How To Be Content

07/20/2020 How To Be Content

Series: Philippians - Know Jesus, Know Joy  

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What Does The Bible Say?

Philippians 4

People today are unhappy. One reason is that we compare our life to The Lives People Portray On Social Media. The Happiness Research Institute conducted the Facebook Experiment to find out how our social media habits affect our happiness. Half of the study’s participants kept using Facebook as they normally would, while the other half stayed off Facebook for a week. The results were striking. At the end of the week, the participants who stayed off Facebook reported a significantly higher degree of satisfaction with their lives and lower levels of sadness and loneliness. The researchers also concluded that people on Facebook were 55% more likely to feel stress as a result.

Giving in to fear is another reason people are not happy. Fear is nothing more than a lingering emotion that’s fueled by your imagination. Danger is real. It’s the uncomfortable rush of adrenaline you get when you almost step in front of a bus. Fear is a choice. Happy people know this better than anyone does, so they flip fear on its head. They are addicted to the euphoric feeling they get from conquering their fears.

One of the biggest reason for feeling unhappy or sad is that we don’t count our blessings when we wake up every day. Rather, we focus on the things we lack and believe that our happiness is solely dependent on achieving the next big thing.

We have so many examples in life to prove that the happiness from every next physical thing in only short-lived. The moment we get what we are looking for, we again start looking at something bigger than that.

If you are consistently focussing on lack in your life, it will create a never fulfilling mental loop.

When all is said and done, you will lament the chances you didn’t take far more than you will your failures. Don’t be afraid to take risks. I often hear people say, “What’s the worst thing that can happen to you? Will it kill you?” Yet, death isn’t the worst thing that can happen to you. The worst thing that can happen to you is allowing yourself to die inside while you’re still alive.

How does one turn discontentment into contentment?

11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. (Philippians 4:11 NLT)

Being content is something you learn. 

12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. (Philippians 4:12 NLT)  

Your circumstances do not determine your contentment

13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty. (Philippians 4:13-14 NLT)

Being content is not about denying reality.

How Can You Obey?

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. (Colossians 3:1–4 NLT)

To be content is to realize that you have died to this life.

12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. (Philippians 1:12–14 NLT)

Once you have died to this life, God can use you.

Additional Notes:

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Joy is a central theme in the book of Philippians. There are 15 references to some form of either the noun “joy” (chara in Greek) or the verb “rejoice” (chairo in Greek) in this short letter. The surprising situation is that Paul wrote this letter while under house arrest in Rome. In essence, his circumstances were not good, yet the theme of joy surfaces repeatedly. 

Paul prayed for the Philippian believers with joy (chara) because of their partnership with him in the gospel. (1:4-5) 

He rejoiced (chairo) that Christ was proclaimed—even when people did it with impure motives. (1:18) 

He rejoiced (chairo) that his current hardship would turn out for his deliverance through the prayers of the believers and the help of the Spirit. (1:18-19) 

Paul was convinced that the continuation of his ministry to the Philippians would contribute to their progress and joy (chara) in the faith. (1:25) 

Paul had joy (chara) when the believers were unified. (2:2) 

Paul would be glad (chairo) in his sacrifice for the sake of their faith, so that his ministry was not in vain. (2:17) 

Paul would rejoice with (synchairo) the believers in his sacrifice for the sake of their faith, so that his ministry was not in vain (2:17) 

Paul encouraged the Philippian believers to also be glad (chairete) in his life being poured out for them. (2:18) 

Paul encouraged the Philippian believers to also rejoice with (synchairete) him in his life being poured out for them. (2:18) 

Paul was eager to send Epaphroditus back to them, so they could

rejoice (chairo) in seeing him again. (2:28) 

Paul encouraged the Philippians to receive Epaphroditus back with joy (chara), since he had risked his life for the work of Christ. (2:29) 

Paul had no problem with frequently repeating the reminder to rejoice (chairo) in the Lord, because he knew how important it is. (3:1) 

Paul encouraged the Philippians to rejoice (chairo) in the Lord always. (4:4)

For added emphasis, Paul again commanded the Philippian believers to rejoice (chairo). (4:4)

The Philippians’ renewed ability to support his ministry caused Paul to rejoice (chairo) in the Lord greatly. (4:10)

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As Paul abounds, principles cogent for prayer are obvious. First, prayer is for everything in life, and so anywhere in the letter even when not mentioned it can be permeating.

We probably are not snatching up many of the opportunities we have to see the difference the God of prayer can make. But we can! We do not need to be uptight when we can be upheld—by God.

Second, it may take some getting used to if we are to pray about everything, and be thankful in every matter we pray about. But here and in other places Paul champions this (cf. Col. 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:18). Third, giving thanks in prayer is one of the things God’s Word specifically calls the will of God (1 Thess. 5:18). Of course the Spirit, though Paul does not mention Him in Phil. 4 (cf. 1:19), presides in helping believers pray according to God’s will (Rom. 8:26–27). We can count on the fact that He is interested in helping us be thankful, and showing us what to pray that reflects this.

Fourth, do not fall for the slogan, “When in a fix go to Philippians 4:6.” Rather, obey the verse in what it really says. In everything by prayer covers a lot more than times when we are in a fix, feeling that we are “between a rock and a hard place.”

Fifth, praying about all things in our lives in itself does not make us people of prayer.

Praying about everything with faith in God does. Remember Matt. 21:22, “Whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing you shall receive,” and Jas. 1:6, “let him ask in faith.” Paul believed that “whatever is not of faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23), and that when things are as they ought to be, “we walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).

Sixth, having the peace God distills as His fragrance in the heart is a very great improvement over being tied up in knots. Seventh, God’s peace really can conduct guard action over the heart and mind when we have prayed about matters. The Lord is able to defend us from worry, and deliver us into a poise that rests in His adequacy.

Rosscup, J. E. (2008). An Exposition on Prayer in the Bible: Igniting the Fuel to Flame Our Communication with God (pp. 2300–2301). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

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The force of the apostle’s statement will be better appreciated if his condition and circumstances at the time he made it are kept in mind. When the apostle wrote (or most probably dictated) the words, he was not luxuriating in a special suite in the Emperor’s palace, nor was he being entertained in some exceptional Christian household of unusual piety. Instead, he was “in bonds” (cf. Phil. 1:13, 14); “a prisoner” (Eph. 4:1), as he says in another Epistle. And yet, notwithstanding, he declared he was content!

Pink, A. W. (2005). Comfort for Christians (p. 82). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

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PHILIPPIANS: A Snapshot

Audience- The Philippian believers were the first European Christians (Acts 16:11–40)

Philippi in Acts:

Led to the city by divine intervention (Acts 16:6–10), Paul founded the church on his second missionary journey. Lydia, a proselyte or God-fearer (16:13–15), and the Philippian jailor (Acts 16:25–34) are among the first converts. After exorcizing a slave girl, Paul and Silas are imprisoned on charges of anti-Roman activities, but later released. Luke emphasizes the city’s Roman character:

• Only here in Acts is Paul charged with anti-Roman behavior (Acts 16:21)

• Luke calls only Philippi a “colony” (Acts 16:12)

• Only for Philippi did Luke mention titles of city officials such as the “chief magistrates” (Acts 16:20, στρατηγοί) and the “policemen” (16:35, ῥαβδοῦχοι)

Opposition mentioned:

Paul’s imprisonment (1:13, 17); Christian opponents of Paul (1:15–17); suffering of Philippians (1:29–30); Judaizers (3:2–3); see also 1:28; 3:18–21

Special Features:

• So-called “Christ hymn” (2:6–11; Latin Carmen Christi); only in this letter does Paul call Jesus a “slave” (2:7, NRS μορφὴν δούλου)

• Only in Philippians and Romans does Paul call himself a “slave” in the prescript (1:1, HCSB; Rom. 1:1, HCSB)

• Paul’s many self-references (1:12–26; 2:16–19, 23, 3:4–14; 4:12–13)

• Only in Philippians and 1-2 Thessalonians does Paul not call himself an “apostle”

• Only in Philippians does Paul address “overseers and deacons” (1:1)

• Only in Philippians does Paul list his social honors as a Pharisaic Jew (3:5–6)

• Paul uses the Roman term “conduct yourselves” (πολιτεύομαι 1:27; cf. 3:20) for his more common term “to walk” (περιπατέω, e.g., Gal. 5:16) when describing Christian behavior.

• Women play an instrumental part in the church (Acts 16; Phil. 4:2–3)

Purpose(s):

1. Apologetics: to defend (shameful) suffering as a pattern of Christian life.

2. Pastoral: to strengthen faith and fellowship of believers who disagree in their definition of honor and, because of that, are discouraged because of suffering and sickness.

Kierspel, L. (2012). Charts on the Life, Letters, and Theology of Paul (p. 125). Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic.

Question 1 of 5

Why do you think many people are not content?   

Question 2 of 5

Why can believers be content no matter their circumstances?     

Question 3 of 5

Why can we have joy even when going through difficult times?  

Question 4 of 5

How do our attitudes and thoughts help determine whether or not we are at peace?  

Question 5 of 5

How does Christ strengthen us and help us to be content?