Title: Love Where You Live
Text: Philippians 4:4-12
Bottom Line: If I’m not content with where I am and what I have now, I won’t become content when I get “_________”
Intro
Good morning Real Life! I hope you all had a great thanksgiving with plenty of family, friends, food, and of course football!
This is by far my favorite time of the year. I love the food, the family, every time my wife and I go to the store and I see Christmas decorations I have to look through it all. I love this time of year.
Tension
But a problem that we can’t ignore and it is glaringly obvious during the holiday season. We are some of the most discontent and joyless people in the world. And that’s why we decided to do this series looking at what it means to actually be full of joy and content in every season of life. Last week we looked at joy, this week we are going to look at how to be content.
Let’s be honest we’ve all felt discontent in our lives at some point. This time of year there are no shortage of voices telling us what we need to have to finally be content. Each ad tells us our lives are missing something and if you just buy this car, that phone, if you just give these toys, drink that beer, wear these clothes, if we just had their product then our lives would be complete. We will spend millions this Christmas season trying to find that product that will leave us feeling content with our lives.
Yet many will wake up in January still discontent. We are a discontent people. Always looking for the next thing that we think will finally be enough. If we can just get that job, that wife, if we only had a bigger house, a nicer car, made more money, if we could only get pregnant, then, then we will be happy… We keep searching for something that we think if we can get then we will be happy.
Listen this is a tough message for me to preach, because I’m just like many of you. I am discontent. And I buy into the lie that if I just had BLANK then my life would be better. But here’s the hard truth I’ve learned… If I’m not content with where I am and what I have now, I won’t become content when I get “_________” Whatever you are after… If I’m not content with where I am and what I have now, I won’t become content when I get “_________”
Now we may find temporary satisfaction in a job, a new car, a new relationship, more money, or whatever we are after. But they will all fade and leave you feeling discontent once again searching for something else to fill that void. Not that those things are bad, in fact most are good things. Money, marriage, kids, cars, houses, promotions, iPhones, and tvs are all good things. Listen, black friday is a good thing! At least for people watching… These things are good, we should have pleasure and enjoyment in them. But if you aren’t content without them you won’t be content with them.
If you believe me let’s look at a few examples of people that have had them all… Tom Brady, the greatest QB of all time… If you disagree I just want you to know it’s okay to be wrong. There’s grace for you. After each game Brady does a postgame interview. And inevitably whenever a question about the Super Bowl comes up a reporter will ask Brady what his favorite Super Bowl ring is. With a smirk on his face he will say “The next one.” This guy has been to 7 Super Bowls won 5 and is arguably the greatest QB playing the game and is on one of the best teams in the history of the sport. And he is still discontent.
This discontent doesn’t just live in the world of sports. I’m going to put some pictures up and I want you to shoot out who it is… (Elvis, Michael Jackson, Prince) What do these people have in common? Shout it out… One other thing is they all struggle with chronic depression. And I’m not talking just about mental illness, it’s a chronic discontentment with their lives.
This really bothers me because they have everything you and I are after. They have all the money, the power, the success, the houses, the cars, the fame, they have everything that you and I think that we need to be content and happy. And they still suffer from deep deep dark discontentment. We think if we just had more then we will be happy, but these people have it all and still are discontent. What’s going on here?
Sometimes the thing we want the most, the thing we think will finally make us content, actually makes us more discontent when we get it.
Here’s the question I want us to wrestle with today, what if it’s not our physical circumstances that drive our contentment? What if contentment has nothing to do with what we have, how much we make, whether we have a spouse or not, what are health is like, or anything about the circumstances of our life. What if it’s something else?
Truth
For this series we have been looking at what Paul wrote in the book of Philippians about being full of Joy and Content in our lives. Since this is such a short series we have also put together a Devotional you can go through. You can download that or pick up a physical copy on your way out.
Before we go anywhere here’s something we all need to be reminded. All the verses we looked at last week and all the verses we will look at this week were written from a place that we would see as defeat. Paul isn’t telling us to rejoice as he is sipping tea sitting on the porch of his huge house overlooking his property. He is not telling us to be content while he has a full belly. He’s not telling us to be joyful as he reflects on his easy life. He writes all these things in jail. He wrote it with bruises and scars, hungry and sick on his way to being beheaded in Rome. He didn’t write these verses with his head held high, he wrote them while laying on his back in a jail cell.
In the worlds perspective he was a failure, a loser, nothing good going in his life. Yet it’s in those circumstances he tells us to be joyful. It’s in those circumstances he tells us to be content with what we have.
That’s why Paul writes this:
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. Philippians 4:12
Paul knew what it was to be content in every circumstance. And he knew how to be content whether he had everything or nothing. If he had plenty then he was content with that, he didn’t have to have more. If he had nothing, he was content, he didn’t anything to complete his life. He was content.
So today we are going to look at some of the verses preceding this one to figure out what made Paul content in every circumstance.
Remember as I read this first verses the context that it is written in. If don’t what Paul will say next will just see harsh.
From his jail cell Paul writes this. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Phil4:4
That sounds nice doesn’t it? That sounds really really nice. It’s the kind of thing put on a Christian coffee cup or something you’d see on a Thomas Kinkade painting. But I dare you the next you know someone going through really difficult season and quote that verse to them. I’m guessing they probably won’t start rejoicing right then and there, they might just hit you.
Wait a minute Paul are you telling me to rejoice when I lose my job? Yes, Rejoice. Paul are you telling me that when I get that news from the doctor I’m supposed to rejoice? Paul I’m about to lose my house, how can I rejoice? I will say it again, rejoice. When I lose my marriage, when my friends abandon me, when kids sick, when nothing in my life is working out the way I want, you want me to rejoice? Yes, it’s in those circumstance Paul is telling us to rejoice.
Now look, Paul is saying to rejoice in hope because of who God is… It doesn't mean fake until you make it. It means to rejoice because the God we serve is good and we can have hope in him.
You see we often look at our current circumstances and rejoice if they are good or mourn if they are not. But Paul is telling us something different here. When Paul tells us to rejoice he’s not telling us to rejoice in our circumstances. He’s telling us to rejoice in who God is.
Maybe you are thinking, yeah right how am I supposed to do that. Listen, Paul didn’t just say this, he lived it out. He rejoiced as he was beaten, he rejoice as he was hungry, he rejoiced as he was thrown in jail. He didn’t just rejoice in the good times, he rejoiced always. And it was in that joy that Paul was able to be content, despite his circumstances. And he’s telling each of us that we can do the same.
Paul is telling us that no matter our current circumstances are we can be content. No matter how screwed up things look. No matter how much or how little money we have. No matter what happens to our relationships. No matter what people say about us. No matter what people do to us. No matter what terrible thing happens to our family. We can be content where we are at. That’s why Paul says rejoice in the Lord always. It’s possible, he has shown us with his life.
Let’s pause here for a second. Wouldn’t that be great? Wouldn’t it be great to be able to stop chasing “________”? Wouldn’t it be great to just be happy? To not always have to have the next thing. Won’t it be great this holiday season if you could just enjoy your family and not stress about the perfect gift, meal, or thing? Wouldn’t it be nice if that pressure to get there, have this, or achieve that went away? Wouldn’t it be great if you could just appreciate what you have and be happy where you are?
I suspect deep down that’s what we all want. We all want to be full of joy, we all want to be content. We are just searching for it in the wrong places. We think if I have this thing, if I have her, if I achieve that, if just get this THEN I will be happy, then I will be content. But that pursuit is robbing us of our ability to be content and stealing our joy. Paul is telling there is a better way. There is a way to live your life rejoicing and content regardless of what you have or don’t have.
In the last part of his letter to the church in Philippi Paul explains what this means. He tells us what it means to be content.
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5
Paul tells us to rejoice and then tells us to let our gentleness be evident to all. At first glance it seems these 2 verses don’t go together. I looked into what this word “Gentleness” means. Some of your translations might read, let your “Reasonableness” be known to everyone. A better translation of that word would be Tolerance.
The true definition of tolerance, despite how culture has distorted it, means: to recognize and respect what others believe and do without agreeing with what they believe or do. So what’s Paul trying to saying here? He’s saying that when you disagree with God, which we all will at some point. When you say God I’m not cool with what you are doing. I don’t understand why you let this happen. Paul is saying when you disagree, be tolerant, be reasonable.
This tolerance isn’t saying that God is wrong and we accept it. It’s saying that more the likely we are wrong and we just cannot see it. Tolerance is saying God even though I don’t understand, even though I cannot see, even though I hate this, I will trust you…
Paul is saying that in those moments don’t pull away from God, be tolerant. In the next breath Paul says because the Lord is near.
Paul is telling us that when life doesn’t turn out how you thought it would, and when your world collapses, you can rejoice, you can be content. Why? Because God is with you. In the best times and in the worst times God will not abandon you.
God never promised us an easy life. In fact Jesus made it very clear if we follow him we will have difficulties. What he did promise us is that he will never abandon us. That’s what Paul is reminding us of.
David writes it this way: The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. Psalm 34:17-20
Listen, wherever you are God is with you. If the worst of season and in the best God is with you. Paul knows this, he’s lived it. He’s been shipwrecked, beaten, jailed, whipped, and hungry. All way following God’s plan. And it’s coming out of this he is saying that he is content, not because his circumstances, but because God is with him through it all. And now he’s saying that we too can be content in any circumstance we find ourselves in.
Paul contines…
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
How many of us in this room can say that we aren’t anxious about anything?
That word “anxious” is an interesting word. It means giving attention or concern to things that bring a significant disruption to personality and mind. Anxiety and worry is this thing that is weighing so many of us down. We worry about things out of our control, we stress about the holidays, we worry about our job and relationships. And what Paul is saying is that that is disruptive to our relationship with God.
I’ll speak for myself here too often I let the worry of the unknown weigh me down. What if there’s a big medical bill that comes, God how am I supposed to pay that? God what about my car, it’s got some miles what if it dies tomorrow? What if I mishandle this situation and end up hurting someone or my family? You know what that does? It robs me of being content. It makes me not satisfied where I’m at. If I let it go on long enough it wrecks my trust in God. So when something does go wrong I lash out, God how could you? Why would you let this happen?
What in your life are you worrying about? Money? Bills? Christmas presents? How your family will interact throughout the holidays? Health? Listen if you are asking a lot of “what if” questions in your life. You are probably anxious. You need to bring that to God because if you don’t it will eat you up and spit you out. Worry will only lead to discontentedness in your current situation, it will not bring peace and joy into you life.
So can we stop worrying? Paul tells us: in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Listen this doesn’t mean praying a prayer like: God fix THIS so that I can be happy. Paul is telling us that if we go to God when can get peace that replaces worry. Not a fix to your problem, our problems very well might continue. We get peace in the midst of our problem. And listen you might have to go to God a 1000 times saying God here’s my worry, give me my peace please. But we don’t stop, we keep going back with every worry and give it to God so that we can have peace.
Now I need to say something here. There are some that struggle with severe anxiety. And the reality is prayer alone will not fix it. Prayer is the needed first step, but you also need to deal with the causing issue. I’m a firm believer that everyone at some point will need counseling to help sort things in their life out. We have a partnership with Eden Counseling, a high quality Christian based counseling center. We, as a church, have a membership there, and you can get very affordable care there. Many from our church use this regularly. And if you are struggling with severe anxiety this is a great option to help you. If you want more info, send me an email or come find me after service.
You want to be content? Then in EVERY situation present it to God first. Worrying won’t do anything except rob you of joy. God doesn’t want that for you, he wants you to be full of peace, joy, and content in EVERY circumstance.
That’s why Jesus said: Matthew 6:27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Worrying only distracts us from what is really important and robs us of our peace.
At the end of the day worrying is a really arrogant behavior. When I worry I start thinking that I’m protecting others from what I’m dealing with. I think I can do it myself, I think I’m strong enough to overcome. And it’s simply not true. Rather we must give our worries to God. Why? because he cares. He’s stronger. Whatever is going on in your life give it to God. Good, bad, or otherwise. In every situation run to God.
Paul ends with a promise: 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
If we do this then we will have peace. What’s peace? It’s being content where we are at and what we have. It’s trusting God when things don’t make sense. Peace isn’t having to have more, rather being content with what God has given you. I believe peace is what all of us are ultimately after, most people are just looking in the wrong places. Peace is only found when we give our worrying, cares, concerns, and hopes to God.
Paul goes on to say that if we do that God will guard our hearts and minds. Guard from what? When we put our focus on God and run to him with our worries we will no longer be depended on our circumstances to make us content. Paul was living proof of this. By the worlds definition he was a loser, but he was content because he had what really mattered, Jesus. And that was enough to make him content.
It’s Jesus and only Jesus that can make us content. It’s not food, it’s not money, it’s not power, it’s not the bigger house, the fancy car, or even a family. Because all of that can change on a dime, all of that can run dry in a moment. It’s Jesus that is enough. Only He can carry us through the bad times and make us content in the good times. Paul is saying it doesn’t matter what my circumstances are I will be content. Whether I’m eating steak by the Mediterranean or gruel in a jail cell I am content.
That’s why Paul was able to end his letter saying this: I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were 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.
Let me ask you… Can you say that? Can you sit there and tell me you are content? If life is going well for you right now, you have a good job, a nice house, a good family, is that enough for you, are you content? Or are you still searching for more?
If you are in difficult season of life right now can you say that? Can you say that in your current circumstance that because of who God is and what he has said that that is enough for you? Are you okay waiting on God’s provision or do you have to go out on your own and try to make it happen?
Can you say that whether in good times or bad that I am content either way because my contentment is not based on my circumstances it’s based on who Jesus is and what he has done.
Application
Let’s switch gears here and makes this simple practical. What can we take home from this?
In the Good Times
Worship the giver not the gift.
Don’t allow your circumstances to determine your level of contentment. When life is good praise God. Thank him for the gifts that he has given you. But don’t let those gifts become God, instead let them point you back to him.
How do you know when a gift from God has become God in your life? Are you content right now because of what you have or because of who God is? Look at things in your life if they were to be taken away how would you react?
Listen if you are letting anything other then God determine your level of contentment you will be let it. It will rob you of your joy and increase anxiety in your level. God and only God should determine our level of contentment.
What does this mean? Daily thank God for his blessings… Ask God if something is taking too high of priority in your life. I heard of a guy once that whenever he received a compliment on something nice in his house he immediately gave it to that person. Why? Because he wanted to worship the gift not the giver. If something takes God places in your life you need to deal with it quickly, even if that means giving it away.
If you are in a good season of life regularly and prayerfully check yourself to make sure you are worshiping God for the gifts he’s giving you and not becoming dependent on them for your joy and happiness.
In the Bad Times
Daily give your worries to God
Again, don’t allow your circumstances to determine your level of contentment.
The promise God gives isn’t that you will get what you want. The promise isn’t that God will give you everything you want, when you want, and how you want in this life. The promise is an internal peace that replaces internal turmoil. Peace that replaces worry. Give it to God, tell him here’s my worry give me your peace please.
If you are in a difficult season of life right now the message Paul is telling you is that despite your circumstances you can still be content. Your health, your wealth, your relationship status, don’t have to determine your level of contentment.
How do you do this? It’s starts with daily getting alone with God and reminding yourself of his promises. Spend time praying, reading the bible, and reflecting on how God has come through in the past. Give him your worries, big, small and everything in between. This will look different for each of you. I sit in the quiet each morning in a chair reading my bible and drinking coffee. Others take walks, some journal, some lock themselves in a closet. Whatever it takes, get alone with God regularly. These journals we have is a great place to start!
Daily getting alone with God is the first step, but God never intended us to live life alone. Community is vital. Paul is thrown in prison, beaten, and has nothing. He’s content because of his relationship with God and because he has others supporting him. You’ve got to get yourself into community. Get in a Life Group, get in some kind of community that will hold you up and remind of God’s truth.
Conclusion
Listen if we do this the good times will become richer and the bad times will be put in perspective. If we do this we will become content. And the world will wonder what is different about us and we will be able to tell them the good news of what Jesus did for us and that that offer is true for them too.
You can be content in whatever circumstance you are in or will be in. Not on your strength but through God’s.
As we get closer and closer to the holidays you will be bombarded with promises that if you get _____ then you will be content. They are all empty and hollow. God and only God can make you content in any and every circumstance. Give your worry and anxiety to God and He will give you peace.
