Not That He Really Had Need, For He Had Learned Contentment (Lesson #34) Series

Date: 8/27/19

Lesson #34

Title: Not That He Really Had Need, For He Had Learned Contentment

• “Special Notes” and “Scripture” are shown as endnotes.

• NIV Bible is used throughout unless noted otherwise.

Scripture: (Philippians 4:11-13, NIV) whatever the circumstances.

12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, wh

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content either well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Introduction

Many include the verse that comes immediately before our passage, Phil. 4:10: “Now I rejoice in the Lord greatly, because once again you have shown your concern for me. Of course, you were concerned for me but you did not have an opportunity to show it.”

However, since we have already studied verse 10, we will not include it here too.

Commentary

(4:11) I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Paul generously expressed his gratitude for the gift which the Philippians had sent to him (v. 10). He knew that he had always been in their thoughts but circumstances had up till now given them no opportunity to show their appreciation of him. He did not want his commendation of them to be regarded as a complaint that something was lacking, because, as he says (v.10), he had learned through his many experiences that God had devised and fashioned his circumstances, and therefore, he should be content. The word translated content is also rendered contentment and self-sufficiency in other places. In the philosophy of the Stoics, the word expresses self-sufficiency, not needing any outside help. It is not contentment arising from an abundance of things but an inner adjustment to outer circumstances. In Paul’s case, this resulted from spiritual grace.

It was not that he was dissatisfied with his own state, for he had learned the gift of contentment. Paul uses one of the great words of pagan ethics (autarkies), which means entirely self-sufficient. Self-sufficiency was the highest aim of Stoic ethics; by it, the Stoics meant a state of mind in which a man was absolutely independent of all things and of all people. They proposed to reach that state by a certain pathway of the mind.

First, they proposed to eliminate all desire. The Stoics rightly believed that contentment did not consist of possessing much but in wanting little. “If you want to make a man happy,” they said, “add not to his possessions, but take away from his desires.” Socrates was once asked who was the wealthiest man. He answered: “He who is content with least, for autarkic is nature's wealth.” The Stoics believed that the only way to contentment was to abolish all desire until a man had come to a stage when nothing and no one was essential to him.

Second, they proposed to eliminate all emotion until a man had come to a stage when he did not care what happened either to himself or to anyone else. Epicurian says, “Begin with a cup or household utensil; if it breaks, say, ‘I don’t care.’ Go on to a horse or pet dog; if anything happens to it, say, ‘I Don’t care.’ Go on to yourself, and If you are hurt and injured in any way, say, ‘I don’t care.’ If you go on long enough, and if you try hard enough, you will come to a stage when you can watch your nearest and dearest, suffer, and die, and say, ‘I don’t care.’” The Stoic aim was to abolish every feeling of the human heart.

This was to be done by a deliberate act of will that saw in everything the will of God. The Stoic believed literally that nothing could happen which was not the will of God. However painful it might be, however disastrous it might seem, it was God’s will. It was, therefore, useless to struggle against it; a man must steel himself into accepting everything.

In order to achieve contentment, the Stoics abolished all desires and eliminated all emotions. Love was rooted out of life and caring was forbidden.

(4:12) I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

In expressing his knowledge of how to be abased and to abound, he uses the Greek word "oida" in the sense of “understanding” or “entering into the secret of.” By being “abased” he refers to the humbling process of having very little. His knowledge of “how to abound” means to “have more than enough.” He amplifies this by saying, “I am instructed,” literally, “I have learned the secret of” how to be full,” that is, to be full of food, and how “to be hungry” as a by-product of poverty.