Philippians 4:10-23
Contentment
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were 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 all this 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 more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. 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 the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
21 Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. 22 All the Lord’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Begin with a clip from “Leap of Faith”
In Paul’s day, there were “Philosophers” and “Teachers” and snake oil salesmen walking around selling their ideas and wares just as there are today. The presence of TV preachers today and their grasping at money is one of the reasons that people like myself find it hard to ask for support for projects etc.
You can see Paul’s struggle in this statement at the letter – he wants to thank them for the gifts that they have sent without sounding like he is asking for more! It is a bit like thanking your grandmother for a great meal, without encouraging her to put more on your plate. “Oh that was amazing, but I couldn’t eat another bite!”
Paul’s Situation – In a Turkish Prison in Ephesus – you were not fed etc. in prison in those days – you family and friends had to support you, or you might get some scraps every other day.
Paul was in this situation for a while, until Epaphroditus came with the gift from the Philippians.
Contentment
Contentment is a rare quality these days – we have TV shows, magazines, billboards etc that tell us not to be content with last years model of anything – car, computer, clothes, spouse…
Lack of contentment is a dangerous thing to a Christian – Parable of the seed – the cares of the world and the lure of wealth came and choked the plants
Paul’s secret to contentment in every circumstance:
Not out of individual fortitude like the stoics taught, but because God gives him strength. - 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Secret #1 Purpose
Paul has a purpose much larger than mere accumulation of things, or trophies or accolades. His focus is on furthering the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 6:25-34
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ’What shall we eat?’ or ’What shall we drink?’ or ’What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
As Christians, it is our task in life to seek after God’s kingdom – we are servants of the King, not lords who just want more land. As we focus on God’s Kindom/ Dream/ Dance/ Party/ Network… God will look after our needs, and he often looks after our wants as well.
He is our provider – he is Jehovahjireh – My God provides
“My God’s not short of cash, man.” - Bono
It is not your task to seek after a raise at work – it is your task to seek after the kingdom!
Secret # 2 Focus
Paul’s focus was not on how much he had – even to the point of hunger, but it was on Jesus the messiah and what he had done for him.
Rick Tobias – “poverty is not only about money, it is about hope” Paul may not have had money, but he had great hope.
Christ’s riches – Ephesians 1:3-14
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he [b] predestined us for adoption to sonship [c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he [d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen, [e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Paul had the understanding that everything that he had was a gift from God, and from his friends in Philippi – you don’t dis a gift by wanting something different or more, you are content with a gift.
Secret #3 God’s Economy
God’s Economy is relational – koinonea – fellowship, community - 14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles
The Philippians send the money, not a missionary Salary, they send it out of love for Paul and a love for the work that he is doing.
They also send it out of love for God – Paul describes it as a “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus
God’s Economy is about investing in the kingdom
17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.
He has used the image of a ledger book before, where the Religious things that used to be to his credit, were now on the debit side of the ledger. He applies it to money, were the money that we give to God’s work is moved from the debit side, to the credit side.
“To give to the poor is to lend to the Lord.”
It is like the money they sent was put in the “Bank of God” to be withdrawn at a latter time.
Shrewd Manager – uses his master’s money to make the right friends
Luke 16
The Parable of the Shrewd Manager
1 Jesus told his disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 So he called him in and asked him, ’What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’
3 "The manager said to himself, ’What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’
5 "So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ’How much do you owe my master?’
6 " ’Nine hundred gallons [a] of olive oil,’ he replied.
"The manager told him, ’Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’
7 "Then he asked the second, ’And how much do you owe?’
" ’A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied.
"He told him, ’Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’
8 "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
Are you investing in the “Bank of God” or in Wal-Mart?
Are you making friends with God, or with the Ferrari dealer?
Paul recognizes that the Philippian Christians were not giving out of their riches, they were giving out of their want. Their gift to him was a real sacrifice! And he trusts that God will look after them, not just in the Resurrection, but here and now.
. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus
John D.Rockefeller was once asked “How much is enough?” His reply was “Just a little more than what I have.”
We can buy into that mentality – it’s everywhere, or we canm learn the secret of contentment – in good time or in bad.
