Paul’s Thank You Note
TCF Sermon
Philippians 4 – part 3
October 21, 2007
In a cemetery stands a grave marker with this inscription: SHE DIED FOR WANT OF THINGS. Alongside that marker is another which reads: HE DIED TRYING TO GIVE THEM TO HER.
The lady mentioned on the tombstone died for want of things. She apparently never learned contentment.
What are those circumstances in which you find yourself with a feeling of contentment? Vacation from work? A certain place – the mountains, the lake, the beach, the woods, your porch on a nice morning? When you have a lot of money? When you’ve finished a big job? When you’ve finished a major school assignment, or passed a big test? Or completed a big project of some sort around the house?
I’m feeling a great feeling of contentment now that the building looks so much better with a fresh paint job.
Here’s a dictionary definition of contentment:
con•tent•ment n.
1. The state of being contented; satisfaction.
contentment - happiness with one’s situation in life
- the satisfaction one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation;
the opposite is discontent, discontentedness, discontentment - a longing for something better than the present situation or circumstances
The last few weeks, as we’ve looked through Philippians chapter 4, we’ve seen the apostle Paul writing about peace, which isn’t really a synonym of contentment, but I think it’s a closely-related idea.
I think it would be hard to have contentment without having a sense of peace in your life. I also think it would be hard to have a sense of peace without being content in, not with, but in, your circumstances.
Remember two weeks ago, as we looked at verses 4-7 of Philippians 4, we learned that we can actually experience the peace of God, and we can rejoice in the Lord, when we determine to trade our anxieties about anything, for prayer about everything. That week, many of us put our worries into the symbolic worry bag, and effectively said to God – Dear Father, you please handle these worries, because you’re able and I’m not. If we do that, peace is the result. And that peace guards, like a soldier guards a fort, our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.
Last week, when we examined verses 8 and 9 of Philippians chapter 4, we learned that what we think and what we do is related to this idea of peace. Specifically it’s God’s prescription for maintaining that peace which He gave us when we turned over our worries to Him. There is right thinking, and there is wrong thinking, and the right thinking that Paul encourages us to do results in Godly lives, with actions consistent with our right thinking. Then Paul develops the idea of peace further, by saying not only will we have the peace of God, but we’ll have the very presence of the God who provides that peace, in our lives.
When we look at most of the rest of the chapter, Paul changes directions somewhat, but we still see a thread of the ideas we’ve looked at the past few weeks in earlier verses of Philippians 4, especially in this idea of contentment.
Phil 4:10-19 10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content 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, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. 14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. 17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
There are several practical lessons in these verses, and here are a few:
1. the need for contentment in Christ, no matter what the circumstances
2. the realization that the Lord is our source of strength
3. the blessing available in supporting needy Christian ministries
4. the promise that God will meet the ensuing needs of those who give such sacrificial support.
As Paul begins this section, he hints at one of the purposes of his epistle, especially this chapter. It’s apparent that the Philippian church helped Paul in some practical way, with some material gift – money, goods, or something like that. Paul starts by talking about this gift. And he handles this subject with a great sense of gratitude. In doing so, he gives us a model for financial relationships between the receivers and the givers in the church.
Paul’s stream of thinking takes three quick turns in these ten verses. First there’s the exuberant expression of his thanks – I rejoice greatly, he writes. Then, perhaps thinking that they might misunderstand his joy in their love for him to be only a selfish gladness that his wants had been satisfied, he gives us this great statement on his independence from circumstances, which he clearly tells us is a God-given contentment. Then, perhaps thinking that he might sound ungrateful to them for their gift, he returns to the topic, but adds that he’s not so much thankful for the gift, as much as he was grateful for the love that was expressed in it, and the way the gift really blessed the givers.
In verse 10, we again see Paul rejoicing. He was definitely a joyful guy. But he didn’t just rejoice in their gift. Even though the context of his rejoicing was their gift to him, his rejoicing was still “in the Lord.”
These words, “in the Lord,” or their equivalent, are such a key thought in this chapter of Philippians. We see it in verse 4 as an exhortation - twice: rejoice in the Lord. We see it in verse 7: “in Christ Jesus.” We see it in verse 10: “in the Lord.” We see it in verse 13: “through Him.” We see it in verse 19: “in Christ Jesus.” We see it in verse 21: “in Christ Jesus.” Are you sensing a trend here? Are we figuring out how important this theme is to the entirety of the chapter, and to connect with every exhortation and teaching Paul is giving us here?
In the context of verse 10, Paul’s telling the Philippians that he’s rejoicing about their concern for him, their concern expressed in their gift to him. But he’s also acknowledging that though the Philippians were the agent, the means, Paul’s rejoicing is “in the Lord,” because God is His ultimate source, through whatever means God chooses to bless and provide for him.
Then we have this interesting, almost throwaway part of the verse, the end of verse 10, where Paul writes, after rejoicing that the Philippians had renewed their concern for him, which was expressed in this gift – he writes:
“you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.”
Consider that statement, along with the phrase in the first part of the verse – where Paul writes that “at last” the Philippians have renewed their concern. It looks like a sort of backhanded compliment, a slam against them. Looked at one way, it could be a rebuke, couldn’t it?
One way of saying this might be: “I’m thankful to God that you guys finally got around to helping me.”
Now, is that really the idea here? If so, then why would Paul say, immediately following that, I know you have been concerned, but you haven’t really had a chance to help.
In studying this passage, I found that most commentators don’t seem to think of this as a rebuke at all, but some do. A gentle one, perhaps, but a rebuke nonetheless. So, I guess we can say that it could be taken that way, or not.
However, I prefer to think Paul was not rebuking the Philippians, and here’s why. First, he was quick to give them what we might call an excuse, which would certainly lessen the impact of the rebuke if that’s what was intended. But it’s really a recognition of why they hadn’t helped him in a while. He essentially tells them he knows they care about him, but that he realizes they really hadn’t had a good opportunity to take that care, and turn it into practical assistance.
Also, a few verses later, Paul makes a point to remember previous times they had helped him. Now, we could certainly say that giving them a sort-of excuse after his rebuke was his way of being gracious and gentle in the rebuke.
But I like Alexander MacLaren’s take on this, which I think exhibits some real insight.
-We may note that trait of true friendship, confidence in a love that did not express itself. Many of us are too exacting in always wanting manifestations of our friend’s affection. What cries out for these is not love, so much as self-importance, which has not had the attention which it thinks it’s due. How often there have been breaches of intimacy which have no better reason than ‘He didn’t come to see me often enough’; ‘He hasn’t written to me for ever so long’; ‘He does not pay me the attention I expect.’ It is a poor love which is always needing to be assured of another’s. It is better to err in believing that there is a store of goodwill in our friends’ hearts (toward) us which only needs occasion to be unfolded. -
I believe that really expresses Paul’s heart here, and it’s a model for us. Our contentment in any circumstance means we don’t demand of others: “if you love me, you will do such and such.”
We give their love for us the benefit of the doubt. We believe the best of them. And of course, when we’re in Christ, He’s our source anyway. Yes, He uses us as agents of His love and comfort and friendship, on the giving side of the equation, and as givers of love, we should look for, and be open to, Him using us in that way.
When we’re on the needy, or the receiving side, however, our contentment is to be in Christ and in Him alone, and He’s the One we should look to in any and all circumstances, not to others, even as we recognize, and can be thankful as Paul was, that God can and will use others to be His hands and feet.
This relates to the next three verses, which are critical to our proper functioning as followers of Christ.
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content 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, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
This is at the heart of Paul’s thinking here. It relates, as we’ve noted, to his previous remarks about having peace. It’s clearly meant as a guide for our lives, not just a statement by Paul about himself.
We know well verse 13 – I can do everything, or all things, through Him. But unfortunately, we’ve seen the verse terribly abused. There’s a local businessman who uses this verse as his business slogan. I’ve heard it on his radio ads, I’ve seen it on his sign. But he only quotes part of it, which ends up sounding arrogant to me. The motto is “where we can do all things.”
But in paraphrasing that part of the verse only, this businessman is missing the most important part, and lifting this verse completely out of context. I hate to be so literal, and you might think this picky, especially related to a marketing theme, but the critical part of this verse, as well as the most important thought in the idea of contentment, presented in these three verses, is the last six words:
“through Him who gives me strength.”
Is it true we can do all things? Is that what Paul means here – we can do anything we want? The verse literally says, “I have strength for all things.” This was not an expression of pride. It was a declaration of the strength provided for Paul in everything he faced. And he makes it absolutely clear that it’s a strength that was available only through Jesus.
The King James Version of this verse says:
Philippians 4:13 (KJV) 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Scholars agree that the phrase “through Christ” was added by transcribers. So, while it’s absolutely clear that Paul’s referring to Jesus:
The oldest manuscripts omit "Christ"; then translate, "In Him who giveth me power," that is, by virtue of my living union and identification with Him, who is my strength (Ga 2:20). —Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Once again, we see that the “in Him” is absolutely essential to our proper understanding of this verse. So, can we really do everything or anything? Could Paul mean this phrase literally and did he really believe, did he really mean to teach us, that there was nothing he couldn’t do? Or nothing we can’t do? I don’t believe that’s at all what Paul was teaching us. The power we receive in Christ, in our union with Him, is enough to do His will. It’s enough to face the challenges that arise from our commitment to doing His will.
It’s enough to help us through the daily challenges of life, both little and big. He does not give us superhuman ability to accomplish anything we can imagine, without regards to God’s plans and purposes for us. When Paul said that he could do all things, he meant all things which were God’s will for him to do.
He had learned that the Lord’s commands are the Lord’s enablements. He knew that God would never call on him to accomplish some task without giving the necessary grace. All things probably applies not so much to great feats of daring as to great privations and hungerings. William McDonald
That’s the part that’s always left out of much popular preaching about this verse, but it’s the clear context. In addition, we have to remember the words of Jesus
John 15:5 (NIV) 5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Paul was in Christ. That’s why Paul could be content when everything was going well. Paul could be content when things were going poorly. He could be content when he had plenty of food, a warm and comfortable place to sleep, maybe even some luxuries. He could be just as content when he had little food, slept on rocks for pillows in the outdoors, and had nothing we could call a luxury.
The word for content here literally means self-sufficient. The Stoics of Paul’s day used this word to mean human self-reliance and fortitude. It was a calm and peaceful acceptance of life’s pressures. But Paul elevated the meaning of Christian contentment, as opposed to Stoic contentment, to mean something very different. That’s why he said he has strength for any and every circumstance, and was quick to add that the power to rise above these circumstances, not just to cope with them, but to actually feel content in them, is a God-given power – not available in himself alone. Paul said, I have this self-sufficiency in me, but it’s put there in me, it’s enabled by, Jesus.
Paul was content because he could see life from God’s point of view. He focused on what he was supposed to do, not what he felt he should have. Paul had his priorities straight, and he was grateful for everything God had given him. Paul had detached himself from the nonessentials so that he could concentrate on the eternal. Often the desire for more or better possessions is really a longing to fill an empty place in a person’s life. To what are you drawn when you feel empty inside? How can you find true contentment? The answer lies in your perspective, your priorities, and your source of power.
Life Application Notes
These thoughts about true contentment and true strength in Christ are followed by Paul’s thoughts about his financial relationship with the Philippians. If Paul were a modern-day missionary, you might say that the Philippians were among his supporters, and what we’re reading today was a support letter of thanks.
Of course, it was much more than that. But, he uses the language of ancient business practices when he talks of giving, receiving, sharing, accounts, credits or profits. Again, he relates all this to God’s blessings, not just in His life, but in the lives of the Philippians, the givers in this case. Paul continually recognizes the ultimate source of his supply. His thoughts here in this letter echo the words of Jesus, quoted by Paul in Acts:
Acts 20:35 (NIV) 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ’It is more blessed to give than to receive.’"
An important thing to note here in these verses. Paul makes it clear that when we give to the work of the Lord, even though we’re supporting people, we’re giving to the Lord. Referring to the gifts the Philippians sent him, Paul says in verse 18: They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
So, when we say we’re supporting the Harrisons in Africa, that’s true. But when we give our gifts to any of our missionaries, when we give our tithes or offerings for the work of this church, we’re giving sacrificially to the Lord – not to individuals, not to agencies, not to organizations, even though these things may be God’s agents.
Why else would this seemingly unimportant detail of the gift the Philippians gave to Paul, be recorded for posterity, recorded in the scripture, for us to read 2,000 years later?
Paul talks about previous gifts from this group of supporters, and notes that when he was in need, they’d sent gifts “again and again.” But he uses this thank you note to bring an important lesson to these supporters.
Philippians 4:17 (NIV) 17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.
Paul’s unselfish attitude is revealed in this verse. He was more concerned with the benefits, the blessings, that the Philippians would receive, than the amount of money or support he got from them. All that we have belongs to the Lord, and when we give to Him, we are only giving Him what is His own.
Christians who argue as to whether or not they should tithe their money have missed the point. A tithe or a tenth was commanded to Israelites under the law as the minimum gift. In this age of grace, the question should not be, “How much shall I give the Lord?” but rather, “How much dare I keep for myself?” It should be the Christian’s desire to live economically and sacrificially in order to give an ever-increasing portion of his income to the work of the Lord that men might not perish for want of hearing the gospel of Christ. Believers Bible Commentary
And how about verse 18? When was the last time you heard a TV preacher say “I have enough – I’m amply supplied.” This would be very unusual in our Christian culture today. The great missionary Hudson Taylor once said,
“God’s work carried on in God’s way will never lack God’s resources. What we greatly need to fear is not insufficient funds, but too much unconsecrated funds.”
Paul closes this letter, at least this section before his final greetings, with another familiar verse.
Philippians 4:19 (NIV) 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Sometimes, doesn’t it seem that the more familiar a verse, the less appropriately it is understood. First of all, and this is not original, and most of you have probably heard this before, but this verse clearly says God will meet all our needs. Not all our greeds.
So the most common abuse of this verse we see is the inability to distinguish between wants and needs. Sometimes what we think we need is really not a need – just a want. Wants aren’t always greeds, but they can have the tendency to turn into that.
This promise directly follows the description of the faithful giving, the faithful stewardship, of the Philippians toward Paul and his work and ministry. In other words, because they had given of their material resources to God, even to the point where their own livelihood was endangered, God would supply their every need.
How easy it is to take this verse out of context and use it as an excuse for Christians who are squandering their money on themselves with seldom a thought for the work of God! “That’s all right. God will supply all your need.” It is certainly true in a general sense that God does supply the needs of His people. But in this passage, this is a specific promise that those who are faithful and devoted in their giving to God will never suffer lack. William McDonald
Paul says what he has learned about contentment was a secret. Unless we learn this secret – which hopefully isn’t a secret to us after reading God’s Word this morning, our lives will inevitably be full of unfulfilled longings – discontentment. God Himself is the only satisfier of our souls. We will find no contentment, no satisfaction, in anything else – anything else is at best a poor substitute.
The channel by which that boundless supply is to reach us is distinctly set forth here. All these riches are stored up ‘in Christ Jesus.’ A deep lake may be hidden away in the bosom of the hills that would pour blessing and fertility over a barren land if it could find a channel down into the plains, but unless there be a river flowing out of it, its land-locked waters might as well be dried up. When Paul says ‘riches in glory,’ he puts them up high above our reach, but when he adds ‘in Christ Jesus,’ he brings them all down amongst us. In Him is ‘infinite riches in a narrow room.’ If we are in Him then we are beside our treasure, and have only to put out our hands and take the wealth that is lying there. All that we need is ‘in Christ,’ and if we are in Christ it is all close at our sides.
Alexander MacLaren
So, as we prepare to close this morning, can we say with the Psalmist:
Psalms 73:25-26 (NIV) 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Pray
