The Secret of Contentment

Series on Philippians

X Response to the Philippians’ Generosity, Text: 4:10-20

Title: The Secret of Contentment

Introduction

When I was a young lad my great aunts and my mother took me shopping for a winter coat. I had my eye on this mackinaw with lots of pockets. A real guy thing! My aunts picked a different coat. On Christmas Day it was hard to show enthusiasm. Never mind the fact that millions of children would have been happy to have a nice warm coat. It was not what I wanted. True contentment does not come from getting what we want, but from getting what we need. It even goes beyond this and says, I will be content, even if I do not get what I need. My Father in law is 92. Born in 1915: His family had no electricity, no inside plumbing and the only thing he ever got for Christmas was a pair of felt boots, and some candy until he went to work at the age of 14 in 1929 at the depth of the depression. How do you think that would work today? I interviewed him again, although I had heard these stories before, but I wanted to know if he was content. He gave me a strong YES.

I Concern

The Philippians were concerned according to verses 10, 14-16, I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Now if you look at II Corinthians 8: 1-4, Paul recounts the contributions of those in Macedonia as an example. He says, And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. I want you to notice two things. They are grace and generosity. The reason they gave was grace. It was a grace God had given. These were poor people. They did not give because they were wealthy as do a lot of philanthropists. They gave because they knew the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, entirely on their own. I had an elder once who gave me a beautiful antique candy jar as a present. The note that accompanied it said, “A gift is nothing unless He is in it.” And the Philippians gift was also generous. Their generosity is overwhelming because they gave beyond their ability. This means that they impoverished themselves in order to help the mission. How many of us are willing to do this? Some are better able than others, but as the scripture says, Trust in the Lord and do good, so shall you dwell in the land, and truly you shall be fed.

II Contentment

Paul’s contentment is evident in verses 11-13, I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Is it possible to be content in need or when hungry and in want? I have met so many people that were not content even though they were not in need, or hungry, or in want. The Puritan, Jeremiah Burroughs wrote a book entitled The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment. In it he says, “The mystery of it is that a Christian can be the most contented person, yet unsatisfied. He can be content with whatever portion God gives him, give him the whole world and it cannot satisfy him. That is the mystery of it.” Burroughs gives us a list of the ABC’s of Christian Contentment. They go like this 1) I am nothing myself, Christ is all in all 2) I deserve nothing. What I have from God I do not deserve. 3) I CAN DO NOTHING. Christ says, “Without Me you can do nothing.” Wanting to do something without Christ is evil. 4) I am vile. By nature I am not only an empty vessel but corrupt. 5) I can make use of nothing, if with it God withdraws Himself. 6) I am worse than nothing, for sin has made me so. 7) If I perish nothing will be lost. God can raise up someone else. I think it is the last point that is most vital. But the point is that few people are content because few figure they don’t deserve anything. One commentator in the Tampa Tribune wrote an article, “And you thought toys were expensive” His daughter has graduated from toys to electronics. The Christmas list totaled over a thousand dollars. Now I don’t know about you. But if it were my house there would be some major discontent. We live in a culture of discontent. Bigger houses, bigger TV’s, better phones, better computers, newer cars, are all advertised as the way to contentment. Paul did not keep up with the Joneses, because he was content in every situation. There is an old saying disappointment is His appointment. When you learn that you know how to be content.

III Commitment

After recounting the aid he received from the Philippians in verse 14-16, Paul says in verses 17-20, Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. We have seen the gift giving of the Philippian Christians and now we see Paul’s reaction. First of all he singles them out as the most generous of all the churches in Macedonia. Then he says he has enough. That’s the death knell to the prosperity gospel: a preacher saying he has enough. But what is really important here is that he says that they get credit. This does not mean they were earning their salvation. It does mean that God took note of their sacrifice. It was a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, and it pleased God. Now in the tabernacle and temple there was incense because God was saying he was pleased with their sacrifices. Later in Isaiah 1 he says, to paraphrase, the sacrifices stink because of the disobedience of the people. Now the most fragrant offering I can recall is recorded in John 12:1-8. Jesus is in Bethany with Martha and Mary and Lazarus at the home of Simon the leper. This was after Lazarus’ resurrection and it says Lazarus was sitting at the table with him. It’s understandable why Mary would be grateful. Her Brother was alive and well. So she took pound of costly ointment, probably valerian that was not only odiferous but healing (It’s still in my wife’s Herbal Drugstore book which is interesting because Jesus says she kept this against the day of my death.) and it was worth 300 DENARII. In the nineteenth century 300 denarii was worth about $20.00. It was worth much more in the first century and given the rate of inflation probably hundreds if not thousands of dollars by our standards, and Judas says we should have sold it and given it to the poor. But he just wanted the money because he was the treasurer and a thief. In fact when he is dismissed he immediately goes out and makes a deal with the High priest. The love of money is the root of all evil. What matters here, however is that Jesus startles us. He cared for the poor. You would have expected him to agree with Judas. He says no. Let her worship me! Maybe you can learn something about giving here. Giving is not about causes. It is about worship. I don’t care if the giving is about your children’s Christmas, or your relatives, or missionaries in Hong Kong or Singapore. Every gift must be given because of the fact that God gave His only begotten son. As my elder-friend said, the gift is nothing if He is not in it. This surely eliminates all those gifts that are given to please others whether children or relatives or the church. None of that matters. We may feel better, but we will not be better. God alone is to be worshipped and glorified. Give to Him and you give to all.