March 18, 2018 Morning Service

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF MANCHESTER Sunday morning. PHILIPPIANS 4:10-13 Contentment and envy cannot coexist at the same time LESSONS FOR LIVING Envy of what others have, their accomplishment, CULTIVATE abilities, - make us hate people we don’t even know. We may have never even had a conversation with CONTENTMENT them, but we don’t like them…. PASTOR DAVID SAYLOR MARCH 18, 2018 (When your on an airplane and you walk thru 1st Phil. 4:10-13 class to get to your seat. I don’t like them! I don’t know them…..) Today we continue our Lessons for Living in Philippians. Uncomfortable and challenging. Before we dive into the passage, I want to share And today we encounter in our passage, a th staggering claim. I’ve learned to be content. something another has written on this. In 17 century, 1 Puritan Jeremiah Burroughs wrote book entitled, “The in whatever situation I am to be content rare secret of Christian contentment.” Two quick In any and every circumstance, I have learned the points: 2 secret (of contentment) 1. (Title) Envy and discontent may be a bigger It’s staggering because we live in a world of dis- problem in our day with all the things we have contentment. We are often dis-contented. invented, BUT it is not just a modern problem. Present Tense True in 1st century, and the 17th too. . 2. In his book he that Christian Contentment is one It was spring, But it was summer I wanted, The warm days, And the great outdoors. of the sure ways to tell if a person is progressing It was summer, But it was fall I wanted, into being a mature follower of Christ. The colorful leaves, And the cool, dry air. “If you want to know where they are along the It was fall, But it was winter I wanted, path of Christian maturity, open up their treasure The beautiful snow, And the joy of the holiday season. chest and see it there is that rare jewel of It was winter, But it was spring I wanted, Christian contentment.” The warmth, And the blossoming of nature. Setting I was a child, But it was adulthood I wanted, Philippi about 600 mi. from Rome. Down by the The freedom, And the respect. River was Lydia and others who came to believe in I was 20, But it was 30 I wanted, Jesus. Paul now in prison. They loved him and sent a To be mature, And sophisticated. person and gifts to help Paul in prison. (v. 18) I was middle-aged, But it was 20 I wanted, While there Epaphroditus got ill to point of death, The youth, And the free spirit. recovered and now being sent back by Paul with this I was retired, But it was middle age I wanted, letter. The presence of mind, Without limitations. Philippians 2:28 (ESV)28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him My life was over. again, and that I may be less anxious. But I never got what I wanted. Do you notice the note on anxiety. The same Paul who in Philippians 4:6 wrote do not be anxious about Discontentment. In the place of contentment is anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication Envy. Envy is a horrible thing that often robs us of with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to enjoyment of life. God. I’ve found these verses uncomfortable for a week, Even Paul had anxiety and worry to deal with. and I don’t feel like you shouldn’t get out of it on a 1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version 2 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Php 4:11. (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Php 4:12. But now Paul is thanking them for once again, after a wealthy business woman named Lydia becomes a a long time believer and invites Paul into her home to continue the Philippians 4:10 (ESV)10 I rejoiced in the Lord ministry. Presumably her home was really nice. It has greatly that now at length you have revived your matching towels, has different kinds of soap, the linens concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but are fresh and clean. And his needs are taken care of. you had no opportunity. (Paul moved around a lot) they That was one day. Then another day he has no house, he has no soap. He has a tree and an old were seeking to help him and they did. sleeping bag. And he’s thinking, “Man, Lydia’s house is But as much as it was appreciated, his goes on in vv. so nice!” “And this here, it’s so bad.” 10-13 to tell then that with or without he would still be Then he catches himself and thinks, “Wait a minute. OK. If I think like this, then my life is going to be a roller Philippians 4:11 (ESV)11 Not that I am speaking of coaster constantly. I’m either going to be intoxicated being in need,(and the reason I don’t…) for I have by things, or I’m going to overwhelmed by the absence learned in whatever situation I am to be content. of wonderful things. And either way I’m going to be Is this some kind of “other worldly” existence neutralized. I’ll never be able to serve Christ. reserved for some special class of spiritual giant? No Either enamored and can’t live without it, or I’ll be it is not. so ticked off when I don’t have it, that I won’t be able to preach. There must be a secret to this? When he writes his final words in 2 Timothy 4 (9- To have “this” or “this” but to have your 13), again in a dungeon he says: contentment “calibrated” by something else to • Please come soon…. Because I’m lonely. And I something other than those two experiences? That’s need the friendship. the challenge, isn’t it? Oh, I’ve got to learn the secret. • Bring my cloak… because I’m cold, need to snuggle Otherwise I’ll envy anyone who has more in things up. or talents or circumstances than I do. • Bring the books… because I’m bored and need to read. WHAT IT’S NOT Now wait a minute. Is this the same guy who said I The word Paul used for contentment was used by am content whether I have plenty or I’m in want? Yes pagans as well. For them it meant a stoic self- it is. sufficiency. A detachment. To emotionally shut out the circumstances. Like Paul Simons’, “I am a rock I am He wants them, but he’ll be fine if they don’t come. an island. A rock feels no pain…” He’s learned the secret of being content whether he is facing plenty or hunger, abundance or need. A detached, mind over matter approach. WHAT IS IS What is the Secret That’s not what Paul is saying here, our contentment 12 is not grounded in a stoic self-sufficiency, but rather it Philippians 4:12 (ESV) I know how to be brought is grounded in the sufficiency of the Lord Jesus low, and I know how to abound. In any and every Christ. circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty 13 and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Now Paul had lived on both sides of life. He knew great provision and plenty. And he knew hunger and The secret of contentment is not found in a spirit of need. Not everyone has had that experience, but Paul detached apathy, but in the ability to bow my heart and did. mind to the providential will and plan of God no matter what conditions I face. Christian Contentment IS LEARNED That’s why when you see contented people they are What he shares is that CC must be LEARNED. That so striking. Whether they are in suffering or poverty means it is not automatic. In both vvs. 11&12 Paul or in great prosperity - they are content. says it’s something he “learned”. Contentment is a That is the context in which v.13 makes sense. I “learned” virtue. It is part of growing in Christian can do all things through him who strengthens me. (I maturity. can do plenty thru Christ; hunger, abundance and Paul knew what is was to go down to the river and need. ) Thru Christ I can be content in any and every Page 2 of 4 situation. easy steps”. The 5 easy steps to Paul is not saying in v.13 that he can do anything - Loosing weight, financial freedom, living a long to which he puts his mind to. That’s the way it’s life, raising children, .. Christian maturity, largely used… - Pastor, just tell me what to “DO.” To have ”I’m horrible in math, and there’s a lot on the SAT peace that passes understanding? To have real that I don’t understand, BUT (I’m not motivated to contentment? study and learn,) but I believe that “I can do all things It’s not something you “DO” it’s who you thru Christ who gives me strength” so I believe I will do KNOW and how well you KNOW HIM. fine.” Story of hiker who falls off a cliff. PLEASE LORD, There always a chance for there to be a divine SEND HELP!. intervention, but in this setting all Phil 4:13 is going to Soon he hears a man below him, “I heard your cry. I do for you is give you the strength to deal with the can help you. Just let go, I’ll catch you.” sense of failure you will feel when your SAT scores PLEASE Lord, can you send some someone else? come back. “I can do all things, ie, I can flunk and still deal with the failure and get on with my life.” Isn’t there some other way? Something I can just Phil 4:13 is not saying I can do anything that I set DO to become a mature man/woman of God? my mind to, it is saying that “by Christ’s strength, I Listen, if God DID give us “5 or 6 things we can can deal with whatever life sends my way. I can be DO” to obtain “peace that passes understanding” and calm in adversity and humble in prosperity.” “to know real contentment in spite of our Because my sufficiency is centered in Christ, not in circumstances. my circumstances. That’s what’s needed... -if just by fulfilling certain duties REVIEW -jumping thru certain hoops Let me go over what we have been discovering: - if just by getting our “attendance card” checked 1. Christian contentment is independent of our - we can stand up and testify to an encounter we had circumstances. That is what Paul is clearly with Christ at some time in our past saying here. 2. Christian Contentment is something we learn. - or whatever It’s a sign of growing, spiritual maturity. Wouldn’t God have just created a religion that makes Him largely irrelevant to the people he loves 3. Christian contentment is grounded in our and died for? Then we don’t need Him anymore – union and relationship with Jesus. It’s 3:10 just follow the steps and you can live in peace and first before 4:11-12 contentment and fulfillment w/o a need for God. Philippians 3:10 (ESV)10 that I may know him That would actually drive us further away from God and the power of his resurrection, and may rather than draw us closer to Him. share his sufferings, becoming like him in his Why would God do that? He didn’t. death, 4. That means that Christian Contentment is But if I know Christ and how wonderful he is….and the fruit of an ever-deepening relationship how much God loves me and even sacrificed his Son with Jesus. Jesus for me. If I know his character and his commitment to me – then I am drawn to a growing and It’s like what the old hymn says in Turn Your Eyes ever deepening relationship to Him – and in turn – the Upon Jesus. “Look FULL in his wonderful face, and fruit of that is a peace that passes understanding and a the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light contentment in spite of the vicissitudes of life, that’s of his glory and grace.” amazing! Isn’t that what Philippians has been saying all Yes it’s all in him. In an ever-deepening along? That means… relationship with Jesus. (It’s not that we HAVE to have this – we GET to have this) IT’S WHO YOU KNOW, NOT WHAT YOU DO Someone has said, Christian Contentment is the There’s a part of all of us that wants to know the “5 fruit of HAVING NO HIGHER ambition than to belong Page 3 of 4 to the Lord and to be entirely at his disposal. CONCLUSION Paul learned it. I see many here who are learning it too. Who trust the providence of your God who works in/behind every situation - and you know his peace and contentment. In whatever situation. I think I am learning it… You are learning it too I trust. Gospel It begins with starting a relationship with God thru faith in Jesus Christ. Because all of us are separated from a holy God because of our sin, and Jesus came to earth to pay for our sins – so we can know Him. Without salvation you can’t know God, nor his peace and contentment. How? Repent and turn to Jesus and put your trust in him as your Savior and Lord. Page 4 of 4