Being Satisfied
Philippians 4:10-13
If you have your Bibles with you this morning please hold it up high where we can all see it. Now that you have held it up I want you to open it up and read with me today one of the hardest passages in the whole Bible. It not difficult because it is filled with names and places in the Old Testament, as a matter of fact this passage is not in the Old Testament but rather in Philippians 4
Read Philippians 4:10-13
Did you hear it? Did you cringe? Probably not so les look at it a little closer. Lets reread the 11th verse.
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content
There it is, one of the hardest teachings in the whole bible is found in the Apostles last word, contentment. Paul penned this while in prison. And, he was content! How could he be? Well, he had learned that contentment and happiness are not dependent on external circumstances, but on inner qualities of the heart, and upon a right relationship with the Lord.
David gives us another picture of contentment when he writes in Psalm 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
April 9th, 1945 Dietrich Bonhoeffer was hours from his death in a Nazi Concentration camp for his role in the underground church and involvement in a plot to assassinate Hitler. On that fateful day, this impressive theologian would write his last words. What do you think they were? Would they be words that denounce the Nazi regime? Words calling all believers everywhere to rise up and overcome this Nazi war machine? On the contrary, this is what he wrote: "What is happiness and unhappiness? It depends so little on circumstances; it really depends on what happens inside a person."
Contentment is something that we all strive for, the problem is that the world tells us to all look in the wrong place, so we either become apathetic where we don’t feel anything or we spend our lives thinking you know if I only…
We think, “If I only was 20 pounds lighter then I would be happy.” And the world says you can buy a one month supply of lard off for only $59.95 and drop that unwanted weight.
We think, “If I was smarter then I would be happy.” And the world says buy Dr. Libby’s original, patented Sublingual B-12, B-6 & Folic Acid pill and amaze your friends.”
We think, “If I was only funnier, or more popular, and had more people like me then I would be happy.” And the world says, wear our brand of clothes, drink our beer, drive our car, buy our DVD with 50 great party jokes and you will be popular.
But what happens when you loose 20 pounds, and can answer the questions on Jeopardy, while you wear stylish clothes and tell great jokes during the commercials? Are you truly content?
The problem with the worlds contentment is that you are like a dog chasing their tail. You are never fast enough to fully grab a hold of all that there is to offer, so you just fall to the ground wore out and dizzy.
What is contentment?
Well good ole Webster says that contentment is to rest satisfied, to be positive and well-pleased; to not be disgruntled or disheartened. Freedom from care or discomfort.
The Pulpit Commentary says that, "It is quiet restfulness in the midst of all kinds of changing events. It is a cordial acquiescence in the arrangements of Heaven."
The JHV or Jeremy Houck Version says that it is peace in the very core of your soul.
So many of us live day to day without that peace in our souls that not only do we not know what it feels like but we have forgotten that it is supposed to be there, but God says if we are his children we are to be content.
In Luke 3:14 we read "And be content with your wages."
Here John was teaching the soldiers, and to us today. You see contentment would prevent the soldiers from intimidating others (doing violence), and practicing blackmail (falsely accusing) because of their low wage scale.
It helps us to remember that God has fulfilled His promise to provide us with all that we need. I have got to learn not to make money so I can live, but trust that God will allow me to live with what I make.
Paul again writes but this time in 1 Timothy 6:6-8 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be there with content.".
I believe that the poorest man in the world is the man who has more than he needs but feels like it isn’t enough. Remember the parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 13?
The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He says to himself: ‘What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest. So here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, and I’ll say to myself, Self, you’ve done well! You’ve got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!’
But we know that’s not going to happen. Soon I have a bigger barn so I need more stuff and then I need a bigger barn then more stuff.
That’s what happens when you fill your barn with something besides God. God provides us with a gift or a blessing and we can’t have peace.
Then we read in Hebrews 13:5 " Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”."
Now I don’t believe that God is saying here that we shouldn’t set goals to improve our status in life, like buying a new car when we need one or a bigger home when we have 4 kids and live in a two bedroom town home. But I do believe that He is teaching against a misplaced emphasis on the material things. God has given us possessions to use for His glory and not our position in life.
Our trust and confidence must be placed in God alone, that is the only way that we will ever be satisfied with our condition. We are told that if we are faithful, God will cause all things to work together for our good.
Milligan says “Be diligent; do all that you can and consistently improve your own condition and to promote the happiness of others and then with calmness and resignation leave all the consequences to God."
Unfortunately it seems that all to often in the church while our Father says live lives of contentment we suffer with an "I can’t be satisfied" attitude. It seems to me that we often misread Philippians 4:11 as, "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be discontent."
It is amazing that as we talk about these heart diseases how often I am reminded of life with a 4 year old and a 15 month old. You see the very things that cause the dam to burst and fights to start in our house are at the very core of what causes us to live lives of discontentment.
Foes of Contentment
Covetousness
Scott, a friend of mine took his young son Andrew to McDonald’s one afternoon after soccer practice and ordered him a happy meal. After sitting down at the table and smelling the fries, Scott reached across the table and grabbed one. Andrew looked at Scott and said in an angry tone "those are mine."
Scott was a little angry at first but instead of causing a scene he just sat there and during the quiet he began to reflect about his son’s attitude, and came up with two thoughts.
1) Andrew forgot who bought the fries for him.
2) Andrew didn’t understand that Scott had the power to take them from him or buy him 20 more orders.
Scott confessed to us one night that Andrew had an attitude problem, and it was a problem that he learned at home. There are times when his attitude towards God and things are wrong too. The french fries became a lesson on overcoming covetousness.
All to often we forget who is the giver of all good gifts, and that at anytime God can take our blessings from us or bless us beyond our wildest imagination. It is in this forgetfulness that we allow covetness to enter our hearts and make us discontent.
The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have and being able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach."
Unbelief
God instructs us to be content , and like every command from God the command of contentment is based solely on His promises.
He has promised us that He will not forsake us, that He will not leave us, that He will help us and that we need not fear what man may do.
He promises to sustain us with all the physical necessities of life.
Do we really believe these promises? If so, how could we be another way but content? Sometimes I believe that we put the emphasis on the wrong thing? Never forget, God takes care of His own.
Envy.
We all know what envy is, jealousy of the good fortune of another. And this spirit will keep us from contentment.
In 1 Samuel 18 we see that Saul was content with what praise he was receiving until he saw David was getting more. Then he could not even enjoy the praise that was being heaped upon him.
Envy is a dangerous evil which must be wiped out from our hearts. Paul writes in Galatians 5:19-26 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Pessimism.
The story is told of two buckets that were hung in the well house. The first bucket was a dreadful soul and often complained "No matter how full I come up, I always go down empty." But the second bucket would always remind him, "Yes, and regardless how empty I go down I always come up full."
Kenfield Morley expressed how pessimism effects our contentment this way. "I can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses."
We who are followers of God know that this is not the end. Our roof may have a leak in it but one day we will be in a mansion. Our clothes may be tattered and torn but one day we will wear robes of white. The sky may be dark but one day we will see the light of the throne of God. Truly there is a better life awaiting the child of God on the other side.
Finally there is Complaining.
We talked about this heart condition a few weeks ago, but did you know that when you complain you destroy any contentment that you might have? You see it is one thing for a thought to rattle around in my head but when I voice it I give it power.
My Paw used to tell me that you can’t keep a bird from flying over your head but you can keep it from making a nest in your hair. I can’t stop a fleeting thought from entering my mind but I can keep from voicing it; and, deepening the thoughts of discontent. Those who gripe and complain live a sad life filled with sorrows. Because it is that complaint that shows that they forgot the blessings of God.
We must cultivate an attitude of contentment
The first way we can do this is by working at it!
Paul says in Philippians 4:11 that he had to learn how to be content. Contentment must be cultivated in our lives. We need to start looking for the blessings in our lives and be thankful for them.
God says in Matthew 25:21 that if we can be loyal with small things, then He will let us care for much greater things. I believe that if we can learn to be content with what God has blessed us with now the he will allow us to be content with greater things.
Count your blessings
We are told in 1 Thessalonians 5: 18 to give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Everything that is going on in your life at this very moment is God’s will for you. If you are being blessed at this moment then you need to thank god for your blessings. If life is rough at this moment then you need to learn, like Job, to thank God that He considered you worthy to endure the trial.
Wouldn’t we content if we would loose ourselves counting what we do have, food, clothing, shelter, family, health, freedom, job, rather than on those things you do not have.
With that in mind we must learn that happiness is not tied to things.
In Ecclesiastes 5:10 we read He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity
We live in a society that is centered and oriented on stuff. And as enlightened as we have become we either disbelieve what Solomon wrote or we have not figured it out yet.
So many of us rush through day after day to "climb higher" or "get more." And we never find happiness and contentment.
That’s why psychiatrists and counselors are in such high demand, ulcer medicine is big business, and with all of the warnings about how cigarette smoke will effect your health more people started smoking last year than the year before.
Solomon was right contentment does not come from externals but from internals.
Finally we must develop a deep sense of appreciation for the simple and necessary things of life,
Paul writes to his son in the faith in 1 Timothy 6:8 "And having food and raiment let us be therewith content"
That is what God led Paul to write, and David put it this way, "A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked." Psalm 37:16
And finally Solomon said it like this: "Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith." Proverbs 15:16
Our contentment in this life tells the secret of our contentment with God. If we can learn to be content with what we can see and touch and feel then we can truly be content with a God that we only know by faith.
