The Secret to Contentment

Before we begin today’s service I want to take In 1938 the 11th of November of each year became a legal holiday - - a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, celebrating the time the agreement to end WW1 was signed. But in 1954, the wording was changed to be Veteran’s Day and November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. And we are more than happy to honor all our armed service veterans today and this week. They deserve both recognition and honor. Before we begin our

In 2013 a study was conducted with children in the UK from families whose annual income was more than £100,000. What the study found might surprise you: “Researchers found issues such as eating disorders, drug abuse, neuroses and self harming were soaring among wealthy teenagers.” This information doesn’t fit the assumption that if you have money then you’ll be happy because you can buy what you want and have what you want. The children in this study are in a wealthy environment but are far from happy. The researchers believed the pressure their parents placed on them to succeed was the underlying cause of the issues they were dealing with.

The apostle Paul appears to have come from an elite background but set it aside for the joy of knowing and serving Jesus. Paul wrote the letter we’re looking at today, Philippians, from a Roman prison, yet in it he describes himself as being content.

Philippians 3:4–7 ESV

though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Here, he lays out the fact that he came from a very Torah-observant family from the tribe of Benjamin and that he had gained a reputation for his zeal in persecuting the church.

Acts 22 we learn that Paul was a Roman citizen

Acts 22:25 ESV

But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?”

Citizenship in the Roman Empire was highly prized. We know he was well educated from the quality of the Greek he wrote and that he studied under the famous Gamaliel in Jerusalem (Acts 22:3).

We also know that he was a tradesman, working as a tentmaker

Acts 18:3 ESV

and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.

By the time he encounters Jesus on the Damascus road, you could say he was living the dream. And yet, after meeting Jesus, this is what he said about his life:

Philippians 3:8 ESV

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

None of the status and accomplishments in Paul’s life brought the satisfaction he later found in knowing Jesus. Enough was never enough for Paul. But when he met Christ, he considered everything else “rubbish” and felt there was nothing better than knowing Jesus.

Who is in control when it comes to your life? Is it your career, your relationships, your possessions? Do you possess them, or do they possess you? Is Paul saying we should just settle for less? No! Paul has lost everything, but in the process of losing, it turns out that he has, in fact, gained everything. As he puts it, “For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” So there is the loss of everything his identity had been based upon—and then those things turn out to be nothing more than trash. In the moment of what he would have previously considered tremendous loss, there is instead great gain. Paul learned that we will not be content in this life until we realize that Jesus is better than anything else we are spending our time pursuing. Enough will never be enough.

This is what Paul begins to elaborate on in the next chapter of Philippians. The church in Philippi had brought some provisions to Paul in Rome (4:10). Paul then goes on to say something profound, almost impossible:

Philippians 4:10–12 ESV

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. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 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.

So it isn’t that he doesn’t find himself out of bread or lacking a roof for the night, but rather, no matter the situation, he is content with what he has. He has experienced both hunger and abundance, and regardless of what he is facing, he has learned how to face it with contentment. What is the secret?

Philippians 4:13 ESV

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

That unfailing source of strength comes from God, and God enables Paul to be strong enough when he is faced with nothing, and when he is faced with more than he’d ever need, not to lose sight of what matters. In each and every situation, he has the strength required to have a healthy relationship with his environment.

We can also be content in Christ because we know that he will supply our every need. Paul makes that point a few verses later in Philippians. He describes his situation as “well supplied,” due to the gifts the congregation had given to him. Paul recognizes that when the prospects are bleak, God is there with a helping hand. And he turns this gift into praise:

Philippians 4:19–20 ESV

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

The praise of Paul is a promise for us: God will supply your every need. Have you experienced his provision?

Share a testimony regarding provision

We can be content in God by trusting that he will supply our every need. Because of this, whether we are in abundance or hunger, we’ll be okay.