Contentment

Phil.4:10-13                      

      

What is contentment?

Contentment is the belief that I have everything I need at this present moment.

It is also the confidence & certainty that when I need anything else, God will give it to me.

I almost certainly don’t have everything I want. And I probably don’t have everything I think I need. This part of the definition means that God has so ordered the universe that no matter where you are right now you have everything you truly need to be content. 

That’s an awesome statement—and I know it’s one thing to say that on Sunday morning, it’s something else to believe that when your husband or wife or child walks out on you or the doctor says, “I’m sorry. There’s nothing else we can do.”

How do we know this is true? We know it because God has said it is true. 

He has promised to supply our needs. He has guaranteed that he will feed and clothe us. He has promised to hear our prayers. He has given the Holy Spirit to lead us and the Word of God to guide us. He has redeemed us from our sins, given us new life, adopted us into his family, promised never to leave us, removed the fear of death, and guaranteed our future resurrection.

If all that is true, how can we doubt that God will give us what we need when we need it? And if we truly need something else, he’ll give that to us too. 

Which means that if we don’t have something we think we need, it’s because our heavenly Father knows best and has chosen not to give it to us right now.  If we truly need it later, he’ll see that we get it.

That applies to every area of life—to your finances, your job, your health, your marriage, your friendships, your children, your parents, every relationship of life, and to all your dreams for the future. You’ve got everything you need to be content right now—and if you’re not, please don’t blame God.

I. Contentment is not automatic but must be learned over time.

In verses 11 & 12 he declares, “I have learned to be content” 

Why did Paul have to learn contentment? Why wasn’t it just given to him as a gift from God? The answer is that God is most glorified when we struggle through the process of being weaned from our dependence on the things of the world. 

Most of us live on the opposite principle.  In our hearts we think, 

“I would be happy if only I had a new car or a new job or a new dress or a new husband or a new wife.” 

No wonder we are never satisfied. Instead of being weaned from the world, we are wedded to it. Or maybe I should say, welded to it.

II. Contentment comes from my confidence in God.

Verse 12 lays this out very clearly. “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.” In case we missed it he adds this phrase, “Whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”  It’s easy to assume Paul means being well fed is good and going hungry is bad. But that’s not correct. Poverty and prosperity both have their good uses—and both can lead us astray spiritually. 

Paul knew that riches are not the way to contentment. So he was willing to hold material things with an open hand. 

III. Contentment rests on two great truths:

A. That God has ordained every circumstance of my life.

Why the wicked prosper while the righteous often suffer in this world?  You can go through life asking, why did this happen? And you’ll end up frustrated and disappointed because in this life there is rarely a satisfactory answer to that question. We simply don’t know why some people live long and prosper while others never seem to catch a break. In the world’s terms, they are victims of bad luck. From the standpoint of Holy Scripture, we can only say that God is working out his plan in ways we can’t see from our limited vantage point.

In verse 12 Paul says “I have learned the secret of being content.” 

So what is the secret of contentment? I think the answer can be found in two phrases. First, in verse 11 he mentions “whatever the circumstances,” and then in verse 12 he says “in any and every situation.” 

The secret of contentment lies in understanding that nothing happens by chance, but everything is ordained by the hand of a loving God.

B. That God will give me strength in every circumstance to do his will.

This is the true meaning of Philippians 4:13. This verse, wonderful as it is, has sometimes been misused by well-meaning believers who make it say more than Paul intended. Paul is talking about being content in every circumstance—whether he had plenty or whether he had next to nothing. 

Verse 13 explains how he managed to live above his circumstances. 

He did it only by the power of Jesus Christ dwelling in him. 

For him, the secret of contentment was not a stiff upper lip or a positive mental attitude. He was content precisely because he had learned to rely completely on Jesus Christ.

Are we who believe better than other people? No. Do we suffer? Yes. 

What makes the difference? 

We have the power of the indwelling Christ who gives us the strength we need.

Show me a truly contented person and I’ll show you a miracle. 

In this fallen world, contentment cannot be explained apart from the supernatural power of Jesus Christ.      

                                                    -Adapted from Ray Pritchard