Philippians 4:10-13 - The Secret of Contentment
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Introduction:
Two friends met each other on the street one day. One looked downcast, almost on the verge of tears. His friend asked, “What has the world done to you, my old friend?” The sad fellow said, “Let me tell you: three weeks ago, my uncle died and left me forty thousand dollars.”
“That’s a lot of money.”
“But you see, two weeks ago, a cousin I never even knew died, and left me eighty-five thousand dollars, free and clear.”
“Sounds to me that you’ve been very blessed.”
“You don’t understand!” he interrupted. “Last week my great-aunt passed away. I inherited almost a quarter of a million from her.”
Now the man’s friend was really confused. “Then, why do you look so glum?”
“This week—nothing!”
I found this story on the internet and it had an unknown source so sadly, I cannot property cite it. But I thought it really highlighted the difficulty of finding contentment.
Warren Wiersbe once said:
Prosperity has done more damage to believers than has adversity. “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” (Rev. 3:17)
Warren Wiersbe
If this is true, we are in great danger my friends. We live in the most prosperous nation in the most prosperous time in the history of the world. The poor among us have it better than most everyone did in Biblical times.
So how do we find the secret of contentment - even in a world such as today?
Join me as we read Philippians 4:10-13
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.
Prayer
Today we are going to discuss three ways that you can learn the secret of contentment. The first is:
I. You Can be Content...Through Reflective Remembrance (10)
I. You Can be Content...Through Reflective Remembrance (10)
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.
Paul has used the word ‘rejoice’ a few times already but this is the first time he quantifies it. He rejoiced in the Lord greatly. This word greatly means to an intense degree. It was no small rejoicing.
What was it that made him rejoice so much?
It is the renewed concern and love that he has from the Philippian believers. As we have stated before - he is some 800+ miles away in Rome and is imprisoned. He knows that they want to help him and be there for him but they haven’t had an opportunity to do so. He is clear that he is not bitter about this and understands their situation.
You see, the Philippian church was one of the few that supported Paul in ministry and gave gifts to him. The reason this was so amazing is seen in the following verses: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
As you can see on this map:
The church of Philippi was in Macedonia. This is who Paul is talking about. And we also see that extreme poverty has hit the church. Yet they remain generous. They give of their finances and they give of themselves - including the sending of Epaphroditus - the man whom we discussed in chapter 2 that almost died from illness while attending to Paul in Rome. And the same man who likely carried this letter back to the Philippian church!
I find it very interesting that the letter to the church of Philippi is so filled with the word joy. The logical situation of these people doesn’t seem to lend to a group of people that should be full of joy. They are in poverty. Yet, it is this group of people that Paul states has an abundance of joy in 2 Corinthians 8:2
2 Corinthians 8:2 (ESV)
2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. (2 Corinthians 8:2 - ESV - emphasis mine)
We see this phrase ‘abundance of joy’ as having two bookends that are seen in italics. Most of us would say these two bookends are very negative in nature! He states they have an abundance of joy but what proceeds and precedes this statement? A severe test of affliction and their extreme poverty! Wow. Joy in the midst of suffering and poverty. And what is the result of this - a wealth of generosity.
We can learn a lot from the church of Philippi. Joy does not come from wealth or things. It comes from being obedient to the Lord. Being generous and willing to share. Giving to the work of the Lord and to those in need. As we enter this Thanksgiving and Christmas season - I pray that we remember these facts. We are about to be bombarded with advertisements that promise joy and happiness. If only you upgrade your appliances then you will be happy. If only you upgrade your phone, then you will be happy. If only you get that new toy - then you will be happy.
Paul lets us know here that true joy comes from being obedient to the Lord and having a generous heart. The Philippian church was full of joy and brought joy to Paul’s heart because of their generosity and obedience to the Lord.
Paul rejoices because of reflective remembrance of the Philippian people. He is learning the secret of contentment by appreciating the love and support that he has recieved over the ten years since he founded the church in Philippi. He has seen their spiritual growth and their love and concern for him and chooses to focus not on what they can’t provide - but instead on what God has provided through them.
Reflective remembrance with a thankful heart is a good way to start your journey to contentment.
Next we see...
Scripture References: Revelation 3:17, 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
II. You Can be Content...Through Earthly Experience (11-12)
II. You Can be Content...Through Earthly Experience (11-12)
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.
Paul has learned contentment from the school of hard knocks. He has taken quite the hard knocks throughout his life. We talked last week about how we need to hear and receive truth and then we can learn and practice it. It is during the practice that we truly see the truth and godly character coming out. We can know the right thing do and still fail to do it! James 4:17
17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
It takes perseverance and diligence to continue walking in the truth even when things aren’t easy.
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
In verse 11 Paul makes an interesting first statement. Not that I am speaking of being in need. He makes this statement to let the believers in Philippi know that he is not grateful simply because they met some of his earthly needs. We also see him repeat this in Phil 4:17
17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
Paul wants to the believers to know that his appreciation of them is because of the surpassing worth and glory of Christ and not on what they can do for him. As John MacArthur stated:
“But Paul knew that the chief end of man is not to have his needs met, but to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
- John MacArthur
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
The last half of verse 11 is very interesting if you study the original Greek. We get back to the word learned again. Paul has learned in whatever situation - this assumes that he has had a lot of situations. And he will expound on that in the following verse. But what did he learn? He has learned to be content.
The Greek word for content here is where it gets interesting. Paul takes a pagan practice and turns it into a Christ honoring thing. The Stoics started around 300 BC in Athens at a school called the Stoic school. A philosopher named Zeno set up this school which remained until the second half of the third century AD. The Stoics believed that the attainment of happiness was of the highest order, and that it should come independent of all outside determinants by having mastery over one’s emotions and passions. The ultimate goal was to become self-sufficient.
Paul uses this loaded word to change the narrative of self-sufficiency to Christ sufficiency as we see when we read Philippians 4:13. We will go into more detail in our third point regarding this.
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.
As we come to verse 12, we see Paul expound upon how he has learned contentment through his life experiences.
Experience is an interesting thing. Some people can have negative experiences time and time again and never seem to learn from them. They turn to things that falsely offer pleasure and deliverance and find themselves empty and depressed afterwards every time. Alcohol, drugs, the love of money and things, and sexual sins are among the worst at making promises of joy and happiness but always failing to deliver. Those who continue to seek after such things always end the same way - depressed and hopeless.
Yet Paul has learned contentment through his experiences. What exactly were his earthly experiences? He lists them here.
Paul’s Learning of Contentment:
Paul had been brought low
This refers to the times in his life where he had humble means. He spent much of his ministry years living in poverty. He made enough tents to survive. All the while, he was ministering to people mostly out of his own finances. Despite all of this, he was content.
2. Paul had abounded
He had also had times in his life where he was more prosperous. He learned not to rely on financial wealth for joy and happiness. He saw how fleeting that wealth could be.
3. Paul had faced plenty and abundance
Paul had times where he had more than he needed for food. He knew what it was like to be well-fed. But he also:
4. Paul had faced hunger and need
Paul knew what it was like to go to sleep with his stomach growling as well. He knew the pangs of hunger and the feeling of exhaustion because of a lack of food.
Yet among all of these experience - he learned contentment.
All six of these terms that Paul brings up speak of him learning of contentment from his earthly experience. These all refer to his physical needs.
How do we learn contentment?
How do we, as Paul states here, learn the secret of facing times of plenty and times of need?
Americans today have no problem with focusing on their physical needs. In fact, most seem to focus on them 24-7! We see this through television ads, radio ads, internet ads - everything is trying to help someone scratch that itch of a need or desire.
It is so easy to continue wanting more. Like the friend that we discussed in the introduction, there is never enough money. You can inherit more and more and yet still not be content.
If we cannot learn the secret of contentment through personal wealth, food and drink, a dream home, or a luxury car, how can we learn the secret of contentment?
We have seen from reflective remembrance and from earthly experience - we can begin learning the secret of contentment.
Yet our final and most important point stresses the key to learning contentment...
Scripture References: James 4:17, Philippians 4:17
III. You Can be Content...Through the Savior’s Strengthening (13)
III. You Can be Content...Through the Savior’s Strengthening (13)
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
What a powerful verse to complete this section of Scripture. Some translations go ahead and change the pronoun ‘him’ to Christ because that is obviously where Paul is getting his strength.
As we discussed in our second point, Paul took this word translated as content - which was a word used for self-sufficiency at the time and turned it heavenward. He could be content not because he was self-sufficient - but because Christ was all-sufficient. Christ was enough no matter what his earthly experience was. Christ was enough no matter how hungry or tired he got. Christ was enough no matter what he needed.
And this Christ-sufficiency that he was preaching fueled his labor for the Lord. Paul did some amazing things to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We see this no more clearly, in my opinion, than in the book of Acts. This fact is highlighted especially in Acts 14:19-20
19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.
So here Paul is preaching the Gospel in Lystra after just preaching the Gospel in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas had just fled Iconium because they had learned of a plot to stone them.
After arriving in Lystra, Paul and Barnabas started their ministry off with a bang as a man who was crippled from birth was healed. The people actually start to worship Paul and Barnabas and the men have to try to persuade the people that they are only men and not gods.
Yet they go from being the rock stars of the area to being rocked by the people of the area! How quickly can a crowd be changed! They go from worshiping Paul and Barnabas to stoning Paul! The Jews who had planned to stone Paul in Iconium came up along with some Jews from Antioch and persuaded the crowd to turn on Paul and stone him.
Paul was left for dead. They thought he was done. But by the strength of Christ - verse 20 happened! He got back up and went back into the city in which he was stoned!
Now that is the epitome of doing all things through the strength of Christ!
Hopefully we never have an experience like Paul did - being stoned and being left for dead! However, each of us are going to have struggles in this life. We are going to have times where we are mistreated. We are going to experience hunger, thirst, fatigue, and likely even depressed feelings.
What do we do during times when we are struggling? We are to turn to Christ for strength.
You see, Paul was very excited and blessed to get the gifts he got from the Philippian church. He was blessed and rejoiced in the fact that they sent Epaphroditus along with the gift who served him while he was in prison. Yet, Paul wanted to make it clear that his contentment was not necessarily dependent only on his earthly experience and reflective remembrance. Although these blessings of friends and experiences blessed him and gave him joy - his ultimate contentment was based on his Savior and not his situation.
Friends, in order for us to be content we must be like Paul here.
Our contentment must always be based on our Savior and not our situation.
Situations can change like the wind. Finances can be stable one day and the next day unexpected expenses can come to light and turn your checkbook upside down. Health can be amazing one day and the next you are informed that you have terminal cancer.
Brothers and sisters - our contentment must never rely on our situation this side of eternity.
True godly contentment comes from our Savior. No matter what our situation is, we have a Savior who died on the cross for our sins! He took the penalty that we deserved! We deserved Hell but he took our punishment on the cross. Then He rose from the dead three days later and now offers us eternal life with Him in heaven!
When we truly grasp the Gospel. When we truly understand the blessed hope we have of eternal life with Christ, then we can be content. The situations of our life - good or bad - will fade into the background. Because as we discussed last week, we are citizens of heaven. We have a guarantee of eternal life through the blessing of Holy Spirit that fills us as believers.
I pray that we never cheapen verse 13 here. So many use this verse to support their own humanism. Their worship of themselves. They quote this Scripture almost as one rubbing the lamp of a genie and praying for a blessing.
This verse is so much more than that my friends. We can do whatever God calls us to do because He will equip us and strengthen us to do it.
Being a Christian does not mean that we do what we want and ask God to bless it. It means that we seek the will of the Lord and walk in obedience to what he guides us to do. Only then can we truly do all things through Christ who strengthens us. And only then can we truly learn the secret of contentment.
Scripture References: Acts 14
Conclusion:
As we come to a close, I pray that you have spent some time looking at your own life and whether you are a person who is content or discontent. Are you someone who always wants more or are you someone who is thankful and appreciative? Where do you look for joy and satisfaction and fulfillment? Is it from the things of this world or it is from your Savior?
Do you seek to find contentment in your situation or in your Savior?
I pray that each of us here has placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ and seeks to find our contentment in Him alone. If not, I would love to discuss salvation with you after the service.
Brothers and sisters - may we go forth and learn the secret of contentment through reflective remembrance, earthly experience - and most of all through our Savior’s strengthening.
Let us pray.
Prayer
If you would like to learn more about salvation through Jesus Christ or want to obey Jesus by obeying the first commandment of a believer in going through the waters of baptism - please let me know.
Have a blessed week.