Contentment
soNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>“Contentment”Philippians 4:10-20
Introduction:
Ø Philippians is the most personal of all the Pauline corpus[1]
Ø The church at Philippi was founded by the apostle Paul on his second missionary journey from Antioch, Syria.[2]
Ø Ocassion: Paul wanted to thank the Philippians for a gift received for his support. In 4:10–20, he expressed his thanks for their gift and took advantage of the opportunity to instruct them in a theology of material resources.[3]
Ø In Philippians 4 Paul gives us a better blueprint for living
- a more satisfying way of living - a more rewarding way of living
- a more Theocentric way of living
PROPOSITION:
True joy and happiness in this life is only found through contentment in Christ.
1) True Joy is discovered in a God-centered focus v10
A- Paul’s ultimate cause of rejoicing was in the Lord’s goodness to Him and the Philippians
1- He was still thankful for the Philippian gift, but he recognized God’s workings in the lives of the Philippians
2- it was the intangibles that meant more than the tangibles – Matthew 6:33
- it was not the material gift that Paul rejoiced over
Application: We too must recognize the source of our spiritual accomplishments
James 1:17 – “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (NKJV)
B- Paul’s immediate cause for joy was still not the gift itself, but what the gift pointed to in the lives of the Philippian believers v17
1- the gift pointed to their concern for Paul
2- renewed concern - “blossoming again”
Illustration: perennial flowers – they are not dead but will bloom again
3- their concern for Paul showed him their desire to be like Christ
a- Philippians 2:3 – esteem others better than yourselves was taken to heart by the Philippians
b- Paul was not out of the thoughts of the Philippians
c- It was not out of sight out of mind for the Philippians
Application:
1- True Joy is discovery when we see that God is concerned for us
2- True Joy is discovered when we see God for who He is
- He is the standard of Holiness
- He is a hater of Sin
- He is worthy of Worship
3- Paul demonstrates that True Joy is not found in material possessions
1- True Joy is found in the teenager who commits their life to Christ and not in having a new house
2- True Joy is found in the husband/father who seeks to shape the hearts of his family and not in a new vehicle
3- Rejoice in the church members who lovingly confront their brother and not in a large luxurious office
4- True Joy comes in what God has accomplished in the life of His People
5- Rejoice in God and People and not things
Application
Where does the source of your joy and happiness come from
Transition:
After declaring how thankful he was to God for what the gift evidenced in their life, Paul now shows why it was not the physical/monetary gift itself that was his motivation
2) True Joy is found in being Content v11-12
A- Content = self-sufficiency
1- Self-sufficiency would have been familiar with the teachings of the day
a- their philosophers taught a self-sufficiency
b- an independence from external sources
c- discovering resources from within one’s self to handle all life situations
“Discover the champion in you” -- Joel Osteen
d- they promoted an inner discipline of self-sufficiency
e- sounds much like the psychological and self-esteem movement of today
Ø We live in a world of greed and power
- we have social statuses
- we have corporate success ladders
- we have CEO’s and financial advisors
- we have suv’s, boats and houses
- we have professional athletes and movie stars flaunting greet regualaly
Ø All of this should be expected from unbelieving people
Ø What does God expect from his people? He expects contentment and humility
Transition:
The Philosophers promoted a sufficiency in self where Paul promoted a sufficiency in Christ
2- Paul’s self sufficiency might have sounded like the modern philosopher, but in actuality it was radically different
a- contentment for Paul was something to be learned and then sought after
b- no explanation give of the events leading up to his learning, his point is that had to be learned or in this case was already learned
c- Paul’s contentment was not based on his surrounding circumstances; it was rooted in Christ
· imprisonment 1:12
· impending death 2:17
· to be in need v12
· to have plenty v12
3. These situations had helped to teach Paul to be content through all life
throws at him
Application:
Ø Paul showed an independence of the world by having a dependence upon God
What about us?
1- Will we be content with more modest living conditions in order to free up more money to tithe?
2- Will we be content to pass up on a promotion that would take away from time at home and church in pursuit of money and success?
3- Will we be determined to be content with God whether we have little of plenty?
4- Will we be content knowing God will provide or are we going to be self-sufficient?
5- Will we be content knowing God is in control?
- We must learn – strive for, work at, discipline ourselves – to seek after contentment that is rooted in Christ and not in the world’s successes or possessions
Ø when we learn to be content then we can say with Paul, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
Ø Or, “No matter what happens in life, humiliation or exaltation, wealth or poverty I can endure because of Christ.”
Let’s begin to be remind ourselves that our joy and happiness and contentment must be found in Christ and not in the temporal things the world is offering to us.
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[1]Melick, Richard R.: Philippians, Colissians, Philemon. electronic ed. Nashville : Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991 (Logos Library System; The New American Commentary 32), S. 22
[2]Melick, Richard R.: Philippians, Colissians, Philemon. electronic ed. Nashville : Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991 (Logos Library System; The New American Commentary 32), S. 26
[3]Melick, Richard R.: Philippians, Colissians, Philemon. electronic ed. Nashville : Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991 (Logos Library System; The New American Commentary 32), S. 29