Learning Contentment Series

“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.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Paul had to learn to be content. It did not come natural for him any more than it does for us.

Paul’s contentment was in Christ. It was not conditional upon any circumstance. This was not self-help that Paul was practicing. He had come to know and love Jesus. Jesus was all He needed. That is why he says in verse 13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Christ has strengthened Paul to be content.

I love how Paul explains this strength from Christ to be content in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, “2 Corinthians 12:7–10 (ESV): So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

The word “content” was used often by the Stoics of Paul’s day. Seneca often spoke about how man must be self sufficient and content. The Stoics belied contentment to be the highest of all virtues. They believed Mankind must not look to anyone or anything to make him happy. Paul turned this around to say he was dependent on Christ for his contentment. It is not self sufficiency but Christ sufficiency that made Paul content. And that should be true of us.

Many false religions teach contentment, but the contentment they teach is not in Jesus. It is not in the Gospel. It is not based on knowing and loving Jesus. It is more of a mental exercise that one does on their own. But that is not what Paul is talking about here. He is talking about being content in Christ.

The world we live in tells us we need many things to make us happy.

We need more money. We need better health. We need a bigger and nicer and newer house. We need a newer car. We need a different spouse. We need a different church. And these are all lies! These things don’t make us happy. Initially, they might bring a temporary happiness but once the new wears off, we wish we had something else.

It’s like this poem I found:

It was spring, but it was summer I wanted, the warm days, and the great outdoors.

It was summer, but it was fall I wanted, the colorful leaves, and the cool dry air.

It was fall, but it was winter I wanted (what?) the beautiful snow, and the joy of the holidays.

It was winter, but it was spring I wanted, the warmth and the blossoming of nature.

I was a child, but it was adulthood I wanted, the freedom and the respect.

I was 20, but it was 30 I wanted, to be mature and sophisticated.

I was middle aged, but it was 20 I wanted, the youth and the free spirit.

I was retired, but it was middle I wanted, the presence of mind without limitations.

My life was over. But I never got what I wanted.

That describes a lot of us.

With God’s help, we can learn to be content in our standing in Christ.

Paul is once again rejoicing in verse 10. As before, Paul’s joy is in the Lord not his circumstances. His joy was not based on getting this offering. He had joy before the offering. His joy was in Christ. Yet he is showing appreciation to the church for their gift.

They had sent Epaphroditus to Rome where Paul was in prison with this offering, and Paul had sent this letter of Philippians back to them with Epaphroditus.

Paul said that their gift was like a flower blooming in the spring after a long winter. That is what he meant when he said “you have revived your concern for me.” The Greek word translated “revived” is a horticultural term describing a plant flowering again. Paul’s imprisonment had been like a gloomy winter, but hearing from the Philippian believers, seeing Epaphroditus, and receiving this love offering had been like the arrival of springtime with all the blooming flowers.