Learning The Lesson Of Contentment

Title: “Learning the Lesson of Contentment” Scripture: Phil. 4:10-13

Type: Expository series Where: GNBC 9-3-23

Intro: Listen to the words of the wisest and richest man who ever lived. He literally had “it all”. “These are the words of the Teacher,[a] King David’s son, who ruled in Jerusalem. Everything Is Meaningless 2 “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless! 3 What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? 4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. 5 The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. 6 The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. 7 Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. 8 Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.” (Eccl. 1:1-8, NLT). Now, I would tell you at the end of that book you find the real conclusion of Solomon’s search. Contentment is not found in stuff, but it’s found in Eccl. 12:13 “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Apostle Paul knew contentment. Lesson he learned.

Prop: In Philippians 4:10-13 the Apostle Outlines 4 Conditions for Learning Contentment.

BG: 1. Dictionary defines “contentment” as a state of happiness and satisfaction.

2. This secret to contentment is hidden in plain sight throughout the Scripture and is available to anyone who is willing to believe it. Here at the end of Phil. Apostle gives us insight into that secret.

Prop: In Phil. 4:10-13 we’ll realize the conditions for learning contentment.

I. Contentment is Demonstrated in Our Daily Experiences. V. 10

A. The Crisis Corroborating Paul’s Contentment.

1. What was Paul’s Crisis that Confirmed His Contentment?

a. If I was to ask most Christians what was Paul’s side gig or occupation, most would correctly state “tent maker”. However, most Christians also forget that Paul had prior to his conversion, undoubtedly had been a wealthy man. How so? Well, Saul of Tarsus was born a Roman Citizen. He had also been given the best of educations at the feet of Gamaliel, the leading Rabbi of the day. Receiving the best theological education of the day was as expensive then as it is today. Don’t forget that Paul was a leading teacher in the nation of Israel which would have resulted in great financial reward to him personally. IN Gal. 1:14, he even says that he had “profited in the Jew’s religion above many of my equals in my own nation.” The result was that as a young man, he was not accustomed to want or need.

b. Now, knowing this, it puts Phil 3:7-8 into better context. Paul was not only speaking of his religious experience and his position within the nation of Israel, he was also speaking of his financial situation. When Paul came to Christ he turned his back on his position of , power, prominence and personal profit.

2. Daily, Each One of Us Face Events and Opportunities that will either Corroborate of Contradict our Contentment.

a. Life offers each one of us an opportunity to demonstrate contentment or discontentment. No one likes change. We find contentment in routine. However, in life, the only constant is change! Economic changes! Health changes! Relationships change!

b. Contentment is not a new longing. It has been desired and written about throughout history. Time and again, Scripture encourages believers to take heart through their circumstances and find contentment in the Lord.

B. The Philippian’s Concern was the Cause for Paul’s Discourse on Contentment.

1. Why does Paul bring up the concept of contentment here at the end of the letter? V. 10 – We are finally at the purpose of Paul’s letter. It was a thank you note for the financial gift the believers at Philippi had given him. For 2 yrs Paul had gone off the Philippian’s radar. It was during this time that Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and finally was taken to Rome where he would spend 2 years in confinement. The Philippians wanted to send him a gift of support but didn’t know where he was or how to help.

2. Illust: Back in the late 1990’s I had a former seminary buddy who had become the General Superintendent of the Wesleyan Church in Sierre Leone. As some of you can remember, the civil war there was awful with child soldiers and great atrocities being committed. The RUF advanced towards my friend’s home. Family went into the jungle to hide. Ultimately, SD Kanu was captured and tortured by guerrilla forces. For months no word if alive or dead. At that time nothing we could do but PRAY! Pray we did. God saw fit to allow SD to live! PTL!