Contentment
Philippians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Text: Philippians 4:10-23
10 Now I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
11 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.
12 I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need.
13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share in my affliction.
15 And as you Philippians know, in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church but you partnered with me in the matter of giving and receiving.
16 For even while I was in Thessalonica, you provided for my needs again and again.
17 Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account.
18 I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.
19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
21 Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings.
22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those from the household of Caesar.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
PRAY
Contentment: A Definition
What does it mean to be content? It’s probably not a word we use super often, yet we find it a few times in Scripture, and it is held up as a Christian virtue.
So what is contentment?
The opposite of contentment - It may be of help to start out with the opposite of contentment. To be content means you are
NOT covetous or greedy - desiring what someone else has
NOT focused on material possessions
NOT anxious about physical needs
Contentment is
Obedience to the 10th commandment - “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Focusing on God rather than on His gifts
Trusting in God’s goodness and provision
Being satisfied by God’s grace - His grace is enough for you
The New Bible Dictionary, Third Edition Contentment
It is not a passive acceptance of the status quo, but the positive assurance that God has supplied one’s needs, and the consequent release from unnecessary desire.
It’s not the attitude of “Que sera sera” - whatever will be, will be. It’s not indifference to my circumstances - rather it is acceptance of my circumstances, because I trust in God and His good plan for me.
That’s what this passage is about.
Paul shares with us the secret of contentment, and he shows us how the Philippians also demonstrated their contentment through their generosity. Paul ends with a wonderful promise of God’s provision for those who are content, and he sends his final greetings to this dear church.
The Secret of Contentment (v. 10-13)
The Secret of Contentment (v. 10-13)
10 Now I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
Joy in the Lord
Notice first Paul’s joy in the Lord. Paul has used words for joy or rejoicing about 15 times already in his letter. The last three were commands he gave to the Philippians:
(4:4, twice) “Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again, Rejoice!”
(3:1) “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.”
In both of those cases, Paul says that their rejoicing is in the Lord. And now as Paul himself rejoices, he says that his rejoicing is in the Lord.
What this reminds us is that joy isn’t about our circumstances, but about our relationship with God. If Paul and the Philippians had been focused on their circumstances, they wouldn’t have felt much joy. But their focus was on God instead of their circumstances. They were trusting in the Lord, believing that He had good plans and purposes for the suffering they were enduring. Because of their relationship with the Lord, they could have joy even in the midst of difficult times.
Do you ever lack joy? Are there times in your life that it is hard to obey this command to rejoice? In those times when we struggle to find joy, likely we are focusing too much on our circumstances and not enough on our God.
If our focus is on
How bad the economy is
How tense the political climate is
How wicked our government is
How hard our job is
How hard it is to teach and parent our kids well
how hard it is to get along with another person
Or any other difficult situation in life
Then we won’t have joy.
But if our focus is on
Who God is
What God has promised us in His Word
The past works of God that demonstrate His faithfulness
The ways that God is working even now for our good
Then we can rejoice. We can be content regardless of our circumstances, because our joy and satisfaction is found in Him. That’s why that little phrase “in the Lord” is so important.
Paul didn’t have joy primarily because of the financial gift that the Philippians sent, or because his circumstances were just amazing. He had joy because of his relationship with God, because He trusted in the Lord and the Lord’s good plan for him. Paul rejoiced in the Lord.
And Paul’s joy in the Lord was strengthened as he observed God’s goodness in His continued work in and through the Philippians.
The Philippians’ revived concern
Paul says, “at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.”
Paul had said back in 2:30 that Epaphroditus, the member of the Philippian church that they had sent with their gift, “nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for your deficit of service to me.”
For some reason, there was a lapse in the financial support from the Philippians, and now through the gifts sent with Epaphroditus, they have resumed their giving.
Their giving has revived or “flourished,” like plants or trees that bud and blossom with new leaves or flowers at the first hint of spring.
Whether because of financial difficulties they experienced or perhaps because they were unaware of Paul’s situation, their financial support had waned, although Paul knows their love for him and their commitment to the gospel ministry was still there even though they couldn’t show it for some reason.
The desire for generosity was there, although the opportunity wasn’t.
As Paul wrote this, he probably realized that they might misunderstand his words, so he carefully explains his meaning:
Paul’s care in his words
When I say “at last you revived your concern for me,”
11 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.
Consider how carefully Paul seeks to express himself to the Philippians regarding money (it’s often a hard subject to talk about, and it can easily create misunderstandings and resentment if we don’t communicate clearly)
Verse 10: “at last” … “you were indeed concerned”
Verse 11: “I am not saying this out of need...”
Verse 14: “Nevertheless, you have done well to share...”
Verse 15: “No church but you partnered with me...”
Verse 16: “You provided for my needs again and again.”
Verse 17: “Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account.”
Verse 18: “I have all I need and more…”
There’s sort of this back and forth dynamic of Paul expressing himself to the Philippians and trying to avoid misunderstanding.
Paul wants them to know how thankful he is for their gift.
He also wants them to know that he would have been fine if they hadn’t sent a gift, because he knows how to be content in any situation. He wants them to be humble and not think that they are indispensable to God’s plan.
But it was really good that they did send a gift and it meant a lot to Paul.
In fact, the Philippians were Paul’s earliest and most remarkable and generous supporters in the gospel ministry.
But Paul makes clear he’s not buttering them up just to get more money out of them. He’s already got enough now and he’s more concerned with their spiritual welfare.
So Paul takes great pains to communicate clearly with them so that they feel good about their generosity but not too good. They can rejoice that their generous gift was sincerely a blessing without being proud and arrogant about it or feeling guilted into more giving.
Content regardless of circumstances
Back to v. 11, Paul says, “I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.” He then details in v. 12 what some of those circumstances are in which he has learned to be content:
12 I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need.
He gives three sets of contrasting situations:
Living humbly or abounding
Being filled or being hungry
Having plenty or having need
And in the middle he sums it up by saying I can deal with “any and every situation”
Whether living with poverty or riches, plenty of food or no food, having more than enough or not enough, in all these situations Paul knew how to be content.
Consider this: Is it hard to be content when you have plenty?
We might be tempted to think that contentment would be easier if we just had more money or more stuff.
But rich people are just as tempted to covet as poor people. Unless you’re Elon Musk, there’s always someone with more money or things than you, and you may be tempted to want what they have.
I think in many ways it’s actually harder to be content when you have plenty. Because it’s easy to begin to rely on yourself when you feel like you have enough, whereas when you struggle more financially, it’s easier to turn to the Lord and trust Him.
It takes just as much, if not more, grace to be content with plenty as it does with little.
Paul had experienced all of these different life circumstances, and he had learned the secret of being content in all these different circumstances. What was the secret to Paul’s contentment?
All things through Christ
13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Paul’s secret was that he had Christ, and Christ was enough for him.
Now, some comments are in order on this verse, because it is probably the verse in the Bible most often taken out of context. When Paul says I can do all things through Christ, does he mean
I can score a goal in this soccer game
I can hit a three-pointer in basketball
I can hit a home run in baseball
I can run a sub-4-minute mile in track
I can get a good grade on my test in school
In other words, I can do whatever I want to do through Christ who gives me strength. Or in other words, I’m using Christ to accomplish my purposes. Is that what Paul is saying? NO!
What’s the context?
I can be content with plenty
I can be content when I have nothing
I can be content when I have lots of food
I can be content when I have no food
I can do all (these) things through Christ who strengthens me
Instead of “I can do whatever I want to do through Christ...”, it is “I can do whatever God wants me to do through Christ...”
If God chooses to bless me with wealth, I can be content because I have Christ, and I value Him more than my wealth.
If God chooses to allow me to suffer poverty, I can be content because I have Christ, and He Himself is more than enough for me.
If God gives me a wonderful family and lots of friends, I can be content because I have Christ, and I value Him more than any other relationship.
If God allows me to be lonely and struggle to find friends, I can be content because I have Christ, and He is the greatest friend.
If God provides an abundance of food and drink, I can be content because I have Christ, and He is more satisfying than any food or water.
If God allows me to go hungry, I can be content because I have Christ, and He is the bread of Life and the living water who will satisfy me forever.
Whatever circumstances God allows in my life, I can be content, because I have Christ, and He is more valuable than life itself.
What is the secret of contentment?
Being content is not about how little or much you have or what your circumstances are, but about valuing Christ above it all, so that you’re joyful regardless of the circumstances.
Because Paul valued Christ more than anything, he could be content regardless of his circumstances. Because no matter what happened to Paul, he had Christ, and no one could take that away. Christ was more precious to him than life itself.
Do you value Christ this way?
Is Jesus your greatest treasure?
If you woke up tomorrow with nothing but Christ, would you be content? Would He be enough for you?
When Christ is enough for you, your heart is freed from being tied to things in this world. When you are free from holding tightly to worldly possessions, you are free to give generously and take great risks for the gospel.
And this is the example that the Philippians give us. They too had learned to value Christ above all, and they demonstrated it through their generous giving in support of Paul’s gospel ministry.
The Practice of Contentment (v. 14-18)
The Practice of Contentment (v. 14-18)
14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share in my affliction.
You have done well to share in my affliction
It was very kind and helpful for you to think of me and send help for my needs. Even though I can be content with little or much, I’m thankful for your generous gift.
And as Paul considers their present generosity, his mind goes back to their faithful generosity in the past as well:
15 And as you Philippians know, in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church but you partnered with me in the matter of giving and receiving.
The early days of the gospel when I left Macedonia (Philippi is in Macedonia) - after Paul had visited Philippi and established a church there, he went on to other regions to make disciples and plant churches.
And this is so remarkable: “No church but you partnered with me in the matter of giving and receiving.” NO CHURCH BUT YOU!
How many churches did Paul start? Probably several dozen. And not one of them except the church in Philippi committed to faithfully supporting Paul’s needs.
This church was exceptional in their commitment to the gospel and their generosity in their giving. This is just incredible.
In fact, it was the Philippian church that helped provide for Paul’s time in Corinth, where he ministered for 18 months. Corinth was an especially difficult church (don’t believe me, just read the letters Paul wrote to them!), and some of the people there were accusing Paul of ministering to them out of greed, saying that he was trying to take advantage of them and take their money. So he decided not to take anything at all from them in order to avoid this charge. Instead he got support from the Philippians:
9 And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained from being a burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do so.
Back in Philippians 4, Paul describes an earlier time they sent a gift. In fact the gift he describes in v. 16 was sent right after his time in Philippi.
16 For even while I was in Thessalonica, you provided for my needs again and again.
While I was in Thessalonica - if we read the account of Paul’s trip in Acts 16-17, we see that Thessalonica was the very next city that Paul went to after Philippi.
You provided for my needs again and again - even though Paul was in Thessalonica only a short time (probably 1-2 months), some believers from Philippi took gifts to him more than once during his stay there.
This shows us how quickly they chose to partner with Paul and how faithful they were in supporting him.
Then Paul clarifies his language again
17 Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account.
I’m not saying these things to ask for more money.
I am seeking fruit for your account - Jesus talked about storing up treasures in heaven, and I think that’s what Paul is getting at here.
By their generosity in supporting Paul’s gospel ministry, they are storing up treasures in heaven - fruit credited to their account. They have a significant share in the fruit that comes from Paul’s ministry.
18 I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.
Thank you for your gift.
God is pleased with your gift.
And why is God pleased? What pleases God?
Faith - And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Heb. 11:6)
Their gift was given on the basis of faith, out of a heart that is content because they value Jesus Christ and His purposes more than earthly wealth.
That’s the kind of giving that God wants us to do too. We shouldn’t give because we have to or because we feel like others expect us to. We should give generously because we trust God and we love Him and value Him more than we value our money.
When our heart is set on Him, we are free to be generous.
And for those who are generous, there is a wonderful promise in Philippians 4:19.
The Promise for Contentment (v. 19-20)
The Promise for Contentment (v. 19-20)
19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
God will meet all your needs. Perhaps especially referring to financial needs, given the context of the passage. But it is equally true that God will supply every other need too - your need of grace to fight sin and temptation; the physical strength to make it through the day; the emotional strength to deal with a difficult relationship. Whatever you need, God will supply.
What is the condition in this context though? If you are content, if you trust God and love Him and value Him above this world’s treasures, He will take care of everything else.
Like Jesus said in Matthew 6:33
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
If you will set your heart on God and His purposes, He’ll take care of everything else. And He has plenty of resources to meet your needs.
19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
His glorious riches in Christ Jesus - God made everything and He owns everything, and He can move things around however He wants to make sure your needs are met.
Trust Him, set your heart on Him, and watch Him meet every need of yours.
20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
To Him be glory forever
He’s the one that gets the glory, not us. Not Paul, not the Philippians, not any of us, only God.
He is the great giver, the supplier of every need, and eternal glory belongs to Him.
The last three verses don’t quite fit in the teaching on contentment, but we’ll look at them briefly here:
Final Greetings (v. 21-23)
Final Greetings (v. 21-23)
21 Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings.
22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those from the household of Caesar.
After sending greetings back and forth, we have this amazing comment at the end of v. 22. Paul refers to the saints from the household of Caesar.
Caesar is another word for emperor. The emperor of the Roman empire at this time was Nero, a very wicked man, who was responsible for killing many Christians including eventually Paul himself.
This wicked emperor’s household had been invaded by the power of the gospel, so that there were many in his household who were now saints.
As Paul reminds us in Romans 1:16, the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. And the gospel is still at work today around the world.
Paul closes this letter with words similar to how he began in 1:2
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Grace be with you
I confess that many times it’s hard for me to be content.
Not being able to live in our home for the last 4 months has been difficult, and there have been many moments that I have not been content in these circumstances.
I compare the hard work of parenting my own kids with how easy my little brother seems to have it with his kids, and it’s easy to wish my own circumstances were different.
I consider the difficulty of losing half of the church over a relatively small difference, and it’s difficult to be content to keep ministering to a smaller crowd.
Or I compare my own ministry with my friend Matt at Rollins Church and wish I had the wisdom and ability to grow a church as well and as quickly as he does.
I consider my finances and look at the housing market and wish there were some way that we could afford to buy our own property and home.
All of this to say… if you struggle with contentment, you’re not alone. I’m preaching to myself this morning too.
It is far too easy to get our focus off of Christ and onto the things of this world, this life. But as Christians we are called to turn our gaze upward to Christ, to focus on Him, to value Him above it all.
When we realize that Christ is really enough, our hearts are freed from being tied to things in this world, and we are content. And then, like the Philippians, when we are free from holding tightly to worldly possessions, we are free to give generously and take great risks for the gospel.
PRAY
