Christian Contentment

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.

I have been looking forward to this sermon for a long time. For every pastor, there are passages that the pastor loves to talk about or to preach on. Today’s passage is one of those for me.

I have said before that there are three rules for understanding the meaning of a text.

Three Rules of Biblical Interpretation:

Context

Context shows a verse’s meaning within its setting, between verses, within its paragraph, within the chapter, within the book, and within Scripture as a whole. By looking at the context in which a verse is set, we can better understand what God is saying to us through His Word.

There is a funny story that has been told for decades about a man who knew that he should read his Bible, but was not sure what passage to turn to. So he used the “blindfold” method. This is where you close your eyes, randomly flip to a page, put your finger on a verse, and then see how it applies to your situation. (BTW - I would never suggest someone do that). So this guy closes his eyes, opens his Bible, and randomly flips to a page, and puts his finger on a verse. This man opened his eyes and saw that his finger was on Matthew 27:5

Matthew 27:5

So (Judas) threw the silver into the temple and departed. Then he went and hanged himself.

Not a helpful verse in this situation. So he closes his eyes and tries again. This time, he opens up to Luke 10:37, which says:

Luke 10:37

…Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”

Now it’s even worse. So he decides to try one more time. This time his finger lands on John 18:27, which says this:

John 13:27

So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”

Now, this is a very hyperbolic story about taking verses out of the context in which they were written. Without the surrounding verses and stories, these verses could mean anything WE want them to.

“I can do all things through a verse taken out of context.”

2nd Opinions 4:13

However, in order to understand Scripture as God wants us to understand it, we must look at passages of Scripture within the context in which they are written.

Philippians 4:13 is one of those verses that people have tried to get to say whatever they want it to. Athletes have it written on their eye-black or their shoes. Actors will put it under their signature when signing memorabilia for fans. Today, we will see just what Paul meant when he said that he could do all things through Christ who strengthens him.

Paul’s humility and grace in following after Christ allowed him to know that whatever situation he was in, God would take care of him. Whether in jail, poor, or hungry, he was content. Whether well fed, wealthy, or free from his chains, he was content. It takes a supernatural strength to be content in every situation. And that is what Paul is telling the Philippians that God gives him the strength to do.

Big Idea: God gives us the strength to be content in any situation.

Though I said that I have been looking forward to preaching on this passage, I will be honest and say that studying this text was a real gut-punch for me because I can find myself often lacking contentment in this life. So, if at any time in this sermon you feel like I am hammering on something really hard and you almost feel attacked, know that writing this sermon was like getting a holy beatdown from the Lord concerning my own lack of contentment in this life.

Philippians 4:10

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it.

Paul tells the Philippians that he rejoiced in the fact that they were able to renew their care for him. He states that he knows they had been thinking about Paul for a while, considering it had been about 10 years since they had previously sent a gift to help with his ministry, but had not had the opportunity to show him their concern. This was the first time in years that the Philippian church was able to help out Paul in a physical, tangible way. This gift was what Epaphroditus had brought to Paul, which we read about in Philippians chapter 2. This gives the apostle great joy that they have chosen to help him out.

Philippians 4:11-12

I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.

Paul assures his readers that his joy over their giving is not because he was in desperate need of help to continue ministering. He states that he could have continued to minister without the help because he has learned to be content in any circumstance he finds himself in.

The apostle tells his readers that he has experienced living in poverty and in prosperity. Paul had been in prison, where he did not have much at all. He had also lived in prosperity. Though we may not see Paul talk much about his prosperity in Scripture, we can make some educated guesses as to what he means.

Paul was born in the Roman city of Tarsus. This was considered a wealthy city in the Roman Empire. Paul was also very well educated. He studied under the Rabbi Gamaliel, who was a Pharisee, a part of the Sanhedrin (the religious court of the Jews), and as we can see in Acts chapter 5, he was a well-respected man among the people of Israel.

Paul said he knew how to make do when he only had a little, and also when he had an abundance. No matter what circumstance Paul found himself in, he knew how to be content.

Paul deals with contentment in a few of the letters he wrote to churches. In the first of his two letters that we have in Scripture that he wrote to the young pastor, Timothy, he also speaks of contentment.

1 Timothy 6:6-10

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

We live in a world where we constantly see other people who are “better off” or just plain have more money than we do. It can be difficult not to be jealous of seeing friends and family members go on vacations around the world. I have found myself thinking that, “It just doesn’t seem fair.” But all that is jealousy and coveting. It's a lack of contentment in where God has me.

It can be especially difficult to be content when you are struggling financially. You may have enough money each month to pay the bills, put food on the table, and put gas in your car, but you do not really have anything else left over—no fun money. There is nothing extra for going out to dinner, or even just getting takeout. You can’t afford to put your kids in other activities outside of school. It can be deflating and defeating.

However, you did have enough to pay the bills. You were able to put food on your table. You could put gas in your car to be able to get to the job that provides the money to pay the bills and put food on the table.

I am not trying to downplay the struggles of trying to make money in this country, especially in this part of the U.S., where the cost of living is ridiculous. But just for reference, if you make the national minimum wage of $7.25 per hour (not the $16+ that we have here in the state of Washington), which equals out to $15,000 per year - you make more money in a year than 90% of the world’s population.

Again, I understand that in the United States we have a higher cost of living than in other countries. But if you are earning a wage in this country, you are rich by the rest of the world’s standards.

Paul said here in 1 Timothy that wanting to be rich, and having the constant desire for more money, is a trap! It will lead to our ruin! Paul says that some have become so obsessed with money that they have left the faith altogether!

*This does not mean that we should not work hard at our jobs. When we work hard in the job God has blessed us with (working for the Lord and not for men), we will often find ourselves with the blessing of a bigger paycheck, or a promotion that comes with a bigger paycheck.

Or perhaps you deal with emotional struggles that make it hard to function like you want to. Your mind is filled with anxious thoughts, past trauma seems to haunt you so that you cannot find a release from it. God can provide you peace and contentment where you are at.

If you deal with physical limitations or pain that constantly causes you to feel unable to do what you want to do, that can be debilitating. However, you can find peace in the pain through trusting that God is working in you and for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Just as we saw Paul write in Philippians a couple of weeks ago, we are to pray and be thankful. Here in 1 Thessalonians Paul said to give thanks in “everything.” Now, I think it is important to understand what the word “everything” means. It means EVERYTHING.

When we are in a great place in our lives where we could say we are living in prosperity, we should be thankful to God that HE provided that prosperity to you. When you are struggling to pay the bills or you are dealing with medical ailments, we should be thankful to God for how he has provided even the things that we do have. We also should thank God for the trials that we face in our lives because those are opportunities to look even harder to God, to trust him more, and to see how his peace can work in us when there may be no human reasoning for peace in the situation.

Next Step: I will thank God for his provision

(Thankful for tastebuds)

We can be disappointed about where we are in our lives. But we cannot let that disappointment take over our thoughts and mindset. I have mentioned before that my family is going through the book of Ecclesiastes each night after dinner. When reading Ecclesiastes, we have to remember that Solomon wrote that book at the end of his life, when many question whether he was following after God any more at all, after seeing so many things in the world, and chasing after so many things like money, pleasure, and fame. The book comes across as very pessimistic. However, I think we need to see that Solomon is telling us about the stark realities of this world that we cannot understand.

In Ecclesiastes 6:3-9, Solomon gives an example of a man who was not content or satisfied with what he had in his life. So Solomon makes a comparison that may catch us off guard, but shows how severe discontent is in the eyes of God.

Ecclesiastes 6:3-9

A man may father a hundred children and live many years. No matter how long he lives, if he is not satisfied by good things and does not even have a proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. For he comes in futility and he goes in darkness, and his name is shrouded in darkness. Though a stillborn child does not see the sun and is not conscious, it has more rest than he (His birth would have been meaningless, and he would have ended in darkness. He wouldn’t even have had a name, and he would never have seen the sun or known of its existence. Yet he would have had more peace than in growing up to be an unhappy man. NLT). And if a person lives a thousand years twice, but does not experience happiness, do not both go to the same place?

All of a person’s labor is for his stomach,

yet the appetite is never satisfied.

What advantage then does the wise person have over the fool? What advantage is there for the poor person who knows how to conduct himself before others? Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

These are chilling words from Solomon. He starts here with a man who has one hundred children and has lived a long life of many years. We need to stop right here for a second. These two things, many children and a long life, are considered two of the greatest earthly blessings that we can receive from the Lord.

In this hypothetical example, the old man with many children is not satisfied, or should we say content, with the things that God has given to him. This kind of discontent and lack of satisfaction in God’s provision can develop a reputation that would lead to people not showing up to his funeral. That is what it means when Solomon says the man does not have a proper burial.

Solomon says that it would be better if that man had been stillborn. It would be better to die in the womb, having never seen the sun, not having a name, or ever being able to understand one’s existence.

A person who lives for two thousand years but does not experience joy in life is going to die just like everyone else. But what is the point in living that long if you are just going to be miserable and not find joy in the things God has given you?

In every case, disappointments should be borne with the greatest possible patience and equanimity. I am sorry to say that we do not all bear them so, not even all of us who profess to be Christians. Remember that God has never promised that all our expectations shall be fulfilled, it would have been a doubtful blessing if such a thing had been guaranteed to us, and we might easily have expected ourselves into utter misery.

Who are you that everything should happen just as you wish? Should the weather be fine simply because you want it to be so when a thousand fields are gasping for rain? Should you have the channels of trade turned in your direction when, if that were the case, scores of others would be beggared? Is everything in this world to be so arranged that you shall be the darling and pet of providence?

Charles Spurgeon

Spurgeon just dropped the mic here. This spits in the face of movements within the church that say that we can just expect certain earthly blessings from God, all we have to do is just “name it and claim it!” This type of theology breeds discontentment in the church like rabbits on a farm. When we try to “name it and claim it,” we may be trying to claim what we think would be “blessings”, but that Jesus knows could actually destroy us. That is what Spurgeon was getting at when he stated that if God fulfilled all of our expectations, it would not be a blessing to us but could instead send us to utter misery.

Everyone take a deep breath. I know that with some sermons, I can get intense, and it may feel like I am just beating you down with a Scriptural 2x4.

Contentment is hard.

It is not easy to rest where God has you when you know others have more, or can do more, than you, or when you can’t do as much as you think you should be able to. It can be hard when you have plenty, to be happy with where you are and not try to push even harder for more.

But there is hope and help for us who struggle with contentment.

Philippians 4:13

I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.

Paul knew how to live in any situation because God gave him the strength to do all things. The apostle tells his readers that God helps him endure all the things he faced in this life. God helped Paul when he had plenty and was proclaiming the truth of God, and people were repenting of their sins and believing in Christ. I am sure that was exhausting work for Paul. But God carried him through.

God helped Paul endure the house arrest he found himself under as he wrote this letter. Paul did not know if he would be taken away to be executed at any moment. If you remember, at the end of Philippians 2, Paul said he was still waiting to see what would happen to him in Rome. In that time in prison, under house arrest, he is still writing to the Philippian church about having joy in the Lord.

Paul was ready for his life here on earth to end. He was not suicidal, but instead, he was ready to be with Jesus. In Philippians 1, he says that he longed to be with Christ, but knew that it was more necessary for others that Paul remain in his earthly body, to help the church and continue to proclaim the goodness of Christ.

With all that he had faced in his life, and what he was facing when he wrote this letter, that takes a supernatural peace and a contentment that can only be found in Christ.

Last week, we looked at how Paul told his readers to think about the things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. All of these things are attributes of Christ. When our thoughts are on him, we can have the peace to trust him in any circumstance. When we read our Bibles, asking the Holy Spirit to apply its truths to our hearts and minds, we will find it easier and easier to have contentment in our lives.

Next Step: I will ask God for the strength to be content.

Philippians 4:14

Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.

As Paul has been telling his readers that he could have gotten along without the gift they sent, actually saying that he didn’t “need it,” he lets them know that he is actually thankful for the gift. Paul wanted to let the Philippian church know that he appreciated their gift and is not wanting to come off as ungrateful.

Has anyone here given a gift to someone and they said, “Thank you! I didn’t really need this, but thank you anyway.” It can come of as them being ungrateful for your gift. In our minds we substitute “I didn’t really NEED this” with “I didn’t really WANT this.”

However, Paul is just trying to use the opportunity to share with the Philippians that God has helped him to be content in his situation and that he considered the gift of the Philippian church to be an unexpected blessing from them and from God.

Today, I invite you to reflect deeply on your life and the state of your heart. In a world that often leads us to chase after fleeting desires and material gains, we find ourselves yearning for something more—something eternal. The Apostle Paul teaches us in Philippians 4:10-14 that true contentment does not come from our circumstances but from a relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you feel weighed down by sin, discontentment, or the burdens of this world, know that there is hope. Jesus calls us to repent of our sins and turn away from the empty pursuits that will leave us unfulfilled. This is not merely a change of mind; it is a change of heart, as the Holy Spirit works in us to take out a heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh. This is a complete submission of our lives to Him. He desires to take your pain, your struggles, and your doubts, and replace them with peace and contentment that surpasses all understanding.

How can we find this peace? The answer lies in surrendering your life to Christ. Acknowledge your need for Him, confess your sins, and turn away from them. In doing so, you open your heart to His transformative power. As you submit your life to Him, He will provide the strength you need to face any circumstance, just as he did for Paul.

Next Step: I will submit my life to Christ

This is not an easy path. It requires humility and a willingness to trust in God’s greater plan for your life. Allow Him to fill the void that nothing else can satisfy. Today, submit to Christ and seek Him wholeheartedly. Embrace the joy that comes from knowing you are loved, forgiven, and set free in Christ. Take this step, and watch how He transforms your life from the inside out. There is not better day than today.

Let us pray. (Contentment, p 294, Valley of Vision)

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