Philippians 4:12-14

12. “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. 13.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength. 14. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.”

CONTENTMENT

The last time we were here we considered together verses 10 and 11, where we discussed the generosity of the Philippians as seen through the eyes of Paul the apostle. We suggested that Paul saw in the Philippians’ generosity to him three things:

·      The Lord‘s care

o  10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last, you renewed your concern for me.

·      Loads of compassion

o  Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

·      Lessons in contentment

o  11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

    We ended our study by defining what contentment meant. We said that contentment was to be free from care, due to the satisfaction with what is already one's own. The Hebrew word for contentment means simply "to be pleased." In the Greek word contentment means to be self-sufficient, satisfied, and independent (1 Timothy 6:8; Hebrews 13:5).  

     In other words, Contentment is more of an inward enjoyment than outward satisfaction (1 Timothy 6:6); the former is a habit or permanent state of mind, while the latter has to do with some particular occurrence or object. So that on one hand, inward contentment brings lasting fulfillment, while on the hand outward contentment is a temporary thrill.

     Paul’s great joy had nothing to do with the gift he had received from the Philippians, per se because he was content and needed nothing despite being confined behind prison walls. For Paul, this sufficiency was not something he had in and of himself, but a sufficiency that came from Christ. It was an understanding gained from the experience of knowing that we have everything we need in Him, regardless of our external circumstances.

We highlighted this clearly from three passages found in the scriptures on contentment:

Job 36:11

If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.

Song of Songs 8:10

I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. Thus, I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment.

1 Timothy 6:6

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

And so, we surmised  that:

Contentment is being thoroughly satisfied or pleased with the things that we have.

Contentment is a state of satisfaction or being pleased with the things we don’t have but yet, we wait patiently for such things as we work diligently to gain them.

Contentment is God satisfying or pleased with everything God has richly provided for our enjoyment while using those resources to be a blessing to others.

Contentment is found wherever and whenever we have the opportunity to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

      Paul now in the next several verses, digs a little deeper into the subject of contentment by using his own example, situations, and circumstances. Paul gives his own life as an object lesson in these verses and testifies that “need” and “plenty” are relative terms – relative to what we feel ourselves to want. And that there is a depth of discipline of self whereby one does not need more than one has at any given moment.

And the reasons for this he gives in verses 12 through 14. Let us take a candid look at these verses.

The first reason he gives is that:

 THE SECRET TO CONTENTMENT IS IN OUR EXPERIENCE WITH CHRIST

12. “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.”

Notice carefully that Paul mentions some physical circumstances such as being in need and having plenty, being well-fed or hungry, living in much, or having nothing. And in the midst of these social states, he says, twice “I know what it is to be in” and “I know what it is to have.”

    This “I know” that Paul states here did not come through osmosis, happenstance, or luck. This Knowledge came through learning. And his learning came through two possible ways or both, I believe the latter to be true that his knowledge and learning came through two essential things…

1.    The Example he followed. 

a.     1 Thessalonians 1:6 “You became imitators of us and the Lord.”

b.    1 Corinthians 11:1 “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

2.    The Experience he nurtured. 

i.Philippians 2:5 “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ…”

ii.Colossians 2:6-7 “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthen in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

iii.Ephesians 4:20 “You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life to put off your old self… and to be renewed in the attitude of your minds.”

The second reason he gives is that:

THE STRENGTH OF CONTENTMENT IS BEING EMPOWERED BY CHRIST 

13.  “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

       Paul understood that no matter how difficult his struggles may have been, that there was something else undergirding, and enabling him. There was an invisible means of support deep within, and thus he understood that his adequacy and sufficiency came from his union with someone greater than himself. Paul is clear that “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”  He speaks of the adequate and all-sufficient One Christ who dwells within and pullet the reins.

      When Paul says, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” He had physical and not necessarily spiritual things in mind. The things he had in mind are clearly mentioned in verse 12, where he says “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned….whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” He then says, he “can do everything through” Christ who gives the strength to sustain him in any and every situation. The idea is to be strong, to have power, or to have resources.  In context, what Paul is conveying is that he can accomplish these physical feats only by trusting God to sustain him through the extremities that life offers. And because God has already given us everything we need for life and godliness we are better able and equipped for such challenges in life wherever and whenever they come. God has provided for us with his own fourfold resources:

1.    His Son – 1 Corinthians 15:30-32

2.    His Spirit -Galatians 5:16-26

3.    His Scripture James 1:19-25

4.    His Supplies – 2 Corinthians 9:10-15

Content belongs to those who rely upon God rather than on their own resources.

The third reason he gives is that:

SHARING IN CONTENTMENT IS AN ENCOUNTER FOR CHRISTIANS.

14. “Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.”

     The final reason that Paul gives for contentment is in sharing in the concern for others, here is where true contentment resides. Those who live only for themselves will never be content because their contentment is only when things are exactly the way they want them to be. And when the things they have gained, accumulated, or achieved are taken away, stolen, and/or destroyed they are discontented, discouraged, and despondent.  

When we share in each other’s trouble, we are supplying and meeting each other’s needs as God has so commanded us to do:

1.    We fulfilled the law of Christ – Galatians 6:2

a.    2 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

2.    We help our neighbors for their good and benefit – Romans 15:1- 2

a.    15 “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.”

3.    We develop an equality of exchange among our brothers and sisters – 2 Corinthians 8:10-15

a.    10 And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. 13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”