The Secret of Contentment

When it comes to misused Bible verses, there are certainly no shortage of them to go around. Which is the most misused might depend on which group of people you are working with.

If you’re working with unbelievers, they love Matt 7:1 “Judge not lest you be judged”

Never mind the context that speaks about judging hypocritically, and never mind that Jesus said elsewhere “Judge with a righteousness judgement”

If you’re around professing believers who hold to a distorted view of church leaders, you might hear “touch not the Lord’s anointed”.

If you’re around professional athletes, you might hear the verse that we are going to examine today. If this verse is like your life verse or something, I’m just going to apologize right now. This verse does not mean what most people seem to make it out to mean. It means something way better.

The verse I am referring to is Phil 4:13

Philippians 4:13 NASB95

13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

This is often the favorite verse of athletes who claim it as a promise that they are going to win the championship, they’re gonna set that record, they’re gonna beat their opponent, because yeah I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

But have you ever wondered....what if both competitors are claiming that same verse? What happens then?

It’s not just athletes. I’ve heard business men claim this verse so that they’d get a promotion, students claim this verse so that they’d pass their test or class, and other simply claiming it give them motivation like a self-pep-talk as they’re just trying to live life and accomplish their goals.

Today we are going to consider this verse, but are going to keep it in its context to understand its true meaning, and again! It’s true meaning is so much more powerful than how it is misused.

This verse is about Christ providing the necessary strength for us to be content in all circumstances.

As we look at this text today, we are going several observations as we learn the key to unlocking the secret of true contentment in every and all circumstances of life.

How is that we can be content in everything? Let’s turn to our text to find out.

Phil 4:10-13 is where we will be today.

Let’s read that text now.

Philippians 4:10–13 NASB95

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

To help us understand the context, we first see the concern of the Philippians.

The Philippians Concern

Philippians 4:10 NASB95

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.

One of the purposes for Paul writing this letter to the Philippians is to thank them for thier financial support of Paul. Paul wrote in chapter two how he had received a gift from the Philippians by the hands of Epaphroditus. The church had heard he was in need and sent Epaphroditus to carry their financial gift as an expression of their love and support for the ministry that was being carried out.

As Paul begins to move into a personal section of the letter, he considers how the Philippians have shown love and concern for him and it a cause of rejoicing!

It says they revived their concern for him.

This means that they had helped him in the past, but for one reason or another they were unable to continue doing it as they once did, but now they have returned to their former state of providing that help.

It say they lacked opportunity. We don’t know what caused this lack of opportunity. We don’t know if it was a lack of resources on the Philippians part, an inability to get their gift to Paul, or perhaps Paul simply didn’t have a need at the time until he was in prison. At the end of the day, we don’t know why Paul says they lacked opportunity, but we do know that the lack of opportunity did not stop the Philippians church from loving and desiring to care for Paul, and that’s something we can learn from.

I get the sense that they desired to help and looked for opportunity, even if it didn’t present itself.

But now they can help, and Paul is delighted to receive their gift as an act of co-labor in the Gospel.

But even as he rejoices in the expression of concern that he has received from the Philippians, he goes at great length to help them understand that he isn’t trying to burden them. Even if he didn’t receive the gift, he would still be content. Verse 12

Philippians 4:11–12 NASB95

11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

As we look at these verses, there are several lessons about contentment that we learn.

1. Contentment Looks Beyond Immediate Circumstances

Paul wants to be clear. He isn’t talking to the Philippian church as though he was in desperate need of something. From a human perspective perhaps you could say that he did need something. But for Paul, he isn’t trying to burden the church with obligation. He rejoices at their participation, but not because he is in need, but because of what the gift represents. Later in verses 14-15 Paul will refer to the church as those who share in his trouble and enter into Gospel partnership with him, and then in vs 17 he will state that he isn’t interested in the gift, but in the fruit it produces:

Philippians 4:17 ESV

17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.

That’s why Paul rejoices! His focus is on the ministry fruit, not the financial resources.

If we go back to chapter one we find Paul in prison, and yet rejoicing because he sees that God is doing something beyond his imprisonment, when he writes

Philippians 1:12–14 NASB95

12 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, 13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, 14 and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.

Paul isn’t being caught up in the moment. He looks beyond his immediate circumstance and attempts to see things from God’s perspective.

Now, this is certainly easier said than done. In Paul’s case, it appears that God gave Him a little peek behind the curtain to see what He was up to. We don’t always get that peek. And so our battle to look beyond our immediate circumstances remains, and even Paul Himself knows that he had to learn this habit.

2. Contentment is Learned

Contentment isn’t something that you either got it or you don’t. It is learned behavior. Paul says is verse 11 “for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”

Then in verse 12 he says “I have learned the Secret of being filled and going hungry”

Paul didn’t have this down right away. He had to learn it. And so do we.

Some of you know that I’m a bi-vocational church planter, like Pastor Zach, doing electrical work to keep bills paid. A number of years ago I was serving as a bi-vocational associate pastor at another church, and I was really struggling with the rigors of having what felt to me like divided attention. On the one hand, I was trying to help the church graduate from church plant status to established church status, on the other I was working full time or nearly full time for another electrical company.

God had to teach me contentment through those circumstances. And it was hard. And quite honestly, I have to learn and relearn. I have to remind myself what is true.

So often we want to learn our lesson and go on with life. But that’s not how habits are formed.

I think part of learning how to be content is learning what contentment is not. As we are looking into this text we see what is there, but we can also notice what isn’t.

I used to think that contentment meant I am so at ease with my circumstanced that I would just sit back and relax. que sera sera, whatever will be will be.

And this would frustrate me. Because I didn’t think we really ought to be approaching life that way. it seemed irresponsible to me. People would say “you need to learn to be content” and all I heard was “stop trying to change your circumstances”.

But having studied the life of Paul and this text, I’ve come to the conclusion.

That’s not contentment. That’s complacency.

3. Contentment Doesn’t Mean Complacency

I have no doubt in my mind that Paul would have rather been free to preach the Gospel wherever he will instead of sitting in Prison. In the book of Acts, Paul often acted to change his circumstances, even appealing to Caesar about his imprisonment. Does that mean he was a malcontent? I don’t believe so.

What we need to realize is that we can simultaneously be content with where God has us, and work to change our circumstances.

How is that possible?

Here’s what I think the answer to this is:

I can be content in every circumstance if my contentment is grounded in the circumstances themselves but rather grounded in Christ.

When things are going well, its easy to say “I’m very contented” because things are going well!

But what if God takes those things away? Often it is only when things are removed or when hardship comes that we learn what we are resting in, our circumstances or Christ.

If we respond with anger, discouragement, or being annoyed, those may be symptoms that our contentment was in the wrong things.

Can we say the words of Job “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away?”

This doesn’t mean we are stoic or don’t have any emotions about genuine loss, but it does mean our whole world is not wrapped up in the immediate circumstances.

And I don’t know about you, but I find this to be incredibly good news! If true contentment is contentment in Christ and not my circumstances, then that means I am free to work to change my circumstances knowing that if my circumstances don’t change, if God doesn’t open those doors....I’ll be okay. Because even though I might prefer something else, if this is what God has for me, I’ll still be content. Because it’s not in my circumstances. Its in Christ.

So contentment doesn’t mean complacency

4. Contentment is Grounded in Trust

When Paul says he’s learned the secret, I believe there are two things going on. One looks back to previous passages, and the other looks forward to the next verse.

First, looking back, I believe that this is connected back to Paul’s instructions about anxiety. Contentment and anxiety can be closely linked together. Paul wrote about the antidote to our anxious thoughts is to bring God’s word and Truth to bear. We are called to rest in God and His good designs for our lives.

We often have to remind ourselves of truth. And so Paul tells us to dwell on whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, good repute, etc. He is reminding himself what he knows about God and that God is at work, and that helps calm his anxious thoughts as he replaces them with truth.

This is the process of learning to trust.

When he says I’ve learned the secret, part of that calls back to this teaching and the trust that we must have in God and what He is doing.

Because what is discontentment?

Discontentment really isn’t about your circumstances; its dissatisfaction with God and His work

Discontentment really isn’t merely discontentment with our circumstances. It’s discontentment with God and what He has ordained for your life. It’s dissatisfaction with that which God has ordained for your good and His glory.

It says “you know, I know that you have said you are working all things together for good, but I don’t want it. Do something else”

Contentment at root level is an expression of trust that God knows what he’s doing, and we are willing to accept whatever He brings into our lives.

Paul says I’ve learned the secret....he looks back to the previous passage.

Now he looks forward which brings us to the all famous verse. verse 13.

Contentment is Possible Through Christ

After saying that he knows how to be get along with humble means and how to live in prosperity. —which clearly refers to a lack or abundance of material provisions — He knows how to face plenty and hunger, abundance and need....

Verse 13:

Philippians 4:13 ESV

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

That’s the key. That’s the secret.

Paul says

He can be content when I have churches like the Philippians church supporting him

He can be content when the Gospel is widely embraced and lives are changed.

He can be content when he hears good reports about churches who are bearing fruit in the Gospel and carry forward the message even with him in Prison

Its easy to be content then!

but then he also says

He can be content when he’s in jail without any means to support himself

He can be content when the Gospel is rejected

He can be content when he doesn’t know where the next meal will come.

He can be content when Jews mock him and gentiles revile him.

I can do all things through Him to gives me strength.

This is divine contentment that is grounded in Christ and trusting His plan.

So This verse isn’t about how Christ is going to help you get your promotion, win the competition, pass your test, or accomplish whatever goals you might have.

It’s about Christ giving you the strength to be content in HIM when all those things fail. When You’re passed over for the promotion, when you lose the competition....you can be content because Christ will supply the strength you need.

When things are going well, its easy to be content!

When a pandemic hits…

When Gas jumps over $4/gal....

When my preferred candidate loses the election

When I’m still single after desiring to find a spouse.

When I get that bad news from the dr.

Contentment is possible, even then. How? Because I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Paul recognizes the need for the strength of Christ. He can’t be content in his own. He needs the strength of Christ.

Paul is acutely aware of his own limitations. I think sometimes God brings things into our lives to show us our need for him.

I think of Col 1:29

Colossians 1:29 NASB95

29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

and listen to his testimony in 2 Cor 12

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 NASB95

7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

It is when we surrender ourselves over to the Lord that we find contentment in Him, and His strength being perfected in our weaknesses.

Just as a peek into our lives, for us right now, we are working towards a goal of purchasing a home this year.

The market conditions and the home that we can afford....

We may need to be content with living in our apartment for at least another year. And you know what? That’s hard, because we really want to be in our own home. But you know what else? I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. I can be content with our apartment if my contentment rests in Christ and not in my circumstances.

For you, you may be facing other things right now that you wish were different. It’s okay to wish it was different, and you are free to work to change those circumstances! We can work to change our circumstances....IF we know that whatever God has planned is okay. Are we willing to accept the outcome from His hand.

So I hope that encourages you! You can pursue your goals and godly desires! All the while rest in Christ and know that whatever comes you can be content, even though that may be a struggle, because you can do all things, even being content when God says “no”, you can do so through Christ who gives you strength.

Contentment look beyond immediate circumstances. it has to be learned. It doesn’t mean complacency. its grounded in trust. and it is possible through Christ.

Let’s pray.