The Joy of Contentment

Contentment is learned by trusting, serving, and depending upon Christ.

The story of the pilot flying over the mountain stream where he fished as a boy. “Don’t waste today longing for tomorrow!”

The Seasons for Contentment

Contentment is not apathy. Paul was not satisfied with his personal walk with the Lord, but wanted to grow in grace.

Paul was satisfied with the possessions that he had in life.

Paul said that he knew both how to live with little and with much.

We are tested by the things that we have or don’t have.

Envy is wanting what belongs to someone else.

Stinginess is hoarding what I think belongs to me without considering God’s purposes.

Summary of

The Envious brother.

The Foolish Rich man. both were selfish.

The faithful servant. Trusts and seeks to please his master.

The Secret of Contentment (11-12)

Paul said that contentment was something he learned. It speaks of self-sufficiency. He did not lack externally, but possessed internal fortitude and strength.

The secret is that he had learned by experience to trust God as a servant.

Philippians 1:1 ESV

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

When you seek to serve the Lord and seek to benefit others then it not only brings joy to your life, but you lay aside expectations.

When your focus is on serving then it cannot be on yourself. Joy is the result! This is why Paul could be content whether he was free or imprisoned. Either way, he was the servant of Christ!

The Source of Contentment (13)

The Example of Christ

Matthew 20:25–28 ESV

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 2 ESV

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Matt 0:25-28

Contentment is found as we follow Christ’s example in service to others.

0:25-28

The Empowerment of Christ.

Paul’s self-sufficiency is really Christ-sufficiency. Christ is all He needs!

This kind of life, this attitude is only possible when our hearts have been changed by Christ and as we are being sanctified by His Spirit.

Contentment is lived out as we are empowered by Christ to serve.