"The Secret to Contentment"
Philippians 4:10-19 (focus on 10-14)
"10. I rejoiced
in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me.
You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11. Not that I am
speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be
content. 12. I
know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every
circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance
and need. 13. I
can do all things through him who strengthens me.
14. Yet it was kind of
you to share my trouble. 15. And you
Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left
Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving,
except you only. 16. Even
in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17. Not that I seek
the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18. I have received
full payment, and more. I am well
supplied, having received from Epaphroditus
the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to
God. 19. And
my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in
Christ Jesus. 20. To
our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
I.
Introduction
a.
Will Rogers:
“Advertising is the art of convincing people to spend money they don’t have for
something they don’t need.”
b.
We are bombarded
daily with things that are trying to make us discontent
c.
TV commercials,
internet ads, billboards, etc. try to convince us that we need something
d.
The job of these
advertisements is to make us discontent with who we are, what we look like,
what we have, etc.
e.
Today we’re going
to learn the secret to contentment
II.
Scripture
Introduction
a.
In Philippians 4
Paul is giving his final instructions and farewells
b.
He calls them to
the pursuit of Christian unity and continual rejoicing
c.
He begins to
discuss the blessing that they had been to his ministry
d.
Scripture reading
e.
Prayer
III.
Paul Rejoice in
their Generosity (Verse 10)
a.
He rejoiced in
the Lord that they had revived their concern for him
b.
They had
supported (concern=$) him before, but had apparently stopped
c.
He is not
attacking them—he makes an excuse for them: “You had not opportunity”
d.
Note that he rejoiced
in the Lord
i.
Their generosity
was a result of the work of God in their lives
ii.
He recognizes
God’s hand of Providence over his ministry
IV.
Paul Clarifies
(Verses 11-12)
a.
He wants to make sure they don’t misunderstand
him
b.
He wasn’t saying
that he was in need
i.
The physical gift
wasn’t his focus
ii.
Verse 17
c.
To the contrary,
he had learned to be content in any situation
d.
Content="autarkes," which means self-sufficient, by ext. content
e.
He explains in
Verse 12
i.
He knew how to be
brought low and abound
ii.
He knew how to
face plenty and hunger
iii.
Abundance and
need
f.
Circumstances
should never dictate our attitude
i.
How many times do
people say, “If only I had…if only I won the lottery?”
ii.
The key to
contentment is not adding more fuel to the fire, but taking away some of the
flames (paraphrasing Thomas Fuller)
g.
Note that Paul
says he learned it (Verses 11 and 12)
i.
Contentment is
contrary to fallen human nature
ii.
It is part of our
progressive sanctification
iii.
Secret=mystery,
something God reveals
h.
Note that Paul
doesn’t simply say he knew how to be poor
i.
Being rich can be
harder than being poor
ii.
Barnes: “It
requires as much grace to keep the heart right in prosperity as it does in
adversity, and perhaps more. Adversity,
of itself, does something to keep the mind in a right state; prosperity does
nothing.”
iii.
It is easier for
a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the
Kingdom of Heaven
i.
Paul had learned
this secret first-hand
V.
Paul Shares the
Secret (Verse 13)
a.
The secret to
contentment is finding our strength in Christ
b.
I can do all
things
i.
The context must
determine what Paul means
ii.
Paul is not
saying he can fly, etc.
iii.
He can endure any
hardships, temptations, etc.
c.
Through him who
strengthens me
i.
Manuscript
variation
ii.
Either way, “him”
is clear
iii.
Paul had said he
was self-sufficient, but he makes sure to remind them that it was entirely
because of the grace of God
iv.
Christ equips us
to fulfill our calling
v.
Ephesians 6:10:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”
VI.
Paul Acknowledges
their Kindness (Verse 14)
a.
To make sure not
to discourage their generosity, he takes notice of the kindness of their deed
b.
He makes sure
that they know he remembers their previous kindness
i.
Share=sygkoinōnéō,
to have fellowship with
ii.
Affliction=persecution or distress
iii.
Their financial support showed solidarity
c.
He goes on to assure
them that he is well-supplied, but wants them to receive the spiritual benefits
of being generous
VII.
Application
a.
Resist the
mindset of our culture
i.
Reject
materialism
ii.
We cannot avoid
advertising, but we must counter it with discernment
iii. Advertising has it's place, but we must learn to avoid impulsive
purchasing; "Do I really need this? Or do they want me to think I need this?"
b.
Support
missionaries and charities
i.
Verse 15
ii.
A heart that is grateful
for the light of the Gospel will seek to participate in spreading that light in
places of darkness
iii.
Prayer and
encouragement are important, but so is money
iv.
Look for
opportunity
c.
Rest in God’s
Providence
i.
Psalm 103:19: “The
LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.”
ii.
Psalm 145:17: “The
LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.”
iii.
God is both
omnipotent and caring
iv.
When we rest in
God’s character and plan, we can endure anything
d.
Focus on Jesus,
not our circumstances
i.
2 Timothy 2:1:
“You, then, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
ii.
When we focus on
Jesus and His Kingdom, we can bear with any difficulties
iii.
Keep your eye on the
ball…
iv.
Gill: “A believer
may say, who has the smallest pittance of earthly enjoyments, this, with a
covenant God, with an interest in Christ, with grace here and heaven hereafter,
is enough.”
v.
Rely on Christ as
much in the good times as in the bad
VIII.
Conclusion
a.
So, am I content
with who/where I am and what I have?
b.
What is the
source of my contentment?
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