A Study In Philippians
Philippians 4:10-23
“3 FACTORS THAT FUEL YOUR JOY”
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This final group of verses in Paul’s letter is a resounding anthem to joy.
Each verse rings with the sound of celebration and overcoming.
Paul was a in a good place when he wrote this final passage of his letter.
He was full of joy and you can tell it by reading this section.
Why was Paul feeling so good when the situation he was in was so bad?
Under house arrest, uncertain about what the future held, how did Paul have this sense of personal victory over his circumstances instead of feeling like a victim?
There were 3 factors that Paul mentions in this passage that I want us to look at tonight.
Each factor was a piece of the pie that made up Paul’s joyful attitude.
These same factors work in our lives to determine whether we’ll be joyful or not.
Let’s look at each one.
1.THE GENEROSITY FACTOR: Joy comes from SHARING what I have. – Vs.10, 14 – 17
In this passage Paul describes the kind of generous treatment he received from the Christians in Philippi.
He opens up this section by saying that the reason he was rejoicing was because of a generous financial gift the Philippian Christians had sent by the hand of Epaphroditus.
What is generosity? Let’s define it. Generosity is sharing what I have. Giving what you have to others.
“…Generosity can be described very simply as changing one’s focus from self to others.” – Dr. John Maxwell, Today Matters
Paul says in verse 10:
“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked the opportunity.”
Paul uses the word ‘flourished’ which carries the idea of a flower or plant blossoming or budding.
The last time Paul had received any money for his ministry from the church at Philippi had been 10 years before.
There was a gap, a period of about 10 years, where the Philippian church was not actively supporting Paul financially.
However, recently Epaphroditus had brought to Paul a gift from the Philippian church.
This gift had given Paul a reason to celebrate and rejoice.
The giving toward Paul’s ministry from the Philippian church had dried up for a decade.
And now, all of a sudden, a flood of giving and generosity had opened up like a flower whose pedals are opening up and blossoming.
Why had the Philippians not given in 10 years to Paul’s ministry?
Paul says it was because they “…lacked the opportunity”.
What does that mean? Let me give you 3 possibilities:
1. They may have lacked the capacity.
You can’t give what you don’t have. They simply may not have had in their possession money to send to Paul.
2. They may have lacked the communications.
“‘At last you have renewed your concern’ is not a rebuke. Rather it shows that communications had resumed after a period of no contact when there had been “no opportunity to show” their concern for Paul.” – Walter Elwell, Evangelical Commentary on the Bible
3. They may have lacked the right mind-set.
“We remain much more interested in problem solving than in opportunity seeking. Very few people actually sit down to think about opportunities. If an opportunity stares us in the face then we might asses it, but this is not the same as actively seeking opportunities. This real lack of interest in opportunities results from two sources. Opportunity means risk, bother and hassle, and we do not like any of these. We have also adapted to the way things are and are content with the way things are. There is little motivation to change. Businesses are supposed to be out there seeking opportunities the whole time. In my experience this is not so. Businesses are more interested in creativity for solving problems than for finding opportunities.” – Dr. Edward DeBono, Teach Yourself To Think
Question to consider: Is my heart flourishing, opening up like a blossoming flower, in the grace of giving?
Generosity is a factor in our having or not having joy.
A panhandler asked a woman for money, and she dug in her purse and handed him a dollar bill. As she did, she admonished him, “I’ll give you a dollar—not because you deserve it but because it pleases me.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” he replied, “but while you’re at it, why not make it a ten and thoroughly enjoy yourself!”
“No one stands taller in the climb to success than when he bends over to help up someone else.” – Dr. John Maxwell, Today Matters
Which is why Jesus said “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Why is it more blessed? For one reason, it gives us joy.
So generosity is a factor in our experiencing joy, just as it was in Paul having joy.
2. THE CONTENTMENT FACTOR: Joy comes from ENJOYING what I have.
Paul goes on and says, “Not that I speak in regard to need…”
Not that I’m complaining. I don’t want you to think I’m complaining.
No, “…for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.”
Paul didn’t say, “…for I have learned in whatever state I am to be restless.”
Paul uses a word in the original that means “to be self-sufficient. Not needing any external assistance.”
In other words, Paul was saying, “I’ve learned that nothing has to change on the outside for me to feel satisfied on the inside.”
I don’t have to get out of jail. I don’t have to inherit a million dollars. I don’t have to get a raise. I don’t have to get promoted. I don’t have to have someone pat me on the back. I don’t have to have perfect health.
Paul says, “I know how to be abased and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
What is contentment? Contentment is being able to enjoy what we have.
A lot of people define contentment as “getting what I want”.
Contentment is not getting what you want it. Have you ever set a goal and then achieved it and you didn’t feel as satisfied as you thought you would?
Contentment is not getting what you want it’s wanting what you have. It’s enjoying what you have.
Question: Why are so many Christians discontent?
1. We don’t know what we have.
Did you notice how many times Paul uses the phrase “I know” and “I have” in this section of the letter?
V.11 – I have
V.12 – I know
V.12 – I know how
V.12 – I have learned
V.17 – I have all and abound
Paul was a man who knew what he had. He was aware of all that God had given to him.
I think as Christians we’re not always aware of all that God has given to us. I think this is one reason why we struggle with feelings of discontent so much.
We’re like the lady who saved and saved her money for years until she finally had enough to pay for an expensive cruise.
All week, while on the cruise, she would secretly step into her cabin and eat the crackers and snacks she had brought along, thinking that the meals in the boat’s restaurant were priced so high.
On the last night of her cruise she decided to splurge and get dressed in her evening gown and go upstairs and enjoy an expensive dinner.
She ate like a queen that night. At the end of the meal, as the waiter came around to clear the table, she told him, “I’ll have the check now please.”
The waiter looked at her funny and asked, “What do you mean?”
She said, “The check. For my meal. I’m ready to pay it now.”
At that the waiter smiled and said, “Surely you’re joking. Ma’am your meal was included in the price of the package you paid for. Everything was included.”
She sat stunned and embarrassed.
Do you think some Christians are like that woman? Perhaps, not realizing all that they have in Christ?
The blessings, the gifts, the good things God has given them?
So one reason we struggle with feelings of discontent is because we’re simply not aware of all that we have been given in Jesus Christ.
2. We don’t cherish what we have.
“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but the living God, who gives us all things richly to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.” – 1 Timothy 6:17-18 (NKJV)
3. THE FAITH FACTOR: Joy comes from TRUSTING GOD for what I need.
“We might state it this way if we were to paraphrase Paul: ‘You met my need, and God is going to meet your need. You met one need I have, but my God will meet all your needs. You gave out of poverty, but God will supply your needs out of His riches in glory!” – Dr. Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary
