The Secret of Contentment

November is our missions month and has been for many, many, many decades throughout the month we concentrate primarily upon two things. Number one global missions and number two financial stewardship. So were breaking into our second Corinthians series in order to accomplish those things throughout the month of November. It's obvious is that the gospel ministries and global missions involves money, involves a great deal more than that, but it does involve money. That's the reality of this present world as God has designed it. That's the way he has made it but we do need to understand that giving is not all about money. In fact, when we understand it from the Bible, we realize that giving is not even primarily about money it's involved, but there's a whole lot more involved and there's an awful lot that has to do with our Christian life and attitudes and understandings of God and his word. So are giving is about envy and covetousness and materialism and joy and love and contentment.

That's why we need to be regularly instructed and challenged from the Bible in regard to our giving so that we can keep it all in a biblical and Christ honoring perspective. For that reason, we are turning to Philippians chapter 4 today. Lord willing, will take up verses 10 through 14 this morning, and then verses 15 through 20, and perhaps beyond at least 20 next week then the following Sunday will take up our missions month theme text in the book of John, but now we focus upon the Philippians chapter 4.

The background is appalled at this time is in Rome under house arrest. He has gone there because if he hadn't.

He would've been taken to Jerusalem, and undoubtedly put to death and therefore he appealed to Caesar, and after about two more years of confinement in Caesarea.

He was finally sent by ship under the guard of the centurion and placed under house arrest in Rome awaiting his trial before Caesar Augustus for as a Roman citizen.

He had that privilege to appeal his case to the highest authority in the Roman Empire there in Rome. He now writes this epistle that we call Philippians to the church at Philippi, which was the very first church planted on European soil.

You may recall, Paul had accomplished a great deal of missionary work in the area of Asia minor. Present-day Turkey that had been stopped by the Holy Spirit from pursuing additional work in that area and after a period of searching he received the Macedonian call to come over into Macedonia, northern Greece to help us and he went there the first place he went was the Philippi and there a lot of things happened.

He ended up in jail as he did so many times he seems to be in prison a great deal of the time, but he ended up in jail but not God did a great work in Philippi. Many souls were saved in the church was established that church turned out to be one of the strongest churches in the New Testament days, and particularly strong in their desire and willingness to share of their financial resources with Paul and for the cause of the gospel and so Paul is writing a thank you note to them now. The thank you note comes at the end of the book in chapter 4 the last half of the chapter Bible scholars argue about is the thank you note. The primary purpose for the book. It seems like it.

In some ways and yet if so, why does it come at the end.

Why does that come with the beginnings of back-and-forth they go. And that's one of those things.

I don't think it's a pot it's possible to figure out. I who knows why.

When I write a letter or an email at times. I have several things in mind, it would be very difficult to read some of those things and say no. What is the most important thing in the email I sent you last night. Most of you received that I said I've got four things I want to talk to you about today and I number them. 1234 if you would look at those four things could you figure out which of those four was most important to him. You could take a guess when you could come and ask me.

I could look at them and say I don't know. They were all important is all part of what I needed to communicate to you why argue about that. That's minutia so we don't know what was the most important reason why Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians, a lot of good things in it but one important very vital and indispensable part was to thank them for their financial gift sent to him in Rome. They sent it by a man by the name of the path for digests.

Now there's a name some of you are looking for new names for your children. I haven't heard that one. If you want one.

This unique the Pepperdine.

This would fit the bill very nicely, but one of their church members by the name of the Pepperdine is was sent to Rome with their gift.

He's there in Rome. As Paul writes in fact is no doubt the courier to bring this epistle back to them at Philippi and he has delivered on that on behalf of his church, a substantial gift to Paul and Paul writes to thank them for it. I've entitled my sermon today.

The secret of contentment because that's what Paul talks about and shows how he had learned the secret of contentment without material abundance. There are three parts number one cause for rejoicing.

The first part of verse 10, number two, need for clarification of that's the last part of verse 10 through verse 13, number three praise for giving verse 14 cause for rejoicing. Verse 10 says, but I rejoiced in the Lord greatly. I rejoiced in the Lord greatly.

He'll tell us in the moment. What caused this particular rejoicing and look at that in due time, but first of all, we notice that here is Paul rejoicing and there are many reasons to rejoice.

In fact many of you will know that the book of Philippians is often called the book of joy of the book of rejoicing because those two words which are related, are used very very frequently throughout this epistle and Paul enumerates many reasons to rejoice in many reasons why he's filled with joy, but as he comes to the end of the epistle. He adds yet one more but I rejoiced in the Lord greatly hears yet another cause for joy.

And Paul is rejoicing in the Lord and all of our rejoicing needs to be filtered through an understanding of God and his word and his ways and his claim upon our lives, our reasons for rejoicing are not often that the same identical reasons why those who are unsaved may rejoice although sometimes. As we'll see in this particular case, they are very similar but the difference is our rejoicing is all in light of what we understand about Christ in his claim upon our lives and that changes everything.

So Paul is rejoicing in the Lord, but he is rejoicing greatly the many times he mentions his joy and rejoicing throughout the book, but here he comes to the end. One more item in this one. He ratchets up a notch.

I not only rejoiced, but I rejoiced greatly.

That's what Paul did. But why did he do it but he tells us, I rejoice greatly, that now at last.

Your care of me has flourished again. That's why he rejoiced. The occasion for this particular cause of joy was the reception of the material gift that we just read about verse 16. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift but I seek the fruit that abounds to your time account. Indeed, I have all in abound.

I am full, having received from a path for digests the things sent from you a sweet smelling aroma and acceptable sacrifice well pleasing to God. Your gift came to me and I am rejoicing greatly because of it. This gift came, no doubt in the form of money which they sent to help him in the possibly were some other things that they sent along to encourage them as well. Maybe some clothing maybe some resources to use in his ministry. Some paper suppliers, some Inc. some other things that he could use at this time and all of this was sent to Rome in a very strategic time when Paul is under house arrest. He's in Roman imprisonment is circumstances are not very comfortable to be sure, and yet when we read the last two verses of the book of acts we get a better picture of what's going on at this point in Paul's life. This tells us about his Roman imprisonment. Then Paul dwelt to whole years in his own rented house and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the fairings things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence.

No one forbidding him to kindness. What a mercy of God and of the Roman government to allow Paul to be in a rented house trained to soldiers but with a rep rather large degree of liberty compared to what he would have if he was in a dungeon, but that means he's got to pay the rent housing and to do that shame to soldiers. He can make tense.

He's got eight Rome didn't feed their prisoners. Roman prisoners had to be fed be fed by their friends and relatives, or they'd starve to death in prison he has some very obvious knee. Cindy is pursuing ministry as we just read about in in the last two verses of acts, and so he's got a need for some materials in order to pursue his ministry and no doubt it did get cold at times. Rome is in the Mediterranean area of the world, but it does get cold there in winter and Paul probably needed some clothes and so he was very very thankful for the gift that had been sent to him from the church of Philippi.

It was timely. It was thoughtful.

It was generous. It was helpful to his needs. And Paul says I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last your care of me has flourished again. So after a period of lapsed activity were the church of Philippi had not been ministering to his needs financially. Now at last he says your care of me has flourished again or is the new American Standard puts it, now at last you have revived your concerned for me this gift it came. It was apparently a very generous gift. It is described by the word flourished in verse 10, your care of me as an just started again.

He doesn't say it's dribbling again.

He says it has flourished again. Sounds like a large and substantial gift.

In other words, throughout the passage the describe the gift describe it in similar terms talks about abounding in verse 18 and being full is gift filled them up and apparently supplied his needs for a good many days, weeks and months to come.

So cause for rejoicing in the first part of verse 10 exuberant rejoicing because of a large material gift.

Somehow, that sounds a little strange, doesn't it to some of us what's causing Paul to rejoice greatly.

Reception of a large gift of money and other material resources. What is this is this an example of disappointing carnality in the life of the apostle Paul that receiving a material gift is the cause of such great rejoicing is Paul being as we would say in our language today, is he being unspiritual by rejoicing at the reception of the gift of money and material things will know and that brings us now to the need for clarification. In verses 10 through 13 Paul clarifies what he just said in first part of verse 10. No doubt in a general way because money is always a challenging subject in there is always a need for precision. When were talking about money.

It's tricky to talk about it helpfully and not in a carnal way. And Paul knows that. So having said what he said he now says I've got to say a few more things to make sure that you don't misunderstand what I said money is a challenging subject and Paul's statement was subject to misunderstanding. So clarification and Paul makes clarifications in regard to for things in the next several verses number one regarding the Philippians concern number two regarding Paul's financial situation number three regarding Paul's state of mind. Number four regarding Paul's unusual ability clarification. First of all, regarding the Philippian concern verse 10. I rejoice in the Lord greatly did not last. Your care for me has flourished again, though, you surely didn't care what you lacked opportunity. Paul it wants to make it clear that when he talked about their care flourishing again. Their concern having been revived after a period of laps that he is not blaming them for that laps he did mention it, but please don't misunderstand why he mentioned that what he means by it. He's not scolding them because there'd been a period when they had not sent any any help financially. There lapsed giving was not an indication of their lack of concern.

What was it was because of denied opportunity. According to Paul, though, you surely didn't care but you lacked opportunity. The Paul doesn't tell us exactly what it was about a situation that made it impossible for them to help them during an interval time and interim time though they had helped him regularly. As a former time. Is he tells us in the passage will look at for next Sunday were not sure.

Was it because of Paul's location.

He didn't move around a lot, you know, maybe they weren't sure they could find.

They didn't have email they didn't have texts they didn't have modern means of communication didn't have telephone didn't have telegraphed.

The only way to communicate was by letters and that had to go by couriers and sometimes with a man moving around.

You don't even know his address. You don't even know where to send it. That could've been why they lacked opportunity. It may have been that they weren't sure how to transmit their gifts securely. They could write a check. They couldn't send make an electronic transfer like we can do today. Money was always in the form was any paper money went and checked their money was always in the form of silver or gold coins and had to be trance trance admitted had to be communicated by courier and garments then just send a man on a long journey with several thousands of dollars in Roman coins by himself, so there was a lot involved in transmitting funds securely and maybe they were uncertain how to do that in Paul's case where there may be other reasons that are not revealed. All these are just speculations, but for some reason they lacked opportunity. But there is this clarification regarding the Philippians concern. I'm not scolding you for lack of concern. I know you are concerned and number two. This clarification regarding Paul's financial situation. Verse 11 not that I speak in regard to need what looks like need.

It sounds like need the pulses very emphatically that the scarcity admittedly scarcity that he's now experiencing does not in his mind, constitute a need. He doesn't even say a largely depressing delight I've been happier if he would've modified that just a little bit is a looks like a need to me. Paul wants to clarify regarding his financial situation. I'm not rejoicing greatly because I considered myself to be in great need. Even though he described his current circumstances as a cause for distress.

Did you catch that in verse 14. Nevertheless, you have done well that you shared in my distress, that sounds like need to may Paul says I want to clarify, I want to make it very very clear that I did not consider myself to be in need, though, your gift was a wonderful encouragement and help to me and it helped get me out of distress, but I didn't call that need. Isn't this interesting. Evidently, Paul had a different way of calculating needs than we do an awful lot of the things that we consider to be needs. Paul would have laughed at and even the things that I think we can without question legitimately called the Spalding even considered to be need. I was I was in a difficult financial situation, but it had reached rock bottom. I didn't yet consider myself to be in need, says Paul in this clarification regarding his financial situation number three we have a clarification regarding Paul's state of mind. That's the last part of verse 11 through verse 13 for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. I know how to be abased, I know how to abound everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me regarding Paul's state of mind.

He tells us number one that he was content with scarcity verse 11 and number two that he was content with whatever God supplied verse 12. He was content with scarcity. I do not speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. And he goes on to talk about being laced and suffering need to be hungry to to suffer need. And there he talks about need the least declared to this particular situation had not reached that level yet, but he's learned how to do that he has learned to be content with scarcity in every circumstance described as being abased, that's a word that means having been humbled, humbling financial circumstances. I learned how to be content in those hungry there times when I have enough food to eat, which many people today consider to be a very clear mark of of abject poverty and necessity. Everybody ought to have enough to eat at the very least, pulses I have learned how to be content. When I don't have enough food to put on the table to be when I am hungry. While I have learned to be content.

When I suffer need. I have learned to be content in all of these situations already beginning to feel a bit of rebuke from the pen of the apostle Paul. I beginning to feel a little bit ashamed of myself as I consider what Paul is saying to us here he was content with scarcity. He was content with what ever God supplied and now he takes it from the top to the bottom from the abundance to the scarcity of all of it.

He lumps into the same category and says I can be is content with one is another because I understand that whatever it is abundance or or lack of abundance, abundance or scarcity that it's by God's design.

God sent it at this particular time in my life.

It is his will and I can therefore be content. Verse 12 I know how to be abased, I know how to abound everywhere and all things I've learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

He was content with humble means and with prosperity.

We know a good deal more about Paul's humble means than we do about his prosperity because he makes quite a few references to his scarcity at times in acts and in the epistles we know about those times times of persecution, times of suffering, times of deprived patient that he was happy to endure for the sake of the gospel. He doesn't tell us too much about his times of prosperity, but obviously there were those times as well because he includes them here.

The fact that he doesn't say a lot about it has led more than one Bible commentator to speculate that he's thinking back to the time before he was saying when he was a Pharisee and was probably a pretty wealthy man.

The indications are that that was the case.

The indications are that he came from a pretty well-to-do family, for they were able to move around freely from Tarsus to Jerusalem, and to send their son away to school and the expenses that are involved with that for him, going to school in another country in another place and the best school of his day, whatever that cost is never free.

They were able to take care of all of that and then because of his training and his his skill that he showed as a promising young man he became a leading Pharisee of his day, and that meant a very substantial salary.

He was very comfortable before he was saved and some of said that's what he's talking about. That's the abounding that's the fullness, but I don't think I can explain it because Paul is talking about spiritual lessons he learned in both of these categories and he really had learned any spiritual lessons until he was saved. I didn't always know how to handle these things. I didn't always know how to handle scarcity, but I do now. I have learned I have learned and maybe a better literal translation would be, I have learned the secret I've learned the secret and how to abound and how to be abased to had to be full and to be hungry to abounding uses that were twice, and to suffer need. Evidently there were times of prosperity as a Christian, as well as times of poverty as a Christian. He bounced back and forth from one to the other and he says it didn't really affect my state of mind.

It didn't affect my emotional equilibrium.

I wasn't happy when I was full and sad when I was hungry I wasn't content when I was full and discontent when I was hung.

I've learned the secret of being content in all of the situation.

Paul help me help us to learn the secret of such contentment. We have trouble with this don't way help us. Paul, thank you. I hope you desk and here it is right right here. He tells us that he was content.

NT couches that in a way that it is helpful to us because he tells us it's something that must be cultivated.

He didn't say a bolt from heaven struck me in caused me to be content.

He said I have learned how do you learn a little bit of the time, two steps forward and sometimes one step back, slowly, slowly, little by little.

Sometimes, inch by inch, but nevertheless keep moving forward. Keep making progress learning learning learning learning learning I have learned in whatever state I am there with the content. In other words, in times of scarcity. I have learned to feel no coverages toward others who are better off than myself.

I have no envy toward those who are rich. When I am poor. I have no resentment toward others who have been favored maybe through no particular skill or effort of their own, but because they have received a large inheritance.

I have learned to have no discontent about the circumstances of my life and I've also learned how to live with prosperity, which, though it would sound like that's no problem. I have no difficulty without one. Paul indicates that that may be just as hard to do in a God honoring way is the poverty so I've learned in times of prosperity, not to develop a case of greed so it's amazing how many wealthy people become more and more and more greedy.

Doesn't matter how much they have it always go to have more but I've learned not to respond in that way with prosperity, no greed, no pride. Prosperity has a way of lifting up our pride in making us feel like were better than other people. No greed, no pride, no self-reliance, prosperity makes us feel like we don't need God don't need others. I've got it taken care of. That's a wrong attitude in times of prosperity, no self-reliance, no stinginess when God blesses us with prosperity expects us to give generously and Paul knew how to do that. No stinginess in times of prosperity. It's amazing how many wealthy people are so tightfisted with what they have any times the people who are best able to give generously are the ones who are the are the most stingy in their giving.

It's a it's a common result of prosperity. It's not easy to learn how to handle prosperity in a God honoring way and in times of prosperity, no discomfort, that's the other side of the coin. In other words, I in times of prosperity. I'm not embarrassed about my prosperity in times of up prosperity. I does make me uncomfortable and I'm afraid that other people are looking at me and saying how come you you bought that extra thing you didn't really need that with that is the same apostle who wrote in first Timothy chapter 6 to the wealthy people that God gives us all things richly to enjoy and so Paul had learned in times of prosperity to be able to do some extra things that make his life more comfortable without being antsy about it. Still, all the while recognizing the gotta giving those resources primarily to be used in the kingdom of God, but he could enjoy some things for himself without discomfort. This is a tricky balance getting money right in a biblical standpoint is challenging, as I said earlier on. And Paul said I've learned, I've learned didn't always know this wasn't always able to do this was always able to say this but I have learned, in whatsoever state I am to be content I've learned in whatever state I am to be God honoring with my attitudes and with my actions in regard to my financial circumstances, discontent and resentment.

It's a great problem doesn't seem incredible that for people living in America, which is overall the wealthiest country in the whole world. I read recently that the poorest person in the in America everybody in America everybody in America from the poorest of the riches falls into the top 5% percentile of income worldwide, and we compare ourselves with other Americans that I'd never be in the top 5% of Americans you are the top 5% of people of humanity. I don't care who you are and help or you consider yourself to be. You are in the top 5% and humanity. We are so well off in America. So why is there so much discontent in America. Why so much complaining why so much envy.

Why so many people who can't Be content with the bounty that they enjoy because somebody else has more is not fair that they should have more if they got more than I should have more than I know Willie probably don't even know they don't though realize I've already got more than 95% of the people in this world, but if somebody else has more than I should have more instead of saying how kind God has been to allow me to be born in the country were were frankly frankly by worldwide standards. No blood be used for new ability starves to death, or if they do, it's her own fault because the foods available to them of the just go get it. Nobody is without resources in this great country, the United States of America, but instead of saying thank you Lord for allowing me to be born here in the land of plenty in the land of opportunity for anybody who who is able-bodied is can go out and in working and better themselves if they're willing to do it. How is it that so many people in a land like this cannot be content full of envy and resentment well, that's Adamic sinfulness is that that's what's in the human heart. That's what's there and it's not just them. It's us right here we have the same problem of discontent with our circumstances. Why doesn't God give me more friend listen listen when God in his wisdom, love and kindness wants to give you more you give you more and until he does. He wants you to learn some lessons.

He wants you learn what Paul learned he wants you to learn in what ever state you are because God put you there to the con tent. Amen. Accident accident, so clarification regarding the Philippians concern clarification regarding Paul's financial situation. Clarification regarding Paul's state of mind, clarification regarding Paul's unusual ability.

How in the world could he be content in all the circumstances. Verse 13 tells us this is how I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. How many times have you heard that verse zillions of times. How many times have you heard it in its context maybe never. I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me by that means I can become the President of the United States. If I set my mind on it, begin to wonder who the world want to be that anyway but maybe I could do whatever I want to do. If I set my mind on it with Christ who strengthens me. That's not quiet. This is Paul was unable to do with all things in context he was saying he had been able to be happy in every ordained circumstance of life rich, poor, sick, healthy, whatever state he was in there with to be content in this amazing ability.

This unusual ability of Paul was gained through Christ. It requires supernatural strength.

We don't have in ourselves.

It is through Christ who strengthens me. But every Christian has the same resource that Paul has.

Why do we have so much trouble achieving contentment. The ability to do that is given to us here. We can do it through Christ will give us the strength to do it.

This text, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me is no blanket promise that I can liken we can win this game we can win this game. Through Christ that strengthens us.

We can get a new job through Christ who strengthens us weekend get that new car. We want through Christ who strengthens us.

No no no no no no no, you can be content with what you've got. Without that car without that wind without that job through Christ who strengthens you.

This is divine enablement for contentment in all circumstances of life. This is divine enablement for whatever God calls upon us to do if he ordains it, we can do it through Christ who strengthens us. If his word tells us to do it. We can, through Christ who strengthens us that brings us finally to praise forgiving verse 14. Nevertheless, you have done well that you shared in my distress you have done well it's a good thing it's a good work it's well pleasing to God in that you have shared in my distress sharing with others, relieving the distress is a good thing.

It's a Christian. Grace is one part of growing in grace and those listen to me who are weak in giving. We can sharing are spiritually immature at best, of the region saved its right.

While that's true, though that's true, and those who are strong in sharing are making good progress in grace is a lot more other areas to grow in grace and this one, but if you get stalled on this one. It's going to pretty much put you at a stop until you get over this one and get on because it's one of the areas you say were did you get that from just one place. Second Corinthians 8 will get to that eventually in second Corinthians. Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia, the great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality for our bear witness. It according to their ability.

A and beyond their ability.

They were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we read would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the Saints not only as we had hoped, but that they first give themselves to the Lord and then to us by the will of God. So we urged Titus that SC has begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. But as you abounded everything in faith and speech and knowledge in all diligence in your love for us see that you abounded.

This grace also what grace is that giving part of growing in grace as part of your Christian development. It's important you want to know why so many American churches are weak because so many American church members are weak in their giving it the only reason that's one reason we need to learn what Paul teaches here mother a lot of good lessons in this text to give you some very quickly in closing. In this text we learn the natural and comfortable relationship between things spiritual and things material in our world, we tend to want to separate those things spiritual things over here material things over here and don't you ever cross the line don't you go to Medlin. See help all just deals with them all comfortably together the natural and comfortable relationship between things spiritual things material, our discomfort betrays our weakness and spiritual maturity. Number two, we learn the land. The dangers of living in an affluent society. Materialism abounds around us in America and it soon becomes a mindset things things things it takes things to make us happy if we don't have things we can't be happy. That's wrong with Paul.

We need to learn whatever state we are therewith to be content living in an affluent society like America, we have the that the continual seduction of debt. If I can't afford it I can borrow it and I can still enjoy it even if I can't afford it and didn't begins to pile up in debt sooner hampers our joy and debt soon impedes our ability to give generously. Plus creates all kinds of other problems in our lives as well, and the danger of living an affluent society includes the danger of too much debt the danger of living in an affluent society means that we don't see very clearly what is a true need.

It skews a proper sense of need. We think we need something because well because our neighbor has, and we don't. That means I needed. We think we got have a bigger house because 1600 ft.² really isn't big enough for six people with think about all the people in the world that are living with 10 or 12 people in 600 ft.² and there praising the Lord and thanking him for the bounty that he's given them think it's all a matter of of perspective and living a materialistic society tends to skew our sense of genuine need, living in an affluent society tends to feed our pride or covetousness are MVR resentful that these are dangers of living in an affluent society. I also learned in this in this text, the blessing of having opportunities to give is that I've never thanked the Lord for opportunities to give because I never thought there was any scarcity of opportunities. The gift always thought there was more opportunities that I can address, and indeed, there really are, but because they are so many appeals forgiving. We need to guard against becoming calloused and jaded but seek godly wisdom for right God honoring priorities and best opportunities in our giving, measured by the Bible which is a whole other sermon for another day. The final lesson that we see in this passage is a danger of misusing Scripture I can do all things through Christ which strengthens my okay jump over the house was Christ enables me I can, indeed, that's true, but friend that is not what that verse is saying understand what it's saying and that and and apply it to your life today you can be content through Christ who strengthens you. You can live without resentment you can live without more things. That's what it's saying, apply it to your life today. That's the word of God to you.

Shall we pray father, thank you for your word, how gratefully we receive it. Help us Lord where we are resistant to it to yielded to the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray