Leaning on his fence one day, a man with very little was watching his wealthy neighbor move in down the street. As the man looked on he noticed his neighbor had everything you could think of in the way of material possessions. He had several nice cars, motorcycles, four wheelers, any and every kind of electronic device, brand new appliances, the nicest living and bedroom furniture money could buy, state of the art kitchen supplies and costly wall hangings. As the man with very little looked on he eventually called out to his neighbor and said, “If you find you don’t have something you think you need, let me know and I can show you how to live without it.”Truth of the matter is that no matter how much we have it's never enough. There is always more isn't there? If your goal in life is getting stuff, good luck with finding joy and satisfaction in that pursuit because there is never enough. Who with this mentality has ever been content?
It's like the famous song by the Rolling Stones, "I Can’t Get No Satisfaction." The song says, "I try and I try and I try and I try—I can't get no satisfaction." In the last few passages of Philippians, Paul is like that neighbor with very little showing Christians how to be content no matter what.
He ends this letter similar to the way he begins—with thanks. Paul basically says, "Thank you—for this gift and thank you for partnering with me." Though he is grateful for the gift, however, Paul also makes it known vv. 10-20 that he would have been content either way.
EXPERIENCING JOY THROUGH CONTENTMENT
TRUST THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL
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.
A long time had passed since Paul had received support from the Christians at Philippi and like we learned in vv. 14-20, they were one of the few if not the only church that supported Paul. So chances are good that he could have used the money.
But instead of trying to manipulate the situation or coerce them to give, Paul trusts that God is in control. He proves this is his mentality by directing his praise toward the Lord for their generous gift.
The issue with us is that we often fail to see that God is in control, which often causes us during difficult times to question whether or not God is there and if He cares. The reason why it is difficult at times for us to see God at work in our lives and in our world is because the primary way He works in the world is in and through the circumstances of daily life.
Though at times God does do the miraculous by intervening into the natural world and disrupting the normal flow of life, he primarily works through providence. Providence is when God works in and through the laws of nature that He has created—through the systems that He has put into place. With providence, God weaves events and circumstances uniquely together to fit His purpose exactly.
If we are honest, many of us would say that we prefer miracles. Though that is the case, it is imperative to understand that God is just as much at work in and through the systems he has put in place as He is with miracles. Though we only think of miracles being supernatural acts, Scripture clearly indicates that the providence of God is just as supernatural as miracles.
For us to not recognize, give credit to, and be thankful for the providence of God is to do a great disservice to the primary way God works in the world. Whether God is performing a miracle or whether he is working in and through the natural order of things, he is equally involved, equally at work and equally responsible for the direction of things in our life and world.
If we can learn to trust in the providence of God, we can learn to be content in this life.
BE CONTENT NO MATTER WHAT
As I have shared already, being content no matter what is counter cultural especially in the US. Though we are some of the wealthiest people in the world, we are also some of the most discontent people in the world. The reason we struggle the way we do is because we do not know how to be content no matter what. We always want more--"We can’t get satisfaction though we try and we try and we try and we try.”
Paul was content no matter what. He says,
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.
What Paul is saying here to the Christians at Philippi is, “Though I am thankful for your support financially, the reason I am thanking you is not because I can’t get by without your support, because I can. He goes on to say, “I know how to live with less than enough and I know what it is to have enough to spare, whether I am full or hungry, have too much or too little.”
Paul was definitely satisfied with his place in life both physically and financially because of the state of things in his life spiritually. He made mention in chapter 3that he suffered the loss of all things and considered them as garbage in order to gain Christ. So because Paul valued Christ above all and considered all things as nothing in comparison to Him, he was able to experience peace and satisfaction no matter what.
The question for us today is whether we are satisfied like Paul with our place in life or do we always want more and more? John D. Rockefeller when asked how much money is enough he said, “Just a little more.” Is that your mentality? Paul rejects this reasoning and calls for believer to be content no matter what—to be content in Christ.
RECOGNIZE THE SOURCE OF YOUR STRENGTH
In v. 13 Paul writes,
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
If you like sports like I do you have seen this verse on everything. If it’s football you like, you’ve seen Philippians 4:13 in black ink under the eyelids, if you like baseball/basketball you’ve seen it on the wristbands of certain athletes, or if it’s boxing, you might see Philippians 4:13 on the back of a warm up robe. This verse though one of the most popular, is also one of the most abused and misused verses in all the Bible.
Because this is the case, it is important for us to understand what Paul means when he says, "ALL THINGS." That’s where context comes in. In the prior verses he has been saying, “I can live and be content in any and every circumstance. I can live with little food or with a lot, I can be content if you send money or if you don’t.” The "ALL" in v. 13 refers to circumstances in life.
This verse can literally be translated, “I have strength to face all conditions regardless of what happens by the power that Christ gives me.”
He is not saying, “I can knock out my opponent or bench press 400lbs. He’s saying, “I can endure anything this world may throw at me because I have Christ. He is the key to my contentment—the source of my strength.”
When circumstances get difficult, it is important that we understand that the same God who is providentially in control of everything—who is preserving everything and who is bringing everything to an ultimate conclusion is the same God who can miraculously enter in and give us a peace and a strength and faith to keep persevering and keep enduring so that we can face all conditions regardless of what they are by the power that Christ gives.
CONCLUSION
Where are you on the scale when it comes to contentment? I’m sure it fluctuates, but I would be willing to bet you are not a 10. One thing we all have in common, however, is that we all want to be at that level and are doing all we can to get there. But like Mick Jagger says, “though we try and we try and we try and we try—we can’t get satisfaction.”
The reason being true satisfaction comes from valuing He who is most valuable—namely Christ. True and lasting contentment is only found in Him.
