"The Secret of Contentment"
Philippians 4:10-23

Preached at Peoples Church, May 22, 2005 AM
Rev. Bryan Guinness

Introduction : WHAT IS CONTENTMENT?

Before we look at this passage in detail to see what it teaches about contentment, let me first say as an introduction that Contentment is not the same as happiness. When Paul talks about contentment, he is not talking about happiness. Happiness is dependent on circumstances. A pleasant friend meets us for lunch and we're happy. An irritating, overbearing acquaintance rubs us the wrong way, and we're unhappy. It works like this: good things happen and we're happy; bad things happen and we're unhappy. Happiness or pleasure is entirely dependent on circumstances. It is temporary. Contentment is independent of circumstances. Paul says that he could be content when he was hungry or well fed, poor or rich. Contentment is something that has it's source in our relationship to God, and therefore it can be permanent.

Quote: "Happiness is exchanging Christmas gifts -- contentment is awareness of what Christmas is all about". - Anonymous

Outline:

FOUR THINGS THAT THIS SCRIPTURE TEACHES ABOUT CONTENTMENT

1. Contentment is a learned state (v11)

The Apostle Paul says that he had to learn contentment. If he had to learn it, how much more do we. Contentment is not therefore something that comes naturally, and nor is it instantaneous. It is the fruit of a relationship with the Lord. Yes, but, you might say, I won't be content if I don't get that job, or that promotion, or that pay raise. That brings me to the second thing that the Scriptures teach about contentment.

2. Contentment is not found in possessions or circumstances (v.12)

Here is an amazing truth. The Bible is saying that whether we have enough money or not, whether we have abundance or are in very strained circumstances, we can still have contentment because the secret of contentment is not in what we have or don't have. It does not come from the possessions we have. It is not based on the job we have, the income we make, the car we drive, or the home we live in.

Illustration: A number of years ago, there was a story in the US News and World Report. The story was about the "American Dream" - the idea of owning your own home, having all your needs met, and having enough money to do all you want to do. The story said that for those who have household incomes of under $25,000, polls showed that these people believed it would take $54,000 to fulfill the American Dream in their lives. The same survey showed that for those who make $100,000, they'd like to make about $192,000 for their version of the American Dream.

Quotes: Contentment is not found...

Contentment isn't found in money, pleasure, position, fame, or any other circumstance. Let me remind you of some of the difficult circumstances Paul went through: 2 Cor. 11:24-27

3. Contentment has its source in the person of Jesus Christ (v.13)

If you were to read v.13 without v.12 and all the comes before it, you might look at Jesus like a super-vitamin. Some people take this verse completely out of context. They read "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." And so they think that Christ is like a super-vitamin. They think, hey, I can go out and run a marathon without training. I can perform surgery without training, or pilot a plane because the Lord will strengthen me. I can get hit by a speeding car and be unharmed. But these completely out of context. This verse teaches that contentment comes from your relationship with Jesus Christ. Earlier in his letter to the Philippians (3:8) Paul says, "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." Christ is the key. As Jesus himself said (John 15:5) "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." Since contentment comes from the Lord, we are to go to the Lord whatever the circumstances to strengthen us For example when times are good we need to seek the Lord and find our contentment in him so that we don't become complacent and overly arrogant thinking that we ourselves have accomplished something with our own strength

Deut. 8:10-18

And when times are bad we must also seek the Lord to find our contentment in him. Because contentment has as it's source the person of Jesus, this leads to the fourth truth from this passage:

4. Contentment comes from trusting God to supply our needs (v.19)

This is an amazing principle found elsewhere in the Bible as well. Jesus said (Matthew 6:33), "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." God knows your needs and he will supply for them. The Philippian church had given financially to support Paul's ministry - in fact they had been the only church to do so.

Verse 14-18

The Philippian church had sent Epaphroditus to Paul along with some gifts to encourage Paul. They had given very sacrificially to be partners with Paul in spreading the gospel. Paul says that God will now take care of all their needs.

4 STEPS TO BECOMING A MORE CONTENT CHRISTIAN

(2 positive things to do, 2 are negative things to avoid)

1. "Give thanks in all circumstances" - 1 Thes. 5:18

Give thanks for the material things you have as well as the spiritual blessings you have. Even when you are in need, there are still things that you can be thankful for. Anonymous Quote: "Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have." One thing that I do to give thanks in all circumstances is to set aside time when I do nothing else but give thanks to God. It is what I call the daily discipline of giving thanks. It should be a part of our daily prayer routine. It is easy to slip into the habit of only asking God for things in prayer and not thanking him. To keep me from slipping into this, I have a set time of thanksgiving. I set aside the time that I walk to the metro in the morning on the way to church. It usually takes about 7 minutes. So, for seven minutes I thank God for everything that enters into my mind. I also have prayers of thanksgiving at other times throughout the day, but when I walk to the metro, that is specifically set aside to give thanks. When I pray, I often start by saying, "Lord thank you for…" In Daniel 6 we read that Daniel got down on his knees three times a day and gave thanks to God.

2. Avoid complaining

Quote: Dr. Dale Robbins writes, "I used to think that people complained because they had a lot of problems. But I have come to realize that they have problems because they complain."

Complaining is the opposite of giving thanks. Complaining spoils contentment. Psalm 77:3 in KJV says, "I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed."(KJV) That's what complaining does. It gets us nowhere. And so, I want to challenge you this morning. When you feel tempted to complain, instead of venting your complaint, replace it with a thanksgiving.

3. Avoid coveting

Exodus 20:17

Illustration: I recently read the true story about someone who laid a small circle of poison around a hill of stinging ants. Thinking the tiny granules of poison were food, the ants began to pick them up and carry them throughout the colony. I returned later to see how well the poison was working. Hundreds of the stinging ants were carrying the poison down into their hill. Then I noticed a hole in the circle of poison. Some of the poison was moving the opposite way--away from the hill. Some smaller, non-stinging ants had found this "food" and were stealing it from their ant neighbors. Thinking they were getting the other ants' treasure, they unwittingly poisoned themselves. When we see someone with more than we have, we must beware. The hunger to beg, borrow, or steal our way into what is theirs will poison us spiritually. Coveting poison's the path to contentment

4. Allow Christ to be center of your life

Matthew 6:33

Contentment flows from the Lord Jesus Christ. If he is the center, the focus, and the reason for your life, then, you will experience what the apostle Paul said when he said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"

Conclusion

1. If you're not a Christian

Christianity is about a relationship with Jesus Christ. Christ died on the cross, was buried, and then was raised from the dead. The bible says that there is one mediateor between God and man - Christ Jesus." He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the source of contentment. Jesus said, "I have come that you might have life, life abundantly." Maybe you're not yet sure of who Jesus is exactly, or what he has done. In his earthly ministry, some people asked Jesus, "What must we do to do the work God requires?" Jesus replied, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." "God loved you so much that he gave his only son that if you believe in him, you shall not perish, but have everlasting life."

2. If you are already a Christian

Continue to submit your life to him. Don't give up, don't be discouraged. Remember, "it is God who is at work in you, to will and to act according to his good purpose." That is why you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. He is the source of the strength, he is the source of the contentment.

Prayer of Serenity: Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971) "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference."

Contentment is…
  1. A learned state
  2. Not found in possessions or circumstances
  3. Found in Christ as the source
  4. Comes from trusting God to supply all our needs
Steps to becoming a more content Christian
  1. Give thanks,
  2. Avoid complaining,
  3. Avoid coveting
  4. Allow Christ to be the center of your life

 

You can read scriptures from the sermons or any other Bible passages on line at either:

Bible Gateway which has several translations and many languages from which you can choose

or Crosswalk's Bible Study Tools which has many English translations, including the NKJV.

Peoples Church of Montreal
2097 Union Avenue
Montreal, Quebec H3A 2C3

http://www.PeoplesChurchOfMontreal.org/sermons/contentment.html
last modified: 06/04/12 - 17:19:58 PM

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