Content

Introduction

Philippians 4:10–13 ESV

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

The Concern of Others

No matter what situation someone finds themselves in, the care and concern of others is always a reason to rejoice. Paul in the midst of being jailed for the gospel rejoices greatly because of the concern the Philippian church has for him.

Rejoicing is a theme of Paul’s throughout this book. But what is noticeable about this rejoicing is that he rejoices greatly. It is the only time in the New Testament this word greatly is used. Paul’s joy exceeds the joy of the Philippian church. They rejoice in showing love for Paul by sending a gift and sending Epaphroditus. Paul’s joy is greater as the presence of a friend and the gift given show the care the church has for him.

Knowing that dear friends care is always an encouragement. Often times there is little that can be done in difficult situations to alleviate pain and suffering. But that timely card, phone call, text, and so on allow us and others to know that they are not alone.

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Paul clearly tells the church that the money they sent was appreciated but he is not expecting more. While he is in a difficult spot, the friendship means more than the gift.

typically, when life is hard, we focus on the gifts more than the giver of gifts. Paul’s attention is on the relationship, the partnership, the single-mindedness shared with the church at Philippi.

Paul is in difficulty because of the gospel. The difficult thing for us is to relate to this passage on the same grounds. Many of the difficult situations we find ourselves in do not have the root in standing firm in the gospel. Relational trouble, stress, money troubles and the like are brought on not by taking a stand for the gospel, but dare I say because we have not treasured the gospel enough.

Relational troubles come because of conflict. Conflict often goes unresolved due to our lack of perspective of all offenses done to us and against us being paid for by the death of Christ.

Financial troubles may or may not be our fault, but in any case how deeply they affect us allows us to see who we are really serving. If money stresses us out, are we more concerned about Money saving us or waiting to see how God will provide. What if God allows such trials to come so that we will learn money makes a poor savior.

Stress in general can be seen as a struggle. When I become stressed it causes me to want to control whatever I can. Perhaps I go nuts cleaning the car or house. Perhaps I take a stand on what I do with the time I have been given. I guarantee that stress will come and the only remedy we have is to be still and know that He is God.

What I am trying to get at is the difficulty we have in relating to this passage. Paul is in his situation because of the gospel being preached. You and I reach difficulties because we lose sight of the gospel more than we take a stand for it.

So how then can we move on to talk about contentment when the basis of contentment is something we lose sight of?

This morning we need to remember that no matter what life brings our way, the gospel is true. We need to preach it to ourselves and to those around us. God loves you, and has not left you. God is near. But what is nearer to you than God…what is it that you run to instead of God to find contentment.

The concern of fellow Christians is a soothing balm to our souls especially when we find ourselves needing the gospel preached to ourselves.

Content in Any Situation

Paul begins to speak of contentment by saying that he is not speaking of being in need, for he has learned in whatever situation He is to be content.

The background of this passage is the Roman empire, the greek language and the philosophy that greek scholars taught. Philippi being a center of Roman life would have been influenced by Stoic philosophy. Stoics we are familiar with, we understand what someone means when they tell us to not be so stoic. They are telling us to show some emotion, to not suppress what we are feeling and thinking.

To be content was a central theme of the stoic philosophy. To be content in this philosophical system meant “one who becomes an independent man sufficient to himself and in need of none else.” The goal of the stoic “was that a man should be sufficient unto himself for all things, and able, by the power of his own will, to resist the force of circumstances.” The stoic philosopher Seneca said the goal of being content is as follows: “The happy man is content with his present lot, no matter what it is, and is reconciled to his circumstances.” Emotional detachment is essential in order to be content.

Paul used this loaded term to speak to the Philippians and to us about what true contentment looks like. Paul was not stoic, he shows the emotions of joy, pain, suffering, striving, and the like all throughout this letter.

You and I are not expected nor should we go through this life stoically. But the flip side of stoicism is fanaticism. We can become so emotionally that we lose all self control. Ecclesiastes sums it up best:

Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 ESV

1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes

At Paul’s conversion it was said to Ananias that God would show Paul how much he would suffer for the sake of God’s name. So when Paul says he has learned to be content, he means through the good and the really bad.

So what does it mean to be content in all situations? The verse says that he learned to be content in all situations.

Philippians 4:12 ESV

12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

Philippians 4:

The secret is a word used in mystery religions of Paul’s day meaning to be initiated by going through sacred rituals. What Paul is showing us is that contentment is learned by going through the mountain tops and valleys of life.

The secret of contentment is not normally learned in posh circumstances or in deprived circumstances but in exposure to both.

How do you learn to be content through the highs and lows of life focused on one person, Christ. Contentment is utterly independent of circumstances, it is utterly dependent upon Christ. Circumstances in life fluctuate, Jesus does not.

Contentment does not mean the absence of pain. Paul did not learn the secret of being content by becoming indifferent to difficult conditions or by detaching himself from abrasive circumstances.

When you are at sea and the constant up and down of the boat gets to you, what is the one simple thing you can do to help alleviate the motion sickness? You don’t close your eyes, that makes things worse with no point of reference for your mind and body. You look to the horizon as a place of stabilization. You have your focal point that puts everything else into perspective. Jesus is our reference point in the midst of the ups and downs of life.

Content in Humiliation

Paul and the church in Philippi faced persecution for their faith. Paul was placed in custody of the Roman Guard. The church in Philippi not only faced hard times from the outside residents of the city but don’t forget the two ladies and the conflict within the church. How do you find contentment in the midst of such hardships?

Content in Abounding

The word abounding here is interesting. The concept

Biblical wisdom, however, teaches that “the surfeit of the rich will not let them sleep” (), that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil,” and that wealthy people tend to “set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches” rather than on God (, ). A first-century moralist, Plutarch, also warns that wealth breeds discontentment: “The owner of five couches goes looking for ten, and the owner of ten tables buys up as many again, and though he has lands and money in plenty is not satisfied but bent on more, losing sleep and never sated with any amount.”

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter to the Philippians VIII. Thanks for Gifts from Partners (4:10–20)

Biblical wisdom, however, teaches that “the surfeit of the rich will not let them sleep” (Eccl 5:12), that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil,” and that wealthy people tend to “set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches” rather than on God (1 Tim 6:10, 17). A first-century moralist, Plutarch, also warns that wealth breeds discontentment: “The owner of five couches goes looking for ten, and the owner of ten tables buys up as many again, and though he has lands and money in plenty is not satisfied but bent on more, losing sleep and never sated with any amount.”

I can do all things...

Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians Resolve to Learn the Secret of Contentment (4:10–13)

Second, the secret of Christian contentment is quite unlike stoic self-sufficiency. Paul is not claiming to be so strong that nothing can move him. Nor is he simply resolving to be independent of circumstances by a superlative act of will. Far from it; he immediately confesses that if he has reached this stage of contentment he owes everything to God: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (4:13)

The secret of Christian contentment is quite unlike stoic self-sufficiency. Paul is not claiming to be so strong that nothing can move him. Nor is he simply resolving to be independent of circumstances by a superlative act of will. Far from it; he immediately confesses that if he has reached this stage of contentment he owes everything to God: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (4:13)

Paul’s “everything” is constrained by the context. His point is that whatever the circumstances in which he finds himself, whether with the rich and the powerful or with the poor and the powerless, whether preaching with unction to substantial crowds or incarcerated in a filthy prison, he has learned to cast himself on God and to be content. He can do all these things, everything that God assigns him to do, through the one who gives him strength. Let the gospel advance, let God’s will be done in me and through me, Paul is saying, I am content, for I can trust the one who invariably strengthens me to do what he assigns me.

It takes the strength and resolution and perspective that only God can provide to live above changing, difficult circumstances. But to live above circumstances, utterly content in Christ Jesus, is to ensure that you will never give up the Christian walk. Resolve to learn the secret of contentment.