God’s Provision
Philippians 4:10-11
This next part of Philippians goes from verse 10 - 19 but we will be looking and just two of those verses this morning.
The subject is contentment.
Content = sufficient for one’s self, independent of external circumstances, satisfied with one’s lot, with one’s means
Contentment has nothing to do with your circumstances.
Discontent fights against God’s providence.
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
What is that thing in your life that keeps stealing your joy?
That thing in your life that just gives you a nagging unhappiness every time you think about it.
Maybe it’s the way you look.
Maybe it’s something about your finances, your job, your health, education.
Most people have at least one thing that, every time it comes to mind, it just throws a bucket of cold water on the fires of your happiness.
What is it for you?
Some people can’t answer that question.
They feel the ache - something isn’t right.
Something is making them unhappy, but they can’t really put their finger on what it is.
They just feel kind of empty, unfulfilled, blah.
Whether you’re someone who can easily point to one thing and say, “That’s what is hindering my joy,… ” or you’re a person who is just kind of stuck in a generalized, undefined joylessness, today’s passage is going to show us that the Lord is in control.
I believe every person wants more joy.
We all want joy and God wants us to have greater joy.
1 John 1:4 “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”
Paul really wanted the Philippians to have more joy because that was necessary for church unity.
And so throughout this book he’s been commanding them to rejoice in the Lord, giving them examples of how he has joy in the Lord, and giving instruction on how to do it.
As we come to the last paragraph of the book, Paul begins it by saying, “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly,…”
One last time Paul is going to teach us, by his own example, how to have joy in the Lord.
Philippians 4:9 “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly,…”
So when he says we are to put into practice whatever we learn from him, the very next thing out of his mouth is about his joy in the Lord.
It was just 6 verses ago that Paul repeated his command:
Vs. 4 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”
And now Paul says, “Follow my example - I rejoiced in the Lord greatly,”
So if we haven’t learned how to increase our joy by this point, we have one last chance before the book is over.
Paul has been teaching about how to replace anxiety with the peace of God. Vs. 6 “Be careful for nothing;…”
He wants unity in the church, and that will come when we have the right attitude in three directions:
Toward God,
Toward one another, and
Toward circumstances.
Toward God – we need joy. Rejoice in the Lord alway (v.4). Toward one another – Let your moderation be known unto all men. (v.5).
And toward circumstances - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And that brings us to where we left off – vs. 10, which begins the final section of the book where he teaches us by his example how to rejoice in the Lord.
So he ends the book the way he started it – sort of.
In chapter 1 he taught us by his example how to rejoice in the Lord when you’re in horrible circumstances.
But now, at the end of the book, he’s going to teach us how to rejoice in the Lord in favorable circumstances.
He received this financial gift from the Philippians, he has more than he needs now, and he’s going to teach us how to rejoice in the Lord in a situation like that.
You and I enjoy more luxuries and comforts and wealth than 99% of all people who have ever lived, and yet so many struggle with discontent.
Rejoicing in the Lord doesn’t come naturally in any circumstances.
In hard circumstances, it’s the rejoicing part that’s hard.
But in favorable circumstances, it’s the in the Lord part that’s hard.
When things are really comfortable and pleasurable, it’s easy to rejoice, but tricky to make sure that your rejoicing is in the Lord, and not just in the happy circumstances.
You get a big bonus check at work, and you’re happy.
But atheists are happy with bonus checks.
How can you tell if your happiness is really joy in the Lord, or joy in money?
That’s not easy, but it’s crucial that we understand how to answer that question, because one of the most dangerous and damaging and deadly things that can ever happen to your spiritual life is to start getting your happiness from stuff or circumstances.
But if we can learn to rejoice in the Lord, which will enable us to enjoy your stuff far more than ever before.
Lessons in prosperity:
1. Know the source of our increase - Vs 10 “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly” Paul regarded the Lord as the source of the increase.
2. Know that the Lord knows our needs - Your care of me hath flourished again
The picture we see here is the end of a season.
There was a time the leaves were green, then colors showed up and the leaves dropped.
This does not mean that the tree has died.
In the spring leaves once again appear and the tree grows.
This is true in our lives.
Just because the leaves are gone, there is Spring coming.
Just because God is silent, remember that Spring is coming.
3. Do not blame God for His silence. Silence can become a great lesson on trusting in the Lord.
wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
Psalms 118:8 “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Vs. 11 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
While Paul is grateful for the gift that has arrived it looks like the lesson from verse 11 is; whither you have much or have little God knows what we need and when it is needed.
Learned - to increase one’s knowledge, to be increased in knowledge, by use and practice
Content - sufficient for one’s self, independent of external circumstances, satisfied with one’s lot, with one’s means
Conclusion:
As we started out
Contentment has nothing to do with your circumstances.
Discontent fights against God’s providence.
Psalms 37:7 “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.”
We rest knowing that the Lord is in control of all.
If there is no rest it may be that you do not know the Prince of Peace?
