Learning the Secret – Philippians 4:10-23 January 3, 2010
This is the story of George Phillips of Mississippi, who was going to bed when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the shed. George opened the door to go turn off the light but saw there were people in the shed in the process of stealing things.
He immediately phoned the police, who asked "Is someone in your house?" and George said, “No”, and explained the situation. Then they explained that all patrols were busy, and that he should simply lock his door and an officer would be there when available.
George said, "Okay," hung up, counted to 30, and phoned the police again.
"Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people in my shed. Well, you don't have to worry about them now because I've just shot them all."
Then he hung up. Within a few minutes, three squad cars, an Armed Response unit, and an ambulance showed up. Of course, the police caught the burglars red-handed.
One of the policemen said to George: "I thought you said that you'd shot them!"
To which George replied, "I thought YOU said there was nobody available!"
** I would NOT recommend trying this to get the attention of the police at any time; but it was a good way to get our attention here today. T’was just a thought…
What I’d really like to share with you today is the final message in our series through the book of Philippians. We began this book back in August…yes, August! We’ve talked about the main theme of the letter…remember what it is??? JOY! Joy in all circumstances, even in trials and suffering, joy in serving God and others, and in the knowledge of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, pressing on toward our goal which is heaven, not being anxious about anything, but serving humbly, and keeping our thoughts on excellent things, putting our faith into practice. And we’re going to finish this study by considering all circumstances, and how we feel in them.
Philippians 4:10-23 (New International Version)
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. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 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; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. 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. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (NIV)
Who of us can say we are truly content with our life, wherever we are ‘at’ right now? How’d you feel yesterday? What do you think tomorrow will be like for you? Are you prepared for ‘whatever’ may happen? Are we ready for anything that may come our way? How will we ‘feel’ should things go well or if things go down the tubes?
Paul writes that he has learned to be content, no matter what the circumstance may be. What is his secret? Specifically he is writing about the concern that the church has had for his well-being; in other words, their support of him and his ministry. He’s glad, in fact he is greatly enthused, to have received the aid sent by the Philippians through Epaphroditus…he’s fully funded. It’s good not to have to worry about such things. There were times in Paul’s ministry that he was not at such a place, and really needed support, and the only ones to send him anything WERE the group of believers in Philippi. He remembers that, and he’s thankful, he’s glad, he’s content.
In those lean times, when Paul’s stomach growled from hunger, and he had no nice place to sleep at night, and wondered where the next bit of money for living may come from, he could have gotten all upset, and blamed the church for not supporting him, blamed himself for doing such a crazy thing as taking dangerous voyages preaching the gospel, or he could have blamed God for allowing him to be so bad-off at times.
But no, he didn’t. Paul was content with where he was, and however he was doing. Sure, it would be nice to have all his physical desires met, some money in his bank account and denarii jingling in his pockets, a new home and chariot, servants to cook his meals and clean his tired and dirty feet, the Pentateuch on the latest, lightest papyrus paper (now under 20 lbs!), and a holiday villa in Italy, but that is not where our desires are to be is it? ‘Things’ are not to be our source of contentment. Money cannot buy us happiness because money is just a temporary thing.
Here’s a little illustration to show how easily we are robbed of our contentment.
It’s a hot, muggy, Sunday morning in the summertime. You are at church and fighting to keep your mind off the temperature and on the sermon. The sermon gives you a new appreciation for God’s redemptive plan. We are content to endure the heat to hear one more time about Jesus who endured the punishment on the cross for our sins. Then a familiar sound comes through the windows. It’s the music jingle from the ice cream truck. Next thing we know our thoughts are on a fudgescicle. In seconds our minds have gone from eternal salvation to temporary relief through ice cream, from a holy moment where the Holy Spirit can speak to us to a moment of listening to our growling tummy and from contentment to dissatisfaction.
These days we can go from satisfaction with our circumstances to feelings of envy and ‘woe-is-me’ when we take our eyes and our minds off of the things that are truly important, and place them on just things; things we have or wish we could have. It’s especially evident over the Christmas season as we are bombarded with notions of, ‘buy this, you’re not complete without that, you gotta get one of these, look what Johnny has, look what his parents have, upgrade now, you deserve this, you’ve earned that’ kind of notions. And we listen to these thoughts, we spend our money, and we get things that give us what…temporary happiness. Why temporary? Because it doesn’t take too long before that thing, that spending spree, is soon forgotten and replaced with, ‘now you need this, now I want that…’ and we’re not happy anymore, we’ve lost that contentment we thought we bought.
As we look ahead into this New Year of 2010, I’d like to encourage all of us to consider what we consider to be our true source of contentment, the reason behind our reasoning, the secret of real happiness. I’d like to see every one of us do everything not in our OWN strength, but as Paul states, do everything through him who gives me strength. That’s Jesus!
That all begins with our attitude, our focus, our motivation for doing anything this year. How we see the upcoming year? Is it going to be a good year, a bad one, one filled with problems, or a year filled with opportunities? What do you want to see?
Behavioral scientists have discovered that we usually see things that we are prepared to see. This is all centered in a network of nerve cells called the "Reticular Activating System." Everybody has this system. The "Reticular Activating System." works like this: Once something has been brought to our attention, and we have been prepared to see it, we’ll see it virtually everywhere we go.
For example, you decide to buy a new car. You make up your mind that you are going to buy a certain brand, a certain body style, and a certain color. Now, you’ll see those cars everywhere. You’ll see them on the roads, in TV advertisements, in newspapers and magazines. They’re everywhere. Now what has happened? They were always there, but the moment you were prepared to see them, your Reticular Activating System kicked in, and suddenly you saw them everywhere.
It happens in other areas of life, too. We see what we are prepared to see. If we are prepared to see doom & gloom this year, then that’s what we’ll see. If, on the other hand, we have prepared ourselves to see sunshine & opportunities, then that’s what we are going to see. We choose to set our eyes on our problems and our shortcomings, or we can set our eyes on Jesus and see things with an eternal perspective.
Hebrews 12:1-3 (New International Version)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Here are some check points to help us identify unhealthy desire:
1. Do I buy on impulse or after some thought and prayer?
2. Do I give my "first fruits" to the Lord’s work or what is left over, or maybe nothing at all?
3. Do I get upset when something is lost or destroyed?
4. Do I need to buy something to be happy?
5. Do my material possessions hinder my testimony for Christ?
Hebrews 13:5(NIV) Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
The secret to a happy life is in knowing Christ. It does not matter what situation we may find ourselves in, what trials we may be going through, what obstacles are in our path, or if we have plenty or have nothing. What matters is do we have Jesus? Do we know Him, and does He know us?
A sign outside a church read something like this, ‘As you pass this little church be sure to plan a visit, so when at last you’re carried in, God won’t ask, ‘who is it?’
If we KNOW Jesus, and He knows us, our goals and our desires will be aligned with His will. We will have the proper perspective as to what we NEED in this life. And God promises here in His word that he will meet all our NEEDS according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To me, that says that Jesus is enough. Because what I need, what we all need is to know that we are saved from our sin not by what we have done, but through what Christ has already done for us. Knowing that our names are written in the Book of Life is immeasurably more important than wondering if our bank account is full enough.
Jesus said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matt.6:19-21)
Where is your heart today, right now? Where is your treasure stored up? Is it in heaven or here on earth? Is it temporary or eternal? Do you know Christ, and does He know you?
