Once upon a time, a rich business owner was walking along the shore, when he came along a fisherman sitting lazily beside his boat. “Why aren’t you out there fishing?” he asked. “Because I’ve caught enough fish for today,” said the fisherman. “Why don’t you catch more fish than you need?’ the rich man asked. “What would I do with them?” said the fisherman. “You could earn more money,” came the impatient reply, “and buy a better boat so you could go deeper and catch more fish. You could purchase nylon nets, catch even more fish, and make more money. Soon you’d have a fleet of boats and be rich like me.” The fisherman asked, “Then what would I do?” “You could sit down and enjoy life,” said the industrialist. “What do you think I’m doing now?” the fisherman replied, as he looked placidly out to sea.
Can you think of a time in history, in which that story is more applicable than it is today? We live in a world that is so fixated on the pursuit of happiness, and on temporary pleasures, and it is infectious. Why settle for what I have now, when I can have more? My TV works fine, but it’s only 55 inches, and there’s an 80 inch 4K on sale at Best Buy, I've just gotta have it! My car is 5 years old and works just fine, and I just paid it off, but the new model is so cool and has a whole bunch of new features, lets trade ours in and get it!
Or maybe for you, it’s about money, time, or work. You know, if you just keep working all that extra overtime and banking money, if you just sacrifice a few more moments with your family, you will finally have it made, and THEN you can finally take your family on that vacation you’ve all been dreaming about, or you can finally get that promotion and get the raise you’ve wanted, or you can finally enjoy a long and happy retirement. If you just sacrifice a little bit more of the happiness you could have now, if you just make a little more money, if you just get that thing you’ve been thinking about for so long, THEN you will TRULY be happy, THEN you’ll finally experience that fulfillment and contentment that you have been working so hard to get.
Have you ever caught yourself saying these things, or thinking these things? If you have, you’re in good company. This is the final week of our Philippians series, but unfortunately for you, Paul was not as fond of soft landings as I am. In his concluding notes, he chose to address one of the most divisive topics known to humanity: Money. But as excited as I am sure you would be for me to talk about money, I felt drawn to instead discuss the real issue, which is contentment. We are never content, so long as we are trying to fill our souls with things that don’t satisfy, because contentment in life is not found in those things: True contentment is found in Christ alone. Every Christian can find joy and contentment in ANY circumstance, through the power and strength of Jesus.
So let’s read this last passage of scripture from Philippians, and I am reading from the New International Version:
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Philippians 4:10–23 NIV
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. 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 all this 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 more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. 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 the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Alright, so let’s just start with Verse 10 on it’s own, and go from there.
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Philippians 4:10 NIV
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.
This is one of those verses where just when you READ it, you can tell that translation has not done it justice. What we know here is that the Philippians sent Paul money with Epaphroditus when he came to Paul in Rome. If you just read that first part, it kinda feels like the worst thank you in the history of the planet. They sent him money, and it must have been awhile since they had done so, because Paul essentially says, “I thanked the Lord that you finally realized that you should be helping me out.”
But it becomes clear when you read the next piece, that all he meant is that he was happy that they finally had a CHANCE to help him out, as he clarifies that before now, there had been no way for them to help him. Maybe there was nobody travelling from Philippi to Rome at the time, we don’t know. But it didn’t translate very well, for sure!
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Philippians 4:11–12 NIV
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.
Paul makes it clear that even though they send him money, he did not NEED them to send him money. So this is quickly turning into the worst thank you note of all time!
But the reason he gives is this: He did not NEED their assistance, because he has learned the secret of peace and contentment, based on detachment from the circumstances of his life. Whatever conditions of life he finds himself in, he has learned how to be content.
He uses a couple of rare words here, the first of which we translate as “learned the secret”, and the idea that it conveys is of a secret knowledge that is discovered through life. His point here is that his contentment has been learned through experience.
The next rare word he uses is the one that we translate as “to be content”. The sense of this word is actually “to be self-reliant”, and the context of the passage supports that meaning. However, as we will see, it is a self sufficiency that comes to him through the strength of Jesus.
So in these verses, he uses three contrasts that showed the opportunities he’d had in life to learn contentment:
Living Humbly / Living in Prosperity
Being Filled / Being Hungry
Having Abundance / Suffering in Need
So no matter what the situation, when things were financially good, or bad, he had learned to be content. Now you may have heard of Stoicism before. It was a Greek philosophy that praised those who could be content when they had nothing, as well as when they had lots. In fact it was said that the wise man needed no one but themselves, and they were completely independent.
But even with all the parallels with Stoicism, which was widely popular in that time, Christianity differed in a number of ways, and you really see that divergence strongly when we come to this next verse.
Verse 13
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Philippians 4:13 NIV
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
This isn’t Stoicism, this isn’t some sort of vain self-reliance. It also is not just the result of learning through his past experiences. He knew exactly where he received his strength from: A relationship with Jesus. And it was through THAT strength that he was able to do all things.
He was able to take on whatever circumstances life threw at him because he had strength from Jesus, not because he had some sort of inner fortitude that others don’t have. Paul was not some sort of superhero. He WAS an apostle, but he was still just a man, and we have the same Spirit living inside us that he did.
Now, some people take this passage out of context, and try to say that Paul was making a blanket statement about all spiritual abilities of a Christian, when he said “I can do all things”. But that isn’t actually what the context indicates.
First of all, the context of the passage is talking about material and physical needs. Through the day to day fluctuations of life’s circumstances, when he had lots and when he had nothing, when he was full and when he was starving, he had a stability that allowed him to rise above the worry, and to be content. When studying scripture, the rule of context means that you have to apply the verse based on the context in which it is written. That means that this verse should only be applied to economic matters, or the living amidst the fluctuations in life. To interpret this verse otherwise would be to take it out of context.
Secondly, Paul expressed his dependence on the power of Jesus. He knew and understood that where Jesus led him, THERE he had the power. The will of God limited the application of the strength he had been given, if that makes sense. Many people who misapply this verse hope to cover all their actions with a blanket promise of power, but power only comes in the will of God, in submitting to HIS plans.
So for example, this verse doesn’t mean that if you are a Christian, you will suddenly be able to, I dunno, be able to fly or read peoples minds, through the strength of Jesus, that just isn’t what it means here. He is quite literally saying, Jesus strengthens me to live through whatever circumstances come my way, and to be content regardless.
It’s essentially a paradox: Paul is only strong when he is weak. He is only independent and self-sufficient when he is completely and utterly dependent on God.
Verses 14-17
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Philippians 4:14–17 NIV
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 more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.
So regardless of the fact that Paul said that he didn’t NEED their support, he still commends them for giving it, because their support was, unfortunately, unique. They were the only church to support him after he left Macedonia (In the 1st century, Macedonia comprised of what is now northern Greece.)
When they first heard the gospel from Paul, they immediately understood that it had huge implications, and not just for them, but for others as well. So from the very beginning, they did whatever they could to support Paul’s mission. And it was not easy in the early days of his ministry in Macedonia. Paul was beaten and thrown in prison in Philippi, and in Thessalonica his preaching caused a riot among the Jews in the city, forcing him to leave.
But the Philippians supported him the entire time. They send him money twice in the short time he was in Thessalonica, and continued to support him. Paul calls their support a matter of quote, “giving and receiving”. But when he says that the other churches did not support him, he uses the common word for fellowship, or koinonia. He subtly is pointing out that the others had received from him, but had not given. They had a one-way relationship in the gospel.
This was concerning for two reasons:
When they received, they had a responsibility to share and give
They were missing the spiritual blessings that came from giving
The Philippians on the other hand, understood both principles, and acted on them. And that brought Joy to Paul’s heart, it’s why he says he rejoiced when they renewed their concern for him.
Verses 18-19
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Philippians 4:18–19 NIV
I have received full payment and have more than enough. 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 the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
The gifts that had been brought by Epaphroditus had completely met his needs, and he considers their contribution to be a sacrificial offering to God. The language he uses here, a fragrant offering, that is an allusion to Old Testament sacrifices, and was specifically used to describe sacrifices which were pleasing to God, because they came from obedient hearts.
So for the Philippians, there were two main benefits of their giving:
First, God was pleased; their gift was an acceptable sacrifice to him. And what this passage reveals to us is that our physical acts in life can become spiritual in motivation and in importance. Through this, Paul reveals that giving is a spiritual exercise.
Second, they would experience God’s provision as a result. Just as God had met Paul’s needs in the work of the gospel, so God would meet their needs. But I think it is important to remember the rule of context here as well: Paul is speaking to those who actively supported the kingdom work. So the takeaway is that God meets the needs of those who give to him. In the context of ministering, you are ministered to by God.
Verses 20-23
And then finally, after ten weeks, we come to the final conclusion of the letter to the Philippians:
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Philippians 4:20–23 NIV
To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
When we look back on the examples that has been left for us in scripture, such as the life of Paul, it can almost be embarrassing to compare them to our own lives. We chase comfort and pleasures. We try to save money so we can go on trips and vacations, we work long hours so we can buy things to make us happy, and we complain if our meal takes to long at a restaurant.
In comparison, Paul had been stoned, put in prison, whipped on multiple occasions, beaten with rods, shipwrecked three times, and more. Many times he went without food or water, or slept in the cold outdoors without enough clothing to keep him warm. And yet he says in our passage today that he had learned how to be content in life, regardless of circumstances, through the strength of Jesus.
So how do we today, in our circumstances, find this Contentment in Christ?
1. Contentment must be learned through experience
Paul knew what it meant to have plenty, to be blessed. But he also knew what it meant to have nothing. Throughout his life, he had lived at both ends of that spectrum, and he knew how to get along, to live, and to be content regardless of wealth or poverty, because he had lived through both.
You know, I think for us it is easier to be content when we have little, then it is when we have plenty. And maybe this is just my own experience, but when you know that the little that you have is all that there is, it is easier to see the value in them, and to be content with the little things. But when you have plenty, you always want more, and what used to make you happy yesterday just isn’t enough today.
But in both circumstances, contentment is learned through experience. It is why you always hear older folks telling young guys like me to not rush through life, but take the time to slow down and appreciate where you are now. Enjoy this season of life, and where you are today. This is something that is only learned through experience, and living at both ends of that spectrum of life.
2. Contentment must be received from Jesus
Paul describes this as a secret that he has learned: He can do all things through Jesus who gives him strength. Jesus was the source of the strength that allowed Paul to be content in all those situations he went through, and he is the source of strength for our contentment as well.
We have to remember that at the end of the day, without Jesus, we are like children chasing shiny objects to make us happy. Without Jesus, we don’t truly have a hope of being content. Sure, we can be content when things are good. But without him, can we be content when things are bad? Do you think that, without Jesus, you could find contentment in your life if you live on the streets? If your boat sank and left you floating in the middle of the ocean, could you shrug your shoulders and say, “It’s all good”?
That is the contentment that we can have, through the strength offered to us by Jesus. Because when you have eternal hope, it is hard to not be content, regardless of what happens.
3. Contentment must be shared with others
This is the one that makes us uncomfortable. I said that I wasn’t going to preach a sermon about money, but I never said I wasn’t going to talk about it! But this is super, super applicable for our lives today, because again, we are like children chasing shiny objects to make us happy. But when we find Contentment in Christ, we no longer worship our wallets, we no longer chase shiny objects.
When we find contentment, we are willing to share what we have been blessed with, to bless others. The Philippians realized the value of the gift they had been given, and they said you know what? We want others to experience this too. So they shared what they had with HUGE generosity.
And as we see from Philippians, when we share what we have been blessed with, it pleased God, it is a sacrifice pleasing to him, when we share in generosity.
We live in a world that is so fixated on the pursuit of happiness, and on temporary pleasures. We buy into the lie that if we just work a little harder, or buy that thing we’ve had our eye on, that it will bring us the happiness, fulfillment and contentment that we have been looking for. But there is no lasting contentment to be found in those things.
True contentment, contentment regardless of the circumstances of life, is hard to find. We can start to learn it through our experiences in life, but it ultimately only comes through the strength given to us by Jesus. He is the source. And just as the Philippians received and gave, so we to should be both receivers and givers of what we have been blessed with.
So as we conclude this sermon and this series, as we leave spring behind us and jump into summer, let me ask you this: Are you the rich business owner in the story, who is trying to chase fulfillment and contentment by your own means? Or are you the fisherman sitting beside his boat, thankful for the catch God has given him, and finding contentment right where he’s at?
