Contentment

Text:

Philippians 4:4–9 (ESV) — 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.  

Referring to this peace which passes understanding, this is a mystery to the world. [Burroughs quote]

“Now this is a mystery to a carnal heart. They can see no such thing; perhaps they think God loves them when he prospers them and makes them rich, but they think God loves them not when he afflicts them. That is a mystery, but grace instructs men in that mystery, grace enables men to see love in the very frown of God's face, and so come to receive contentment.” - Jeremiah Burroughs

The Need for Contentment:

Learning contentment

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.

What troubles did Paul have?

2 Corinthians 11:24–28 (ESV) — 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. We think that we know what we need better than God does

The Charge To Be Content

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Psalm 118:24 (ESV) — 24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  “You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.” - ChestertonThe joy of the Lord - like a life jacket - even when storms come and you are tossed down into the water, the joy of the Lord brings you back up. [Toby Sumpter illustration]

What about trials?

James 1:2–4 (ESV) — 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  James 1:12–15 (ESV) — 12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.  Philippians 4:12–13 (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. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

“In a clock, stop but one wheel and you stop every wheel, because they are dependent upon one other. So when God has ordered a thing for the present to be thus and thus, how do you know how many things depend upon this thing? God may have some work to do twenty years hence that depends on this passage of providence that falls out this day or this week.” - Jeremiah Burroughs

Horse farm poo in car - it’s needed to grow - so are trials

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.

Philippian Jailer: Acts 16:30–31 (ESV) — 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”  

To women especially, find a role model who abounds in contentment. Often even Christian leaders produce a lot of content around their discontent

1 Peter 3:1–6 (ESV) — 1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. 

“The Duties are ours, and events are the Lord's." - Samuel Rutherford

Why/How Can We Be Content?

V.5 - The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything,

Philippians 4:5 (ESV) — 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;  The Lord is near — proximity to the All Mighty puts perspective on worry - Be anxious for nothingPsalm 145:18 (ESV) — 18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.  

Having God’s word- trials can be like pop quizzes, but the good news is that the test is open book and you can ask the teacher for help.

Is It ok To Ask For Something Different?

V.6 but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Think of Jesus in the garden

Luke 11:10–13 (ESV) — 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”  

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 26:3–4 (ESV) — 3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.  

“Kiss His wise and unerring providence … Learn to believe Christ better than his strokes … Let not the Lord's dealings seem harsh, rough, or unfatherly, because it is unpleasant. When the Lord's blessed will bloweth across your desires, it is best, in humility, to strike sail to Him, and to be willing to be led any way our Lord pleaseth.” - Samuel Rutherford

Closing:

Horatio Spafford Story:

Communion Charge:

How can we be content?

Well, the darkest of nights has already come. They killed Christ on a cross. The world rejected Him. The very sky turned dark. But even so, that wasn’t to be the end. Even then he was in full control. Even then he makes all things good. Even then He rose.

Who are you thankful to?