AGAIN I SAY REJOICE
THE SECRET OF CONTENTMENT
PHILIPPIANS 4:10-23
INTRODUCTION
- A few weeks ago when we were discussing how to pursue the prize of Christian maturity I quoted Dr. Warren Wiersbe as writing that “A divine dissatisfaction is essential for spiritual progress.” In the context of that quote and in the context of my sermon the point was that believers should never be satisfied with their level of spiritual growth. They can and should be joyful that growth is occurring, but should never assume that they have done enough; that they are mature enough; that they are godly enough. So as it relates to spiritual progress, Scripture commends discontentment.
- But now we come to another matter altogether. In Philippians 4:10-23 Paul addresses a different kind of contentment. Now, spiritual growth is not the subject of satisfaction or dissatisfaction, but rather material belongings and physical provisions. What we are going to see as we close our look at this Apostolic letter is that there is a certain kind of contentment which is indeed godly; that while we should never be satisfied with our spiritual walk, we should always be satisfied with our physical possessions.
- Much of what we will discuss today will fly in the face of all that Americans hold dear. In fact, the accumulation of wealth and possessions is almost a given in our country – that’s just what we do. That’s what life is all about. We are born, we go to school to learn general knowledge, we go to college to learn specific knowledge that we can apply in a particular trade, we find a job (optimally in the trade we trained for), and we begin to make and accumulate money so that we can buy cars, buy houses, buy clothes, buy jewelry, buy cell phones, buy video games, buy all sorts of stuff.
- While that may be the typical American life, that is far from the expected biblical life. For Scripture does not suggest that possessions are evil or that having many of them is necessarily evil, but that possessions should always remain possessions and never become possessors. As believers, we control our possessions for the glory of God. The biblical thinker understands the role of material things in this life as we prepare for the next life – our true, abundant, and eternal life.
- Contentment is such an important Christian virtue that Paul instructed Timothy, the young pastor at the church of Ephesus, in the ways of contentment when he wrote in 1 Timothy 6:6 that: there is great gain in godliness with contentment. We will look at the passage in depth in just a moment. So the Bible is well aware of, as we would expect it to be, the natural, sinful human tendency to covet after more and more material possessions and set those possessions up as idols.
- The way to avoid that particular form of idolatry, of course, is to develop contentment. The question before us then is this: “How do I develop contentment?”. What is the secret of contentment? What one thing, if there is only one thing, do I need to come to grips with in order to see the covetousness that so naturally arises within me transform into contentment? Let’s see what the word of God has to say about this matter in Philippians 4.
[READ PHILIPPIANS 4:10-23]
- The first thing we learn from the Apostle Paul in this text is this:
A CONTENT PERSON KNOWS HOW TO HAVE LITTLE
- The main thrust of this passage is Paul rejoicing and thanking the Philippians for a gift that they had sent to him. He speaks of them reviving their concern for him, which is a way of alluding to their support of him. Then in v.18 he mentions the gift specifically.
- Remember we noted in our look at the end of chapter 2 that this gift was sent to Paul from Philippi by the hand of Epaphroditus. And I mentioned what an enormous task it would have been to travel from Philippi to Rome bearing a gift. The 1200 mile journey was by no means easy. So Paul, again recognizing this, begins to express his gratitude for their generosity.
- And as is often the case, he states something very important in the midst of his overall comment. He wants the saints to know that he is especially grateful for their gift, but that with or without the gift he would be content. In fact, it goes beyond that. He states that whatever situation he was in, he had learned to be satisfied with what he had. And in saying this he claims that he knew: how to be brought low...[and] the secret of facing hunger...and need.
- Here he is: aside from Jesus himself, the greatest missionary to ever walk the planet. A giant of all giants of the faith humbly admitting that he knew how to do without. I want you to get a picture of this from the book of 2 Corinthians. For some this will be an eye-opener and others a refresher. What kind of things did Paul deal with while preaching the gospel in the name of Jesus Christ?
- In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul is combating false apostles. Men who were disguising themselves as apostles of Christ but were preaching a different gospel. They were, as Jesus called them in Matthew 7, wolves in sheep’s clothing. He compares himself to them with an outrageous listing of all that he had gone through as an authentic Apostle.
- 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 says, and this is Paul writing: Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one —I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak?
- So this isn’t some rich, fortunate man telling the poor, unfortunate Philippians to be quiet and be happy with what they have. This is a man who knew from painful reality what it was like to be low. He knew what it was to hunger. He knew what is was to be humiliated. This isn’t pie in the sky instruction. This is real talk from a real man who endured real problems.
- Now why is it that Paul, who had tremendous apostolic authority in the churches, did not use his influence to put himself in a better financial position? It was not that he thought there was some intrinsic holiness in being poor, but rather the opposite. He knew the deceitfulness of desiring riches. His concentration was on ministry rather than materials because focusing on the material aspects of life would distract him from his calling.
- Here is the whole passage in 1 Timothy 6 that I mentioned in passing earlier. Verses 6-10 say: Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
- Listen carefully to the how these statements are worded. To think that having money and being rich or wealthy is evil in and of itself is to miss to point. That’s not the issue. Paul says that those who desire to be rich, and love money, and have a craving for wealth fall into an evil trap. The reason why we need to learn how to be satisfied with little is that it keeps us from coveting for more.
- We live in a blessed and prosperous nation. It is not wrong for us to want to make a good living for ourselves so that we can provide for our family. In fact, we will discuss how to live a lot of wealth should God bless us with that in a moment. But if we have an intense desire for money. If we crave it and love it, then our values are skewed and we have made money and material belongings idols.
- To avoid this, we practice being content with what we have. That doesn’t necessarily mean we don’t pursue more than we have. It means that if we don’t get what we’re pursuing we remain satisfied with what God has given us. A content person knows how to have little, should God call him or her to a simple lifestyle. And this will be the majority experience for most of us. For most of us, the main application from this passage will be this: even though you don’t have all the world offers, be content with what you have.
- There are, however, those believers in this life whom God chooses to richly bless with monetary and material wealth. What about them? Paul writes secondly that:
A CONTENT PERSON KNOWS HOW TO HAVE MUCH
- Paul was probably never rich as we would classically define it. But he did have times in his life when he had more than he needed. Not only does he state his ability to be content when facing hunger and need, but also when facing plenty and abundance.
- Being content when you are doing without certain things is one thing. Being content when you have lots of things, maybe even everything you’ve ever wanted is quite another. Here the tendency is not to want more, but to think you need nothing. If you’re not wealthy the struggle for contentment comes in lacking things; if you’re wealthy the struggle comes in misplacing your contentment.
- The temptation is to think two things. First, that you acquired your wealth with your own power and expertise. Second, that because have your wealth you have no need of anything. We could boil those two statements down to two words: pride and self-sufficiency. The prophet Jeremiah warned of these dangers when he wrote in 9:23-24: Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
- To boast about being wealthy or well off is to reveal that your source of contentment is in the wrong place. And this kind of boasting, if left unchecked, inevitably leads to a denial of needing anything from anyone. In fact, Jesus rebuked the church at Laodicea for this. In Revelation 3, after rebuking the church for being lukewarm, he says: For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
- See those of us without a lot of money always think life is so much easier for those who have it. There is only some truth to that. For a worldly standpoint that is true. Wealthy people don’t have to worry about how they are going to pay their bills, feed their children, or supply their needs. But there is a spiritual battle that the rich must contend with. Jesus said that only with much difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of God. Why is that? Because monetary and material possessions can easily keep you from seeing your need of forgiveness from the Savior.
- Paul knew better than that. He knew the truth of Proverbs 22:2, that: The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all. Do you know how we say that today? “You can’t take it with you when you die.” Material possessions are only good on this planet. That’s why Jesus told us to store up our treasures in heaven. So if Paul entered into a time in his life when he had more than enough, he knew how to keep things in perspective. So as a side note, keep this point in mind:
A CONTENT PERSON UNDERSTANDS TRUE WEALTH
- Proverbs 11:28 says: Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. If you want real wealth, follow after Christ. The treasures of heaven which all of his followers will inherit far exceed any wealth this world can offer. That’s why the psalmist declared in Psalm 119:14: In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
- What are you to do with material riches if you have them? Again in chapter 6 of 1 Timothy: As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
- A content person of meager means knows that his or her true inheritance awaits them, so they are not obsessed with wanting more. A content person of more than adequate means knows the same, so they are not deluded into thinking their real treasure can be folded up and put into a purse or wallet. So no matter how much you have you use it for Christ.
- Never forget this: everything you have, you have because Jesus Christ gave it to you. And everything you have was given to you so that you could use it for his glory. You have a biblical view of money and possessions when your aim is to use it all for him, either through primary or secondary means. An example of primary means would be the money and resources you give directly to the church. A use of secondary means would be your house. You don’t give your house away, but you use it as a place of habitation while you go about the business of serving Christ. All of your materials, in one way or another, are means to an end. The end is the glory of God.
- Now, just as we saw the truth that true joy and satisfaction come only in Christ when Paul wrote “Rejoice in the Lord”, so now we see that true riches and contentment are found only in him and are given only for him. That is the point of well known v.13:
THE SECRET OF CONTENTMENT IS BEING SATISFIED WITH CHRIST
- The secret of contentment is not a principle but a person. The secret is Jesus Christ. Paul writes in some of the most memorized words of Scripture: I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Now that we’ve spent some time looking at this passage, we know what “all things” means. “All things” certainly does not mean absolutely everything. Paul could not fly to the moon and back just by flapping his arms. If God wanted him to he could, but that’s not the point. The strength that Paul refers to that enables him to do all things is a strength from God that brings contentment.
- Believers are empowered by God to live the Christian life no matter the circumstances. In this case, this means no matter the material circumstances. Paul’s saying “I can face wealth, poverty, and everything in between and still serve and please Jesus Christ, because he gives me the power to do so no matter what’s going on around me. So this verse is not so much a motivational pep talk telling you that you can chase down your dreams and desires with God’s help, it is a comforting exhortation that you can please Christ and concern yourself with his will in all situations as his Spirit strengthens you for ministry.
- If you want to be content, be satisfied with Jesus. Then, by his grace, you will be able to do all that he calls you to do. You won’t be overly preoccupied with temporal matters. Your eyes will be fixed upon him and what he’s doing in this world. You will be able to say with the songwriter: “You can have all this world; give me Jesus.” And I can do anything he calls me to do through him.
- Well, there’s one other principle I would like to draw from this text. We find it in the closing verses of the letter. In vv.14-19 there is one very important clue that Paul was indeed as content as he claimed to be. The clue is this: he was focused not on himself, but others.
A CONTENT PERSON IS CONCERNED FOR OTHERS
- You might ask, “How do I know if I’m content in Christ or not?” Here is one very good way to tell. Are you satisfied enough with what you have that you are able to spend time meeting the needs of others? Paul doesn’t want the Philippians to think that he was ungrateful for the gift they sent him. So he again thanks them for it and also thanks them for their help in times past. Now notice v.17: Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
- Even as he was grateful for their help, he viewed their gift as an offering to God which furthered their maturity in Christ. Paul knew, and taught elsewhere, that God loves a cheerful giver; that you reap what you sow. Yes, he benefited from the gift they sent; but he knew that they benefited more. Because God was pleased with their obedience to use their resources for the kingdom.
- Here Paul’s contentment reveals itself in his concern for the Philippians’ spiritual needs. And we could insert physical needs here as well. You know you are content when you are able to serve others both spiritually and physically because you know what true riches are, and you’re not so wrapped up in getting more for yourself that you ignore everyone else.
CONCLUSION
- Then he includes a promise to them. God would supply all their needs. Paul would never be able to repay them, but his God would. It’s as if he’s saying this: “All of my needs are met by Christ whether I’m poor or rich because I live in his strength. And I can see by the gift that you gave me that you have the same understanding of true wealth. So I know that God will supply all of your needs just as he does mine.”
- What an encouraging way to end the letter! He’s hit on every topic from persecution to the destruction of the wicked, to the humiliation of Christ, to the call to die for Christ if necessary. He’s dealt with disunity within the church and false prophets without. Yet through all of this we’ve seen this thread of joy. And the book ends with a word of joy: And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever.
- And after a few short greetings he ends with a typical Pauline farewell that I will address to you all today as we close: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
