The Secret of Contentment - 22

Well, we are coming. As you know, today, to the last section of Paul's epistle to the Philippians, and what we see in verses 10 through 20 is an extended thank you note that's unique among Paul's epistles. You won't find anything quite like this and the other 12 but here it is in this particular epistle because it is a response to a financial gift which is, to Paul, who is under house arrest in Rome from the church at Philippi delivered by Aphrodite is one of the leaders in the church, and it represents a great act of love and concern and encouragement by this church to the beloved apostle Paul in this section we find two very well-known texts to perhaps of the most quoted verses in all the New Testament, one in verse 13 and one verse 19 verse 13 says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Verse 19 says a my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus to wonderful versus wonderful statements wonderful promises often quoted but frequently misunderstood and misused and therefore we need to look at them carefully in their context. Today we take up the first of those two in verse 13. As we examine what Paul is saying by this statement, I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me, and how we are to understand that within the context in which it resides. The Stoics in Paul's day taught that the secret to contentment is to get rid of all desires. Just somehow train yourself not to desire anything overcome by the strength of your will they desire for anything in this world besides just the barest necessities and thereby you achieve happiness and contentment and interestingly they are close to the market. They haven't quite hit it have the faucet as well that's close but actually you don't do this by your own strength and by your determination of your will, but rather you do it by yielding all your desires to God.

You Just rid yourself of them in your own strength but you can in the strength which Christ imparts to his people. I said Paul can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

And so as we look at the first part of this inspired thank you note. We will see how it teaches us the art of contentment, we shall notice number one concern demonstrated in verse 10 to contentment described in verses 10 of 11 and 12. Rather than third confidence declared in verse 13 concern demonstrated verse 10, Paul says, but I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, but now a last your care for me has flourished again, though, you surely didn't care, but you lacked opportunity. Paul begins with a declaration of joy is not just enjoy the great joy I rejoiced greatly as a cause for great joy here. That statement is introduced by a small connecting particle translated but in my Bible. The Greek word day and that particle both introduces a new section because it's very clear that Paul is moving on to a different subject than what he has addressed prior to this statement, and yet it also connects with what has previously been said, and among other things in the previous section, Paul has talked a great deal about the peace of God told us in verse six be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus again when he comes in verse nine he says the things which you have learned and received and heard and saw in me these do in the God of peace will be with you, but I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, and so forth. And what Paul is going to show us is here is a demonstration of the peace of God in my heart in regard to material things when I tell you that there's a way to drive anxiety out and receive the peace of God. This is what I'm talking about here is an illustration of what I tell you to watch my life. Learn what I have taught but also learn from what you see demonstrated in my life. This is what I'm talking about. I'm talking about this demonstration of peace and contentment in the midst of some times of need and poverty, but nevertheless you can see how I have peace in my heart and all of these things, a declaration of joy, but I rejoiced greatly. Paul gives the reason for the rejoicing, which is indeed a tangible representation of their concern for him. I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last your care of me has flourished again in the context we realize he's talking about their gift. They have sent a gift. Undoubtedly, in the form of money in gold and silver coins as money existed in the day and they had sent that to him and it is a demonstration of their care for Kim there tangible concern for Paul and his his life and needs, as manifested in this way, the gift showed their care.

Your care for me has flourished again an interesting word that would flourish. It meant it might be better translated more literally translated as blossomed again. It's a botanical term when winter is over and spring comes. We are glad to see trees that once looked dead now putting forth leaves, not putting forth blossoms manifesting that they have life. He didn't look like it before but it was there along and the leaves in the blossoms and the new branches that are shooting forth are evidence that life was there all along, but it wasn't dormant and now it blossoms again. That's what Paula said I know your care for me was there all along, but it didn't manifest itself or while it's kind of like the dead of winter, but now it has flourished again. It has blossomed once again like a tree in the springtime.

It is gift showed their care came after a period of delay at last is one way of describing that wasn't something that is been going on.

This care wasn't something that it been going on over a regular period of time, but it after period of dormancy. At last it flourished again after having not flourished for a while though it used to flourished quite a while ago we read about that in verse 15 new Philippians no. Also that in the beginning of the gospel. When I departed from Macedonia. No church shared with me concerning giving and receiving. But you only for even in Thessalonica about 100 miles from Philippi.

He hadn't even gotten very far down the road, and his missionary ministry. But even in Thessalonica. You sent a once and again at least twice while he was in Thessalonica. The sent gifts to him and he continued to receive gifts from them to help him in his ministry. And then it stopped, but I rejoiced greatly but not last. Your care for me has blossomed a new, and so the tangible evidence of their concern is causing rejoicing in the apostle Paul, not the gift itself is, he makes clear, but the sentiment that it demonstrates the concern that it communicates.

This proves that they were concerned, this proves that they didn't love him.

This proves that they wanted to be in partnership with him in the work of the gospel. This proves that they esteemed the ministry that Christ had entrusted to the apostle Paul and they wanted to help with that and that cause Paul to rejoice.

I rejoiced greatly for this evidence of your loving care and concern that has come to me again.

That's what caused Paul to rejoice greatly. What causes you to rejoice greatly with the things that cause you to rejoice the most greatly have to do with spiritual concerns and the progress of the gospel of the interest of Christ's kingdom and the preaching of the gospel like is evidence here or is it always material and physical things alone. The causes you to rejoice before Paul finishes talking about this concern demonstrated to him by the Philippians he mentions an explanation for the delay.

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now. Last your care for me has flourished again and then this though, you surely did care but you lacked opportunity. It may be that the first part of the verse, verse 10, the Paul wrote. He looked at before he went on and said they might misunderstand this to mean that I'm rejoicing because of the value the monetary value of the gift and that I'm scolding them that hasn't come more regularly and he said I don't want them to do think that that would be a mistake entirely. So let me make clear to them that I know that they cared all along and that the only reason they hadn't demonstrated this loving concern before was because they lacked opportunity. Not because they lacked concern, but that they lacked opportunity. He said I know that no doubt they know that, but they need to know that that I'm not thinking something else in regard to this gift.

And so the delay this interim.

However long it was. We don't know in which he had not heard from them in regard to gifts which they formerly had sent regularly was not there because of their lack of concern, though it might have seemed that way to those who did not know, but it was because of an absence of opportunity though you surely did care but you lacked opportunity.

Paul does not tell us what exactly was that lack of opportunity. What precisely were the obstacles that kept them from sending regularly gifts as they formerly had any reasons that we might offer must of necessity fall in the category speculation because were not told, but it would be hard to think that Paul was difficult to track down at times it was on the move and about the time of that communication reach them.

The Paul is in court. They had already moved on. About the time they receive more communication that he was an emphasis he had already moved on again.

That was the nature of his ministry, moving from place to place as a missionary as an apostle who traveled around in the Roman Empire.

And so in a very Merry very well have been that they said let's send a gift to Corinth. Whoops. He's not there anymore.

Let's send the gift emphasis whoops is not there anymore. Let's send the gift of Troy has no peace already left there where is how do we know where he is.

That might be the lacking opportunity of which Paul speaks, or it's also possible that they didn't at all times have properly appropriate messengers to sin because you recall sending finances and that day was a very dangerous matter yet to have more than one person or you would surely see that money get robbed along the way. They couldn't send checks they couldn't send wire funds by wire they they couldn't do the things that we do today that make transmission of funds relatively easy and pretty safe.

Except for computer hackers, which is another another story.

Of course, but that day they had to carry it with them and they could even carry bills or checks they had to carry gold and silver coins send if there was any substance any any largess involved in that would be a happy happy package to deliver that would probably need to be divided about up among several messengers and several messengers would need to belong to guard it against thieves that would be on the lookout for an opportunity so maybe that's what was lacking. They lacked the appropriate messengers to send gifts to him in a safe and orderly way. Whatever the reason Paul wants to make it clear I know that your lack of giving was not because of your lack of concern by saying this, Paul teaches us.

The concern is demonstrated in tangible expression.

How do you communicate your concern to other by a gift by a note by a visit by a meal. It is not sufficient to have warm thoughts about them. If you don't communicate that to the send flowers it's not enough to pray for them which is a wonderful thing and maybe an and in many cases, really the most important thing we can do for others, but if there are no your concern Juergen have to tell them that you're praying for them there not know that automatically you're praying that the Holy Spirit is going to tell them that you're praying. So you need to tell them that I you know how encouraging that is I can't tell you how many times already this morning I have been encouraged by people who told me I'm praying for Jessica were praying for Jessica Jessica doing were praying for Jessica there is anything you could do that would be more encouraging and helpful than that, but if you did that didn't tell us that we would know and we would be encouraged would wake but encouragement has to be communicated don't think because you have warm thoughts to people can can sense that working warmth and is radiating from your head or heart. Good have to communicate concern is demonstrated by tangible expressions moving on from this concern that is demonstrated we come to contentment described in verses 11 and 12 report was honestly not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. I know how to be a base did 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. We find a simple declaration of verse 11 and then an enlarged explanation of that declaration of verse 12. The simple declaration of verse 11 is just this. Paul says I am not in need. I thank you for your gift and I appreciated more than you could possibly know because of the love and concern that I don't communicate but I would've been okay without it we say should he have really told him that that sounds a little bit ungrateful, but he did. He wants them to know that he was okay with or without their gift. He appreciated their gift and he would use their gift and it would help him. It would encourage them, but he was okay without it. Not that I speak in regard to need.

Not that I speak is the old King James says in respect to want word that we don't use in that way anymore.

Not that I speak in regard to need five for I have learned or whatever state I am to be content. And so this gift was welcome but Paul's needs were being met. Even without this gift that causes us to wonder for a moment. What exactly were Paul's needs at this time and life.

Well, number one, he needed to pay rent you say really he was a prisoner of Rome he needed to pay rent.

Yet the Jew read acts 2830 then Caldwell two whole years in his own rented house and received all who came to him that's describing his house arrest in Rome. Rome didn't pay the rent for the house. They gave him the privilege of living in the house under arrest string to soldiers, rather than being thrown in a dungeon. This was a great advancement but they were paying the rent.

Paul was so Paul had to pay. Read on this house that he was privileged to live in. And because of living in the house rather than being in prison gave him greater latitude for ministry. Even though he was trying to soldiers what else will. Paul had to buy food. You say wait a minute. He was a prisoner of Rome. They were defending in jail.

No, no, no, that's the way we do it in America and other Western countries. That's not the way they did in Rome. Prisoners had to be fed, fed by their family and friends or they starve to death.

Rome wasn't going to keep a prisoner up at their expense. He had to have food and occasional close attributed use a lot of close he wasn't wearing them out by digging ditches all day but still close have to be replaced from time to time so he had food enclosed that no doubt ministry expenses. He was writing letters he needed writing materials he needed parchment.

He needed Inc. he needed other things he may have needed other ministry materials in order to dispatch his partners to other places in the Roman world were they were ministering and so he had knee C had expensive but he makes it clear they are being taken care of who was supporting him. Besides Phillippi we don't know but undoubtedly some other churches were also helping very likely the church at Rome where he was now a prisoner was helping with these things friends from other places were no doubt helping him with these things so Paul's needs were being met but one reason that they were being met.

Even while he was not able to make chance to earn a living in the normal way was that he kept his needs to a beer minimum he had to have a place to live.

He paid the rent you money and select a lecture he could God do president would had to pay rent. This was important for ministry to him rent. He had to acquire food somewhere. Another either buyer or have it brought to him other materials but talk clearly didn't let his mind blossom with 222 to encapsulate many more needs than he actually had like we are prone to do. We tend to whatever we want something we tend to say, will I really need that right. We tend to do that I need a new car really isn't the old one.

Okay, I need a new one appears like we can we can come up with reasons for why we need other things I need this I need that clearly Paul didn't have that mindset, not at all. Paul only needed a few things so he simple declaration was he was not in need in one reason he was not in need is because his needs were minimal and didn't require a lot of upkeep, but he gives an enlarged explanation of verse 12.

I know how to be a base did 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.

Paul makes it clear that he was content with little but at the same time he makes it clear that there times when he had about to.

He had plenty, but he had learned to be content with little and he learned to be unspoiled with abundance. In either situation, he learned how to respond properly to God honoring way. He was content with little uses three words to describe times of meager notes. He was at times abased he was at times hungry, and there were times when he suffered need whatever that need may have involved.

Paul is not here by saying that he chose a life of hardship and rejected plenty if it was offered to him as some people misunderstand the Christian life. Not at all. He didn't choose hardship. But he didn't resent it and reject it when God said it, that's the point.

He learned to be content what ever God designed for his life. At this particular time in his life, and it wasn't always the same. Sometimes he was a basin hungry and suffering need other times he abounded and was full that were the boundaries found twice and the word full once and so there were times when Paul had more than he needed.

There were other times when he had just the barest necessities. Almost less than he needed, but not quite as we think about the life he possible, we can see that there were some indications of wealth in his background from all appearances. His family was probably wealthy when we say that they lived in Tarsus. That's a long way from Jerusalem, but when their son Paul who was a promising young man with with the a very keen intellect and showed a great deal of of ability when he grew beyond the education that was available to him in Tarsus. They have the means to send him to Jerusalem, and to place him in the school of Gamaliel, the leading scholar of that day, that would be kind of like I suppose in our day sending him to Harvard.

Whatever that means that you have to be pretty smart to even get into that school and I'm sure Paul had the demonstrated great ability to even be accepted as a as a pupil to go up Gamaliel but whatever that means. If you get your child accepted into Harvard.

I'll tell you one thing, it means you could have the money to pay for it is a done country. Paul's family had the means to do this.

So it looks like he came from a background of at least moderate if not substantial wealth he had learned growing up in that atmosphere. He had he had been accustomed that kind of life in enjoy the luxuries of life, the extras of life he had not been in need and penury and poverty when he grew up. From all indications, and furthermore as he developed into one of if not the leading Pharisee of his day that also included wealth. When Paul left his position as a Pharisee to become a follower of Jesus Christ. He not only turned his back on his former religion, but he turned his back on a great amount of material advantage, which was guaranteed to him as long as he pursued the life of a Pharisee in such an industrious way. So Paul had known abundance in his background, he known that more than ignore poverty.

Poverty came when he became a follower of Christ, but he probably hadn't known any of that until he became a follower of Christ when he puts his here.

It seems to indicate that there were times, even as an ambassador of Christ that he had abundance doesn't seem to be referring to his family days.

He doesn't seem to be referred to his school days in Jerusalem. He does seem to be referring to his days as a Pharisee.

He seems to be referring to his life as an apostle of Jesus Christ, and he said sometimes I am a basin hungry and suffer need. And sometimes I am bound and I am full that it's okay either way everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I have acquired an ability which not everybody requires. I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances God appoints for my life at that particular time in my life did Paul get that ability on the Damascus Road when he was saved. No, he had to learn it. I have learned he didn't start out with that I have learned the words actually indicate I have learned the secret was awarded the Philippians would've been familiar with because in their day. There were a lot of what are called what were called mystery religions in which the particular religion claimed to have special knowledge, which could only be communicated to the initiated.

You had to underwrite through a long process of time, and in demonstrating your your loyalty and faithfulness and commitment to this religion and finally he would get to the place where you could say all right now. We will initiate you into the secrets of our mystery religion will let you know things that hardly anybody else knows just a few secrets, a few of us know the closest thing I can think of in our day is the degree of Masons they have something like that to become 1/32° Mason is at the top of the line.

I think it is.

I don't know that much about masonry but you have to really prove yourself over a long period of time you get to that point. I'm told then you get in on some secrets that nobody else knows. I doubt the be very beneficial to you in this life or the life to come. Paul said, I have been initiated into some secrets and one of the most important ones is I have learned I have acquired the ability and the knowledge I have been initiated into this special ability, which a lot of people don't have. I have learned in what ever state I am, there to be content while Jeffrey Wilson's statement at this point is neither overwhelmed by poverty, nor intoxicated by prosperity and William Hendrick Hendrickson says calm in adversity, humble, and prosperity.

Contentment described in finally confidence declared and now we come to the text verse 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

Let's look at this text in for perspectives. One, the statement is commonly understood to the statement as it stands alone.

Third, the statement in its context and forth. The statement inappropriate expansion statement as is commonly understood.

I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me which most people. They quote that mean I can do anything I desire I could do anything I put my mind to. Because I'm a Christian, Christ is going to enable me to do it that with this means I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me looking even at the statement itself. As it stands alone without considering the context that's not quite right. Because there are some modifiers here. There is great potential. I can do all things.

That is an expansive term Bible scholars, however, realized that the also the Bible seldom seldom mean everything without exception, or every person, without exception. The also the Bible are almost always limited to a particular group or class in the context helps us understand what that is but nevertheless it's clear that Paul has something expansive in mind, I can do all things but there's a foundation of that statement.

I can do all the things through him. Whatever these all things are they going to be tied to Christ. I can do all things that he approves of. I can do all things that he allows I can do all things that he wills. I can do all things that he enables it's not just anything that I can think of that I desire and yes Christ is going to be my body. When should I say willing enable her to help me enable me to do whatever my heart mind desires. That is not what this text is saying not as it stands alone without the context that's not what it's saying I can do all things through him who strengthens me. God infuses power due to Mrs. the Greek word now look at the statement in context. What we just learned in the context of Paul's told us that he is content with meager resources.

When that is God's appointment for him as well as unspoiled with bountiful resources.

If that's God's appointment for him and Paul seems to have gone back and forth between the two. That's the most remarkable of all to be able to switch back and forth with contentment. Those who grew up in relative poverty can usually be content with that all their life. If that's God's appointment. That's what they're accustomed to. But if they come into abundance. Somewhere along the way and get used to that and then lose it. So there back in the state of difficulty that they were before. Some people find that very, very difficult. Why is it so difficult. You did fine with it before you ever got rich. Why can't you go back to that way of thinking and living again and be just fine well because now I have no abundance. Now I can't be content with meager this pulse and I can go back and forth according to God's appointment.

I can be content with meager resources as well as live in a God honoring unspoiled way with bountiful resources and I'm able to switch back and forth with contentment how the world can you do that for that. That really seems hard. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. There is the verse in its context. I can be content with little through Christ which strengthens me and I can handle County ELA Christ honoring way, but only because of Christ who strengthens me in my flesh I wouldn't do that in a Christ honoring way, but with Christ strength I can handle material resources in abundance or in in the scarcity as God appoints by his strength for his help. By his power, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. That's a downer for some people leaving that's what that verse means to get from from the I can do anything. My heart desires and you bring it down. It is one little thing I can live with contentment with meager resources going strictly by the context. That's pretty much the conclusion you would have to drop it. I'm going to concede that it probably goes beyond that. I think that phrase all things can legitimately be expanded to go beyond the things that he just mentioned in the previous three verses I can do these things and I can do other things through Christ who strengthens me, but still taking it all in context would have to mean something like this I can do all things according to all the circumstances that are pointed in my life by God.

I can do them all.

I can accept them all. I can live happily with them all I can I can fulfill all the duties that are pointed to be my to me Mike to me by God. I can do all those things that God commands me to do and I can live according to the circumstances that God places in my life and I can do all the things that God desires for my life I can do all these things through Christ through his who strengthens me to make some applications. First of all about human needs. This is really thought-provoking. It's clear that Paul considered human needs to be very minimal. We tend to make them larger than is probably well almost always larger than is legitimate.

We tend to to define our needs according to what we see over the fence or looking at our neighbor's house.

The neighbors garage and neighbors.

Things we we tend to define our needs according to what our friends and and people we know have and we need what they have no that's not the way Paul defines these. Here's what he said in first Timothy chapter 6 now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out and having food and clothing with these we shall be content pretty much it. Food and clothing by throwing shelter.

Paul had to pay rent on the house. He didn't without an original and the elements including food and clothing and shelter in the minimal way is all we need, and put this one in your mind as I used to hear somebody say put this one in your pipe and smoke it would think about it for a while. I'm not recommending smoking pipes, but according to what is said here. Occasional hunger must not represent a need. When God promises that he will supply our needs, and Paul tells us there were times when he 100 hungry either God and keep his promise to Paul or occasional hunger is beyond the realm of necessity.

In other words, when God promises to supply our needs. He promises that were not going to starve to death, but he doesn't say.

I promise you'll never miss a meal put that in your pipe and smoke it to see how minimal our needs earlier probably do us all good. Divisive buildout again would that's another subject, but in this passage we also learn the key to happiness. And I'm going to equate happiness and contentment because I think the to go very much together, wanting more than God has supplied causes discontent and when were discontent were unhappy. I want more. I need more because were not content to accept would go to supplied but maturity recognizes listen to me. I don't need more than God has supplied. Can you say that I do not need more than God has supplied do believe that. Can you say that you accept that you live that way, but 1/3 lesson here, one that some Christians have difficulty with is to realize that abundance is not a sin.

Sometimes Paul was in a tight financial situation. Sometimes Paul had a surplus in abundance in the Bible teaches it is legitimate to a boil and enjoy abundance. If we are humble and unselfish with it. Paul goes on in that same chapter in first Timothy six to say command those who are rich in this present age and some people are waiting for him to say command those who are rich in this present age to sell everything they have a gift to the poor.

That's what Jesus told the rich young ruler evidently that was kind of a standalone situation that had other reasons for it because Paul doesn't say that by the spirit of God command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, be proud to get proud because of your riches not to trust in uncertain riches don't act as if you have life taken care of because you got an abundance of wealth and you can you think you can address every possible need in situation the trust in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good these with riches that they be rich in good works, ready to get willing to share story out for themselves a good foundation for the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life, and so abundance is not a sin is legitimate to enjoy abundance. If God gives it and therefore humble with an unselfish with it and if you haven't abundance and lose it, and that makes you feel like life is over. It's crumbled, it's destroyed. Where's the evidence that you did not view nor handle your abundance properly. You weren't holding it loosely, you are holding it too tightly. You work using it for the purposes for which God gave it you were using it selfishly so that brings me number four to talk about how God intends for us to use abundance. If we are given abundance. However, we do use it, it's clear that God expects us to give a substantial part of it away. The more God has given, the more we should give enigma that those who gather statistics tell us that the people who give them the highest percentage of their income to the Lord are generally the poorest people. The richer people get, the less percentage is there giving to God another giving more dollars. That's why that by the they feel okay about it.

They feel justified. I'm wealthy on given box big big money and these poor people there only giving small amounts, not the way God measures it. God said the new poor widow who gave the two lights gave more than all the rich people know that the way it ought to be is the more you give, the higher the percentage of your giving should be if when you're on meager resources. It's a real struggle to give 10% which you do it to one of the Lord that when God gives an abundance you can increase that. Why not start giving 11%, 12%, you still got more live on when I get 15%. You still got live on when I get give 20%. You still got more live on. You still have a surplus you still have more but you should be giving more.

So God intends for us to give a substantial part away if he gives us abundance, but he is satisfied he is encourages us to enjoy a portion of the abundance for the extras of life with gratitude to God gives us all things ritually to enjoy and then finally I touched on this earlier, but it is the concern must be communicated not merely thought you've got to have tangible ways of expressing your concern with this thing goes with it. Gratitude must be communicated not merely thought how many times has someone done something nice for you, giving you something you said you know I really write a thank you note and you meant to zip. Time went by, and you never did never communicated to gratitude needs to be communicated in some appropriate way. Concern must be in communicated people will know you're concerned. Gratitude must be communicated.

People will not know your grateful they'll assume that you are not. Those are lessons we find this passage, shall we pray. Father, help us to think like you think. Help us to view possessions the way you would have us view possession help us to trust you to give us what we needed to be content with what you give. Help us Lord to be faithful with whatever but an abundance you may bestow teachers. The secret of contentment in life and view of that incredible bounty of the life which is to come.

We pray in Jesus name