αὐταρκεία sufficiency, occurs
11. I have learned—The I in Greek is emphatical. I leave it to others if they will, to be discontented. I, for my part, have learned, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, and the dealings of Providence (
But the second factor in producing contentment is a Christian’s own attitude towards circumstances. As Christians we may start complaining when times are hard; or we may discipline ourselves to be content, reckoning that we have enough, no matter what. Paul is speaking personally in these verses, and he testifies that ‘enough’ and ‘contentment’ are relative terms—relative to what we feel ourselves to need. There is a discipline of self whereby one does not need more than one has.
First of all we must decide not to covet. We have already noted how jealously Paul preserved his financial detachment from the rewards of gospel preaching, and how he even endangered the sincerity of his expressions of thanks to the Philippians for their generous gift. Not that I complain of want (verse 11); Not that I seek the gift (verse 17). But in reality he is not giving backhanded or grudging thanks; he is safeguarding the great Christian opposite of covetousness, that is, contentment. It had been used by the Stoic philosophers to describe the man of emotionless, wooden impassivity, the man whom nothing could touch because in himself he had found a completely satisfying world. Paul rescued the word and made it mean the ‘restful contentment’ of the Christian, the opposite of the desire for more. Because he had freed himself from the covetous spirit, he was able to ‘ride’ every sort of circumstance (verses 11–12). David of old, great man though he was, fell before the temptations of hardship and of prosperity alike. Joseph, earlier on, had triumphed in each arena.11 Paul was in the line of Joseph. Circumstances no longer had power to touch him, for he was content.
This contentment was something which he learned. The expression I have learned (verse 11) stresses the personal pronoun, as though Paul was also enquiring whether the Philippians and we ourselves shared his experience; ‘I have learned (have you?).’ When did he learn it, and how? We could understand the verb to speak of a decisive and memorable past event, possibly on the Damascus road, or, if 3:7 refers to some other occasion than that, some experience of Christ which once and for all drove the desire for worldly prosperity right out of his mind. But it is more likely that he uses this decisive verbal form in order to show what a fixed and unchangeable feature of his character this is. He will never be different. For in the second half of verse 12 he uses another verb, I have learned the secret, which was used in the Greek mystery religions to describe people who had worked their way up through the various lower ‘degrees’ and had finally been admitted into full possession of ‘the mystery’ itself. Paul say, ‘I have made my way up through the degrees of progressive detachment from the things of the world, its comforts and its discomforts alike, and finally I have reached maturity on this point. I know the secret; circumstances can never again touch me.’ Thus contentment is the mark of a mature believer, and an objective to be cultivated by all believers who want to grow in Christ, who had ‘nowhere to lay his head’.
11 I have learned to be content The apostle Paul was a very learned man, but not the least among his manifold acquisitions in science was this—he had learned to be content. That was not an easy lesson to learn, especially when one of those states meant being in prison at Rome. If he was ever in the Mamertine, those of us who have been in that dungeon would confess that it would take a deal of grace to make us content to be there. And if he was shut up in the prison of the Palatine hill, in the barracks near the morass, it was, to say the least, not a desirable place to be in. A soldier chained to your hand day and night, however good a fellow he may be, does not always make the most delightful company for you, nor you for him, and it takes some time to learn to be content with such a companion. But, says Paul, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”
Contentment in all states is not a natural propensity of man. Ill weeds grow apace; covetousness, discontent, and murmuring are as natural to man as thorns are to the soil. You have no need to sow thistles and brambles; they come up naturally enough, because they are indigenous to earth. So you have no need to teach men to complain; they complain fast enough without any education. But the precious things of the earth must be cultivated. If we would have wheat, we must plough and sow; if we want flowers, there must be the garden, and all the gardener’s care. Now, contentment is one of the flowers of heaven, and if we would have it, it must be cultivated. It will not grow in us by nature; it is the new nature alone that can produce it, and even then we must be especially careful and watchful that we maintain and cultivate the grace that God has sown in it. Paul says, “I have learned to be content,” as much as to say he did not know how at one time.
Is not that a splendid piece of learning? Paul was a learned man, and so are you, if you have learned this lesson. You may not be able to put D.D., or LL.D., after your name; but you are a learned man if you can say, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”
12 I know how both to make do with little and I know how to have an abundance These are two grand things to learn. There are some who know the first, but who do not know the second. I have known several of God’s children who seemed quite eminent for piety when they were abased, but they were never worth anything after they grew rich. They did not know how to abound; they became top-lofty, and far too great for their place.
It was not so with the apostle. When he had much, he knew how to use it. He had asked of God that he might be kept humble—that when he had a full sail he might have plenty of ballast; that when his cup ran over he might not let it run to waste; that in his time of plenty he might be ready to give to those that needed; and that as a faithful steward he might hold all he had at the disposal of his Lord. This is divine learning.
Prayer Against the Temptation of Prosperity
Preaching Themes: Prayer, Temptation, Wealth
There was once a square piece of paper put up into George Whitefield’s pulpit, by way of a notice, to this effect: “A young man who has lately inherited a large fortune requests the prayers of the congregation.”
Right well was the prayer asked, for when we go up the hill we need prayer that we may be kept steady. Going down the hill of fortune there is not half the fear of stumbling. The Christian far oftener disgraces his profession in prosperity than when he is being abased.
I have learned the secret Was he not a true Master of Arts? He had mastered the art of being hungry without murmuring, the art of being full without boasting, the art of suffering need without impatience, the art of abounding without setting his affection on worldly things.
There is nothing in hunger, or thirst, or nakedness, or peril, to invite our contentment. If we are content under such circumstances, it must be from higher motives than our condition itself affords. Hunger is a sharp thorn when in the hands of stern necessity. But hunger may be voluntarily endured for many an hour when conscience makes a man willing to fast. Reproach may have a bitter fang, but it can be bravely endured, when I am animated by a sense of the justice of my cause. Now Paul counted that all the ills that befell him were just incident to the service of his Lord. So for the love he bore to the name of Jesus, the hardships of servitude or self-mortification sat lightly on his shoulders, and were brooked cheerily by his heart.
to be filled and to be hungry When men have too much of God’s mercies—strange that we should have to say this, and yet it is a great fact—it often happens that they have but little of God’s grace, and little gratitude for the bounties they have received. They are full, and they forget God. Satisfied with earth, they are content to do without heaven. Rest assured, it is harder to know how to be full than it is to know how to be hungry. To know how to be hungry is a sharp lesson, but to know how to be full is the harder lesson after all. So desperate is the tendency of human nature to pride and forgetfulness of God! As soon as we have a double stock of manna, and begin to hoard it, it breeds worms and becomes a stench in the nostrils of God.
to have an abundance and to go without These are both hard lessons to learn; I do not know which is the more difficult of the two. Probably it is easier to know how to go down than to know how to go up. How many Christians have I seen grandly glorifying God in sickness and poverty when they have come down in the world, and how often have I seen other Christians dishonoring God when they have grown rich, or when they have risen to a position of influence among their fellow men! These two lessons grace alone can fully teach us.
13 I am able to do all things by the one who strengthens me There is no boasting in this declaration; Paul only spoke what was literally the truth. The former part of the sentence would be a piece of impudent daring without the latter part to interpret it.
Three Who Trusted In Their Own Power to “Do All Things”
Preaching Themes: Power, Pride
There have been some men who, puffed up with vanity, have in their hearts said, “I can do all things.” Their destruction has been sure, and near at hand. Nebuchadnezzar walks through the midst of the great city; he sees its stupendous tower threading the clouds. He marks the majestic and colossal size of every erection, and he says in his heart, “Is this not the great Babylon which I have built?” (
When Gehazi in his greed begged of Naaman a talent of silver, Naaman said (
Gehazi’s Greed and Punishment
15 Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.” 16 But he said, “As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17 Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the LORD. 18 In this matter may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon your servant in this matter.” 19 He said to him, “Go in peace.”
But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” 21 So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?” 22 And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’ ” 23 And Naaman said, “Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi. 24 And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. 25 He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.” 26 But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? 27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.
Prisoner of the Lord
Prisoner of Rome
Prisoner of Jesus
Contentment
What ruins contentment?
Contentment comes from Christ
But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
4:10–11 Paul is grateful for the Philippians’ support, but he wants them to know that even in difficult circumstances he has learned … to be content.
4:12–13 The secret of living amid life’s difficulties is simple: trusting God in such a way that one can say, I can do all things through him who strengthens me. This does not mean God will bless whatever a person does; it must be read within the context of the letter, with its emphasis on obedience to God and service to God and others.
LEARN
will listen and l to fear the LORD
What do you think you need in order to be content? Do you need more stuff? Do you need a bigger house that makes it on HGTV? Do you need a car with a pool in it? Do you need a different place to live? Or do you think a mud hut in Africa would make you more content? Paul is teaching us the hard, sobering truth that the rare jewel of Christian contentment has nothing to do with our circumstances. It’s found in Christ. We need Him.
Contentment is learned (4:11–12). Twice Paul says that he learned contentment. Contentment wasn’t “zapped” into his heart. Through many experiences, Paul learned that Christ was enough. Paul knew abundance. He knew what it was like to be hosted by the wealthy Lydia in Philippi. Surely he had some wonderful dinners with some wealthy Christian friends in Ephesus and Corinth. But he was no more content during such experiences. One might argue that it’s harder to be content in abundance than in need. Calvin writes,
He who knows how to use present abundance soberly and temperately with thanksgiving, prepared to part with everything whenever it may please the Lord, giving also a share to his brother according to his ability, and is also not puffed up, that man has learned to excel and to abound. This is an excellent and rare virtue, and much greater than the endurance of poverty. (Cited in Hughes, Philippians, 185)
Paul also knew hardship. Lest we think he’s blowing smoke, just read through the New Testament! Here’s a sample of his hardships from his Corinthian correspondence:
Up to the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty; we are poorly clothed, roughly treated, homeless; we labor, working with our own hands. (
Why You Should Care about Philippians
Paul’s overall message to the Philippians is about how to live as a Christian in a non-Christian world—and Paul’s message speaks to us today. As one of Paul’s Prison Letters, Philippians bears witness to the hostility he encountered as he proclaimed the Jewish Messiah throughout a pagan empire.
Background and Date
The Epistle to the Philippians finds its historical framework of reference against
