Title: The believer’s greatest need
Text: Philippians 4:10-20
Philippians 4:19 has got to be one of the most encouraging verses found in the Bible.
“19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
Any verse where God promises to meet all our needs is an encouraging verse.
Question: What is the greatest need in a believer’s life?
•Is the greatest need in a believer’s life a financial need?
•Is the greatest need in a believer’s life a physical need?
•Is our greatest need the same for every believer?
In Philippians 4:10-13 we find a description of what could be the greatest need in a believer’s life.
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.
The greatest need in a believer’s life is to have contentment.
To have peace in our hearts and peace in our minds (which is what contentment is) is every believer’s greatest need.
If you need contentment in your life then you need to see what Paul tells in verse 12.
12 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.”
1.First of all you need to see that Contentment is a secret
12 I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,
A. Most people don’t know the secret to finding contentment
B. Most people think the secret to contentment is found at a higher pay level; at a better job; in a bigger house or at a different location.
2. You need to see that contentment is an inside job.
(v12) 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.”
Here is the secret to finding contentment.
Contentment is an inside job!
Being content has nothing to do with what is going on outside of us but everything to do with what is going on inside of me.
Paul says you can take everything I have away from me and I’ll still content.”
Illustration: take away my food and my freedom and I’ll still going to be content.
The truth is that most people don’t know that contentment is an inside job
3.You need to see that Contentment is something that must be learned
12 I have learned the secret of being content…”
A. Where does a person learn the secret to contentment?
•Is it during the times where you find yourself full or is it during the times where you find yourself hungry?
•Is it during the times where you find yourself living in plenty or is during the times where you find yourself living in want?
The answer is both!
Contentment is being the very same person regardless of the circumstances.
If you think it would only take a vacation in Hawaii to get you contented. You are wrong!
What has a person learnt that allows him or her to find the secret to contentment?
1.They have learnt that in order to find contentment they must get themselves into a right relationship with God
The very source of all our contentment comes from having a right relationship with God.
Whenever we lose our contentment it’s always because we have somehow neglected our relationship with God
How do you know when you have gotten yourself into a right relationship with God?
You know you have gotten yourself into a right relationship with God when…
You are experiencing God’s strength.
Illustration: you and I are like rechargeable batteries.When we lose the charge we have to be recharged.We get recharged through having a right relationship with God.When we read, study and apply God’s word we are recharged.When we pray we are recharged.When we worship together on Sunday’s we are recharged.When we share our faith we are recharged.
Those who find the secret of contentment have learnt to get themselves into a right relationship with God.And a right relationship with God starts with having a right relationship with Jesus
Finally I would like to return to our text in order to show us what life will be like for those who find the secret of contentment.
1.They will rejoice in the Lord more (v10)
“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. ”
Are you ever concerned about how little rejoicing in the Lord you do?
Maybe you might go days without rejoicing in the Lord? Do you ever wish you could rejoice in the Lord more?The only way to renew our worship is to find our contentment in the Lord? If our contentment is found in the Lord there will always be opportunities to rejoice in the Lord.
2.They will do more for the Lord (v13)
13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
wrong picture of contentment: Sitting down and doing nothing.
Once you have learned the secret of contentment you will actually do more for God.
Illustration: The parable of the sower
“The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22)
3.They will bring more Glory to God (v20)
To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen
The best way to bring more glory to God is to find our contentment in him?
How does it bring glory to God if we are trying to find our contentment in someone or something else?
Imagine if you are a loving Dad who has a nice, warm house with plenty of food, love, etc.....Your child goes up & down the street every day knocking on the neighbors’ doors, asking "Do you have any food I could eat....do you have any clothes for me?" Imagine how hurt you, as a Dad, would be that you went to them instead of you. When we look to other stuff to fulfill us instead of finding our contentment in the Lord, it’s kind of the same thing. We look to the new car, or the better position at work, or the approval of friends to give us happiness, when all we EVER have to do is to look to our heavenly Father.
4.Finally they will give more (v15-16)
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.”
We can only give more if we have found the secret to contentment.Once we have found the real secret to contentment we will have more to give.
Illustration:If you think the secret to contentment is driving a 50,000 car then that is $50000 you can’t give!
But the secret to contentment costs nothing -so that leaves you and me free to give everything.That was why the Philippians could give and keep on giving even when other churches stopped.
Application:
We are attempting to give more to missions next year than we gave this year.Why? More missionaries need help. More people need to hear.But I can’t give more if I’m not content with what I now have.And I can’t give up something God might ask me to give up unless I’m content in him.
Have you learnt the secret to contentment?
