Contentment…
March 6, 2011 Phil. 4:10-23
Intro:
I must confess that I am feeling a little sad that today we will finish our study of the book of Philippians. I don’t know how much you have gotten out of it, but I have really enjoyed immersing in the book, in Paul’s world, and hearing the Holy Spirit speak through His Word. Today we are going to look at the last half of chapter 4, and in the middle of some personal notes of appreciation is one main thought that ties it all together, and that challenges us in our way of living today. That thought revolves around the idea of contentment. So to get you started thinking about that, are you content?
Author James Emery White (You Can Experience an Authentic Life. Nashville: Word Publishing, 2000, pp. 139-140) wrote,
I sat down and looked through some magazines this past week. I discovered that if I want to feel right, I need to get a NordicTrack. I don’t have a NordicTrack, just a membership down at the gym, so I suddenly realized that I didn’t feel as healthy as I thought I did.
I then read that if I wanted to be stylish, I would need to buy a Toyota Camry. Our family van was in the shop, so I had been driving our old Mercury Sable. That felt bad enough. Real men drive SUVs or bright red sports cars. I’ve got four kids, so I don’t have the luxury of driving what real men drive. So I found out that I couldn’t be stylish with the cars I owned.
Then I saw that if I wanted to really feel the spring season, I had to dress for the spring season, and the only place for that was at Dillard’s. I knew I wouldn’t have a chance to go to Dillard’s that week. Suddenly the beautiful weather just didn’t seem that beautiful. I just wasn’t dressed for it.
It didn’t get any better. I learned that I needed to be opening my mail with knife from Oneida. I only had a two-dollar letter opener from Office Depot. Now even my mail was disappointing. On top of that, I discovered that I couldn’t have a good meal if I wasn’t in Texas – at least not a meal that would satisfy me. So much for my Lean Cuisines. Then I read that if I wanted to be a man, at least a manlier man than my neighbor, I had to drive a Yard-Man mower with a Briggs and Stratton engine. At least it was cheaper than a new SUV.
I like my house until I saw the new development’s ad. I thought my family and I were close until I realized we didn’t have season passes to the amusement park. I even thought I loved my wife, but since I hadn’t bought her a diamond necklace from the jewelry store, I was informed that I didn’t. I found out that I can’t even be romantic with my wife unless we use Sylvania light bulbs. Wouldn’t you know, we have GE.
By the time I got finished with those magazines, I wasn’t just depressed – I needed counseling.
Context:
Listening to that, I can relate. We do feel a pressure to reject contentment, which is usually coupled with a message that purchasing a particular thing will provide that contentment. Yet we quickly discover it is a lie, first because there is always another message saying that whatever we have just acquired itself must be upgraded to something better (if not now, then certainly in the future…), and if that doesn’t work then there is something else we need to get; but second and more importantly because as soon as we have that thing, and get past the initial excitement, we recognize somewhere deep within us that we still have a gnawing craving for something else – we still aren’t satisfied. So many people listen to the voices around and assume that lack of satisfaction is because we haven’t reached the top yet, haven’t got it all yet, and when we do then we will be satisfied. But I would suggest, instead, that we are looking in the wrong direction. We have filled our minds with the wrong things – with the things we lack. We have not done as we were commanded last week:
“8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” (Phil 4:8-9).
Phil 4:10-23
I wanted to re-read vs. 8-9 because they are a vital part of the content of the last part of the letter. Paul is going to demonstrate this mindset – of meditating on the good – and it enables him to write some profound things when we keep in mind his current situation, writing as he did from prison awaiting a sentence which could very well mean the end of his life. Here is what he writes:
10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
18 At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
20 Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.
21 Give my greetings to each of God’s holy people—all who belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their greetings. 22 And all the rest of God’s people send you greetings, too, especially those in Caesar’s household.
23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
On a personal note…
There is a lot of specific, personal content here. Paul received the financial gift sent with Epaphroditus and is expressing appreciation and affirming that he received it. There is a neat perspective in there at the end of verse 17, about what our generosity does for us, “I want you to receive a reward for your kindness”, where the “reward” is not of course material but rather spiritual – in effect Paul is saying he is glad they made the sacrifice because he knows it was good for them to give. That is worth remembering – we give because of others’ needs, for sure. But on another level, we give because it is good for us to do so.
Contentment:
The over-riding theme in this last section, though, is the idea of contentment. We see it clearly in verses 11-13, and in 18-19. He “learned to be content”…, he “learned the secret”…, he sat in prison and wrote “I have all I need – and more!”…, and he was able to voice the promise of God (to which he was a witness) that “the same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”
Vs. 11-12:
“I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.” That, my friends, is truly a great testimony, and truly a radically counter-cultural statement today. If we, as the corporate people of God, could authentically say that in our consumer culture, I think it would have a huge impact on the world around us. I imagine a collection of people who genuinely were content with what they have, and lived in such a way that others could see that. “hey! Did you see the new iPad 2 was released this week?!! I can’t wait to get one!”, and to hear a genuine reply of, “yes, I did see it and it looks cool. But I’m quite sure that the laptop I bought 2 years ago is going to last me for another 2 or 3 years, and it does all I need. Sure, the new things are better but I’m content with what I have.” That would be a great way to demonstrate that as citizens of heaven we really are different, we really do have a different source for our worth, and we have found a better place to center ourselves than material pursuits.
I don’t think I could say that for me with integrity, if I am honest I have to admit that the materialism of our culture has shaped my soul powerfully and has influenced my tendency to see the things I don’t have rather than what I do have. I have a ways to go. Sometimes I think I am on the way, and there have been some times in my life where I see progress, but then I read Paul who is in prison writing about contentment and I feel a long way off.
He continues, “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” We are going to get to “the secret” in just a moment in the next verse, but first a question: do you think it is harder to be content with “plenty” or with “little”?
Vs. 13:
The next verse is one of those famous, favorite, oft-memorized verses from this book. “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” One of my commentators noted that it was painted on the roof at a gym, so when you laid back to do some bench presses you could read it. It sounds inspiring, limitless! What a promise!! I can do anything I want through Jesus!!! Except, that’s not what it says, and the gym owner and even the well-meaning memorizer almost always takes it out of context and strips it of its real meaning and gives it some idea of Christian triumphalism.
Instead, this verse is Paul’s secret to contentment. What is the secret? How does Paul find a way “to be content with whatever (he) has”? Simple. Through Jesus. See, with Jesus we have everything. And no, I’m not talking about new iPads.
Remember those deep cravings I talked about a moment ago, that we often think will be satisfied by our buying some new thing but still remain even after we buy it? Jesus answers those – those deep needs, which our marketers are experts at manipulating, Jesus satisfies. Instead of seeking acceptance through some outward appearance of being cool or rich, we find true acceptance. Instead of being mildly entertained we find true joy. And instead of pursuing things that break, rust, or wear out, we find a cause worth living for with every part of our being.
Paul says, “I’m content… whether I have plenty or little, I have Jesus. And through Jesus, I can do everything (which in context means “find contentment”)”.
Is Jesus enough for you? Are you pursuing Him, even half as much as you are pursuing other things? Those other things will leave you empty and longing for more, but Jesus satisfies. Seek Him first, seek His Kingdom first, not because you have to or feel guilty, but because it really, genuinely, honestly does lead us to a greater contentment. It frees us from the grab of stuff and instead empties our arms of stuff so we can embrace Jesus and embrace others with the love of Jesus.
Vs 19:
The fear is that we won’t have enough. Part of that, again, comes back to where we are focusing our thoughts – is it on all that we don’t have, or is it on what we do have (especially in Christ, not materially)? As if anticipating that fear, Paul writes vs. 19 as a reassurance. “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” There is no need to be afraid, to worry that we won’t have enough. We have more than enough, we really do. And that is where our focus should be, on all that we have, especially in Christ, and in the promise that God really will take care of us.
That promise is a great lead into our celebration of the Lord’s Supper, where we reflect and re-enact all that has “been given to us in Christ Jesus.” As we prepare for communion, I want to start it a little differently. Normally we make space to examine ourselves for sin so we can confess and repent. We will still do that, but not first. First, as you spend a few moments preparing and thinking on the cross and the empty tomb, hold this verse in your mind and your heart. Think about the past-tense, “has been given to us”. Think on the vast “glorious riches”. Remember God’s faithfulness. And as you do, ask the Holy Spirit to help re-align you to contentment rather than lack.
