Complete Contentment in Christ - Phil. 4:10-23

Join us as we conclude our series on Philippians: Jesus Changes Everything. This week's sermon is entitled: Complete Contentment in Christ. Phil. 4:10-23

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:25

Well, we are um finishing our time in the book of Philippians here this morning. It's been a wonderful study working through it with you and to even just hear how the Spirit of God has been working in our hearts and in our lives through this uh powerful um but very uh very, very good book has uh been a blessing to us, I know. So uh looking forward to um finishing our time in Philippians um this morning and looking forward again to Easter season coming up. Well, this morning we're gonna focus on complete contentment in Christ. Complete contentment in Christ. If you're here and you're what's contentment? Maybe uh for some of the children here to uh to describe it for you, uh it might it might be described as uh as being happy or content with what you have. Or being happy or content with the circumstances that you're in. And that's where Paul takes us in today's final words of this wonderful letter. And I love that this is how Paul ends his letter. Contentment! You know, you get to the end of a letter. Um, contentment maybe not be the first thing that you think of, but for Paul, this was on his heart and his mind. In fact, uh, as you even read books or you think of just a storyline of sorts, if you want to know what's going to happen, you always look at the end of the story. It kind of summarizes the whole story. And so, even this, in this in this process of Paul explaining contentment, what he's really doing is he's drawing together everything that's happening in the whole book. It's been encouraging us throughout the book what it looks like to understand Jesus as our everything. And that Jesus has changed everything. If you're a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ here this morning, Christ has changed everything about you from what you think and how you think to what you do and how you do things. And so Paul, throughout the book, is drawing our attention to the beauty, the wonder, and the grace of Jesus and how that changes our attitudes. We talked about complaining. We talked about putting others first before ourselves. We talked about what it means to see Christ as the ultimate goal, the one who is way better than anything else. Everything else being as dung compared to Jesus. And so all of this he draws to this conclusion in contentment. You know, as it was in the day of Philippians, we uh we live in a world that um stirs us or provokes us to discontentment. If you think about it, there's a lot out there that's trying to make us discontent. You just even take advertising and marketing, which really is the point uh the point of advertising and marketing is for us to be so discontent that we have to buy something better. Or we have to get the bigger house, or we have to, you know, get the better spatula, whatever it might be. Take, for instance, uh what many people experience using social media on their phones. If you're on social media, you sometimes you're like, well, this is weird. It's like it knows me because it's advertising things about me. There's actually been these cases of women saying they found out they were pregnant because of the advertisements coming up on their social media feed. All of a sudden there is prenatal vitamins and there is things having to do with babies, and then they're like, wait a second, I haven't been feeling well, and lo and behold, they've been pregnant. Now, I don't know how all this works, but we know how pregnancy works, but uh but sometimes um even like with the phone thing, right? You know, before scrolling your phone, yeah, everything's fine, you're feeling pretty good. But then within five minutes into using your phone, you're convinced that your life would be way better if you did have that new spatula, the one that flips your pancakes but also irons your shirts. But also on a uh more serious note, when it comes to social media, the media we see, more and more studies are coming out as the generations that grew up with social media and are so glued and connected to their phones and the world through social media, more of these studies are coming out with an understanding of the damaging effects of our internet social media age on a person's self-worth, on their image. As Christians, we look at that and say, Well, Christ has our self-worth. Christ is where we find all of our satisfaction. Christ created us into a new image as a Christian. What's happening is this lure of discontentment, and some of this even being so devastating in the consequences, we hear of young people taking their life because of really this discontentment that's been stirred. And so, Paul, in this closing of the letter, it is very encouraging, but it's also very sobering if we just think about discontentment. And so, what he does in these words, these few words, I think is helpful. So, as we work through the passage, we're gonna talk about how complete contentment is only found. It's found only in Christ. It's uh second thing that we're gonna look at is it's formed by thankfulness. And the third thing, it's focused on God's goodness. It's found only in Christ, is the first thing. You know, contentment is no easy thing, and and we know that. Life throws us curveballs. Things happen that we don't expect to happen. Changes take place and it makes us uncomfortable. It can be little changes, a new neighbor, it can be big changes, the loss of somebody we love. And we're faced with the reality, really, in these moments of how fragile things can seem. But what Paul does, he brings our attention to Jesus, who isn't fragile. He's our rock and our strength. And this is how Paul takes us and where he takes us in Philippians. Uh, you may know of Fanny Crosby. Have you ever heard of Fanny Crosby? The great hymn writer. Um believe that Fanny wrote up to 9,000 hymns. And she was what's remarkable about Fanny is that she was born blind. Some of the hymns that are most known to her. Um, I'm not sure, maybe you know all 9,000, that would be amazing. Um, but would be Blessed Assurance. Safe in the arms of Jesus, pass me not, O gentle Savior. But when she was eight years old, she wrote this poem. You may not be familiar with this poem, but she said this, eight years old. Just think about this, eight years old. Look what she says. Oh, what a happy child I am. Although I cannot see. I will be. Umtented, I will be. How many blessings I enjoy that other people don't. So weep or sigh because I'm blind, I cannot, nor I won't. Eight years old. She was learning the secret. Paul's gonna tell us what the secret is. Starting in verse 10. Says this, I rejoiced in the Lord greatly. Because once again you renewed your care for me. You were in fact concerned about me, but I lacked the opportunity to show it. Hmm. I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, Paul says. See, he now shifts from telling the Philippians to rejoice to saying, Let me tell you what I'm rejoicing about. And I'm rejoicing about you, Philippians, how you've been used of God, how God has used you to meet my needs in ministry and the needs of the gospel. And so, this really, in a lot of ways, this whole section is a section on thankfulness. In fact, one of the ways that people have taken the book of Philippians is that it's a it's a uh support letter from a missionary to a church, a support letter of thankfulness. But he starts with, I rejoice greatly in the Lord. But he goes on, he goes on, verses 11 and 12, and I think there's uh there's a few really important things for us to get from the text here in these following verses. The first thing is this is uh when it comes to contentment. Contentment is a learning process. It's a learning process, it isn't instant. So look with me, chapter 4, verse 11, after he says, I rejoice greatly because of once you renewed your care for me. He says this in verse 11. I don't say this out of need. For I have learned to be content. In whatever circumstance I find myself, I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances, I have learned the secret of being content, whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. You know, twice in these verses, Paul says that he learned contentment. Did you catch that? Once in verse 11, then in verse 12. What's interesting about the terms that he uses here is that they're a little bit different from one another. We don't really pick that up in the English, but if you know Koine Greek, you study into the Greek a little bit, you see that there's a difference here of a word that he uses. So in verse 11, he says, I have learned. And what he means by this is to learn from experience, often with the implication of reflection upon that experience. It's the same term that's used in Hebrews 5:8 of Jesus learning obedience. Look with me at Hebrews 5, starting in verse 7. Writer of Hebrews says this about Jesus learning obedience. He said, during his earthly life, Hebrews 5, verse 7, he offered prayers, it says, and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death. And he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. Wow. There's a lot to unpack there. And after he was perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. And he was declared by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. And so even Jesus himself, this was something that he embodied for us so that he could look at us and say, Listen, I understand the human experience. And a big part of that human experience is that we need to learn. And learning contentment is a process. Back in verse 12 of Philippians, we see the second term that's used. So the second term used here, this word, um, it means to learn the secret of something through personal experience. Which I think is interesting. He uses a different term. So he takes us even deeper. So not only has he learned through experience and reflection, like Christ did, and he learned as Christ did in his learning to uh to obey, but he's learned the experience, the secret, the reason behind it. This is to learn the purpose or the point of something, Paul is saying. A secret is usually called a secret because it's not something everybody knows, right? It's interesting, Paul says that I have learned the secret of being content. See, contentment, again, I know I said it, say it again, it's a learning process. It requires maturity in Christ. There's a time when you don't get it. There's a time through our maturity and growth in Christ that we we learn and we and we get it. Just as it was this process for the Apostle Paul, this process requires time spent in the lows of life. Notice how in these verses he gives us the extremes. He says in verse 12, whether well-fed or hungry, or whether in abundance or in need, I've learned this secret of being content. These extremes. This learning process and our learning contentment means we go through the lows of life, the highs of life, the times of plenty, through suffering and mourning, through rejoicing. The road to contentment is paved with pain, but it's also paved with healing. It's paved with hunger, but it's also paved with plenty. Experiencing this true road of what it means to find our contentment in Christ. And what's also interesting here is that this is kind of backwards is how the world would think of things. Um because he says, whether well fed or hungry, whether abundance or need, I've learned the secret of being content. Well, wait a second here. If you're well fed and you have abundance, obviously you're content, right? You got everything you want, you need, you're content, right? Paul says, no. There's a learning process through the highs, through the plenty. And even if you just think about it just for a moment, uh, we would reflect and say, yeah, that is true. You see, contentment's not just a problem for those who are who are hungry, those who are struggling with things in life. Contentment's a problem for all of us. Because the hungry can look with envy and jealousy for something greater, something more. It's a struggle. But those who seem to have plenty can also find, um, try to find their satisfaction and their joy in having the plenty, and it's always turning up empty. And so Paul is saying, again, bringing us to this point, everything compared to Christ is dung. Means nothing. We get the opportunity in life to live in a big house, but we're all going to a small box. Or better yet, maybe an urn. None of this stuff matters. Compared to Christ. None of it. Are you trying to find your joy and your satisfaction? And it hatred. And the quality of your life. You chase the quality of life, it will always turn up empty. You chase Christ, you will be full. Your joy will be complete. And so this is what he is bringing our focus to. Then he says, verses 11 to 14. Not only is contentment a learning process, but it's rooted in Christ. 11 to 14. It's rooted in Christ. Um starting in verse uh, actually, we've already read 11 and 12, so we're just gonna start in uh verse 12 into 14. I know how to make do with little, Paul says. I know how to make do with lot in any and all circumstances. I've learned the secret of being content, whether well fit or hungry, whether in abundance or need. I am able to do all things through him or through Christ who strengthens me. I will say it's interesting. In the original Greek, Christos, the name Christ, is not in there, but it's inferred. So some translations might say in Christ. Um, other translations might go with more literal rendering, like um, like the CSB does here, and put him, but either one of them is good because it is pointing towards Christ. The whole book and context has been about Christ. So we understand that it's about Christ. So he says, I am able to do all things through Christ, through him who strengthens me. Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship. Contentment is rooted in Christ. Um, I love verse 13, and uh, it might be one of those most taken out of context verses in the Christian life. Maybe next to Jeremiah, uh I won't say it, just in case it's your favorite verse. Um, but Philippians 4.13, one of the most taken out of context verses. And which is a shame because I think what Paul is really saying in the context is much better than how sometimes it gets applied. I remember uh one one time I was watching one of those um TV church TV programs um years and years ago, and uh and they had this uh this Olympian athlete on this program. And they were interviewing her. She had won like a gold medal or something, and she had been really successful in uh in the Olympics. And as they were interviewing her, the the pastor, the person who was interviewing her, um says, uh asked her how she was so successful as an athlete and and and what she did to win that gold medal. And what was her answer? Philippians 4.13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Be see, Philippians 4.13 isn't, if we try hard enough, Christ is gonna give me a gold medal. That's not Philippians 4.13. Philippians 4.13 isn't a Jesus will do for me whatever I put my mind to. It's not what Philippians 4.13 is. What Paul is saying, Philippians 4.13 in this passage, is that no matter the circumstances I'm faced with, no matter the circumstances we're faced with, With Jesus in his strength helps us to be content. Winning or losing gold medals, he helps us to be content. In plenty or in need, he helps us to be content. I mean, isn't that amazing? I mean, things in life will be hard, but the strength of our king will always satisfy our souls. This is the secret. And now we know it. Paul is saying, I can't be satisfied without him. He's it. He is my everything. So we understand that contentment is something that is found only in Christ, as he's explained to us. The next thing we see, though, in verses 15 to 18 is that it's formed by thankfulness, verses 15 to 18. Starting in verse 15, and you Philippians know that I, that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. For even in Thessalonica, you sent gifts for my needs several times. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the pro or the but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account. But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I'm fully supplied, he says, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided, a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. This whole section, really, this whole text this morning, today's sermon, chapter 4, verses 10 through to 23, is all about this reflection of thankfulness as we've talked about. Paul was satisfied with what God had provided him through the Philippians. They were there for him in his darkest of days and in the most tangible ways. And Paul's truly overwhelmed with thankfulness and contentment in Christ because of their ministry and his life. And it's clear that Paul's contentment, as it was being strengthened by Christ, was formed by his thankfulness as well. So it's formed by thankfulness. And there's a couple things that I think are worth noting here. They saw the need and they stepped up is the first one. They saw the need and they stepped up. It's astounding, really, what Paul says about the other churches here. Did you catch that? See what he says? And you, Philippians, know that in the early days of the gospel when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. Think about that for a moment. This is Paul the Apostle. And churches are saying, no, no way. We're not helping you out. No one steps up to the plate. Isn't that wild? Imagine saying no to Paul the Apostle. Well, just as it's true for us, it's true for Paul, and it was true for Jesus. We will be said no to. We will be unsupported. The ministry of the gospel sometimes is a very lonely place to be. As we see Christ and he says, remember, just remember, and we've reflected on this. Before they hated you, they hated me. But I just, I can't imagine a church saying no to the apostle Paul, but they did. I don't want to focus too much on that. I don't want to belabor it because Paul doesn't. He doesn't belabor it, he just mentions it and he just moves on. He wants us to focus on the thankfulness that he has for the Philippians in this passage. They stepped up, they saw the need, and they provided. I mean, remember, right? As we're going to see mentioned here again, they sent aphroditis with money and gifts. And I mean, the poor guy, right? He gets there and he gets sick and he almost dies. It certainly wasn't the perfect scenario sending a sick guy. He's almost gonna die. But Paul is so thankful. It was messy, but it was beautiful. Because it was God at work in and through the Philippians. Contentment completely in Christ and how God provides. And then verses 17 and 18. Paul even notes here that he wasn't seeking profit from them, but partnership that will bless them. And now he has everything he needs. He's basically in a way saying, You don't need to send any more. I'm all good. Thank you for filling up my cup. His needs and his requests didn't come from a heart of discontentment. He wasn't sitting there wishing again for that spatula. They would iron his shirts. But rather, his needs and his requests came from a place of thankful. But it was seen as an acceptable sacrifice. You know, the first time we see an unacceptable sacrifice in Scripture. Remember that one? Way back in the book of Genesis. Cain. His sacrifice to God in the garden wasn't acceptable. But the Philippian sacrifice was. Cain's sacrifice was from a place of selfishness, but the Philippian sacrifice and the gift was from a place of selflessness. And therefore, it was a fragrant offering. It's interesting that he uses this word because this use of fragrant offering connects us to Old Testament times of the tabernacle and the sacrifice is happening also in the temple as the worship of Yahweh is established for God's people. And God talks about a fragrant offering in the Old Testament. Talking about how this sacrifice that the Israelites bring before God that the priest cuts up. And just again, picture this, right? Priest is covered in blood. It was a messy, messy thing to do. He puts it on this flesh, puts the flesh on the altar, and burns it. And God says, that's a fragrant offering, acceptable to my worship. I mean, it's kind of a strange thing. The smell of burning flesh. It's not necessarily, you know, a nice fragrance. We don't chase after it. I know high school up near where we were, it wasn't my high school, but they had a crematory right beside them. And I'll leave it there. Wasn't pleasant. You know, it'd be like, what are you wearing today? It's nice. I'm wearing burning flesh. Oh, never heard of that one. But we know these offerings, and their smell was so much more than just burning flesh. As the Israelites would smell the aroma of the burning flesh, seeing the priests covered in blood, they would be reminded of the destruction of their sin. But oh, it meant so much more than that. These sacrifices meant redemption for the people of God. Sins forgiven, restoration, grace, forgiveness. It meant that a Savior would be coming. And he would be the one, once and for all, to be sacrificed, and his aroma satisfying the wrath of God forever. Securing us in his love forever. And what the Philippians did, Paul relates to that. Wow. Acceptable and pleasing to God, Paul says. That spiritual things happen when God's people step out in faith. They sacrifice their own comfort. They put aside their little squabbles. They put others first before themselves. They stop complaining. They stop those intrusive, critical thoughts that enter their minds, Philippians 4. And they think on truth. They stop thinking and judging others in a critical way. They embrace the changes that the gospel brings to their life. And so through all this, Paul reminds us that all of these things and the Philippians giving is a sweet smelling aroma. To serve the kingdom of God, to see others come to Christ. And you know what? What does God do? He sits up in heaven and he says, Do you smell that? Do you smell that? That fragrant offering? That's good, isn't it? Look at the church at work. Look at how they're putting others before themselves. Look at how they're being transformed in their minds. They're seeking unity and peace. Contributing physically in that way, even for the Philippians, contributing to Paul's ministry is no less important as a Christian in the Christian experience. All of these things, Paul's been saying in this book, they're all important pieces of the Christian life. They're integral to our worship of God and our own maturity in Christ. Paul's contentment was formed by his thankfulness for their act of worship. And the final thing we see is this complete contentment is focused on God's goodness. Complete contentment is focused on God's goodness. And this is in verses 19 to 20. And these, again, these verses really do speak for themselves as complete contentment is focused on his goodness. We see in verse 19, and my God will supply all your needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Aren't these verses good? Just look at that. These verses are spectacular. They give us this promise that God will. With the bent and orientation of our hearts to chase after what we want. The Holy Spirit does a work, I know, in our lives, but again, we go through the circumstances, as Paul puts out, times of plenty, times of need. And it's one of the hardest things to do in those times of need. In those circumstances of suffering. To say, Lord, give me what I need. Don't give me what I want. Wow. Imagine praying that. God, give me what I need the most. Not what I want. Imagine if our prayer life was praying that kind of thing, right? I mean, we can focus so much on the struggle of what this means in so many ways and in different areas of life. And that's important. What Paul does here, he just doesn't say, he just doesn't say, okay, you know, just focus on what God's going to give you and get over it. What does he say? He says this. Look again in the verse. And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus. This truly is a promise. And what we're given here is an amazing promise. We need to get this. Paul's main concern here is that the Philippians would find their true contentment in the peace and power of God and in nothing else. That we would get to the point that we would recognize that God's got this. And he's got this according to his riches and glory. But also, it all comes through Jesus Christ, his son. We can find complete contentment in Christ. And rest for our souls and minds, our anxieties and our fears, our troubles and our cares. Because Christ is King. He is reigning in glory. And as long as our God reigns, this is how he's connecting the two things, God will give you what you need. Wow. His mercy and his faithfulness are never-ending. Fret not. He has what we always need. And not only that, he gives it. He holds nothing back from us. Our needs are supplied spiritually, physically, by his great riches. Everything we have in our salvation is provided through God. Our food, our daily bread, our clothing, finances are his, and they're from him, and we are content. Our struggle is what we want. Remember and focus on God's goodness. Because, church, He's got you. I mean, remember the words of Jesus? Matthew 6, 24. You can turn there with me. So familiar. Gonna read this familiar passage to us starting in verse 25. Matthew 6. This is from Jesus. Therefore, I tell you, Wesney, don't worry about your life. What you will eat or what you will drink. Or about your body. What you will wear. Isn't life more than food and the body more than clothing? Consider the birds of the sky. They don't sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly father feeds them. Aren't you worth more than they? Of course. Can any of you add one moment to his lifespan by worrying? And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wild flowers in the field grow. They don't labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. If that's how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won't he do much more for you, you of little faith? He gets to the heart issue here. Little faith. So don't worry. This is Jesus, right? Don't worry. Saying, what will we eat, what will we drink, or what will we wear for the Gentiles? Eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And all of these things will be provided for you. Therefore, don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble on its own. Of its own. George Mueller, you might be familiar with. When I was um a young man, I remember reading a biography about George Mueller, and it was quite influential. Um, even still kind of think about the story. And you might even be familiar with the story, but George Mueller was the great Christian evangelist in the 1800s. He started several orphanages and famously operated entirely on prayer and faith. And what he would do is he would travel around churches and he would tell this story. So we have it well documented. But this is this is what takes place. The story goes like this the the the children are dressed and ready for school. The housekeeper of the orphanage informed George Mueller. That they're dressed and ready for school, but there's nothing to eat. And so George asked her to take all 300 of the children. It's more than we have in this room. 300 children into the dining room and have them sit at the tables. And he thanked God for the food and waited. God knew, or George knew that God would provide food for the children as he always did. And within minutes, a baker knocked on the door. So just imagine this, right? 300 children, hungry children in a dining room. Must have been a big dining room, but they're all crammed in there. And there's no food. And so he thanks the Lord for the no food that's there. A knock comes at the door. Mr. Mueller, the baker said, Last night I could not sleep. Somehow I knew that you would need bread this morning. So I got up and baked three batches for you. I will bring it in. And soon there was another knock at the door. It was the milkman. His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage. And the milk would spoil by the time the wheel was fixed. So he asked George if he could use some free milk. George smiled. As the milkman brought in ten large cans of milk, it was enough for the 300 thirsty children. Complete contentment is found only in Christ. And He's given us the strength to do so. But it's a journey of learning. It's formed by thankfulness as we are focused on God's goodness. Let's pray. Father, I pray that you would give us hearts of contentment. Help us to seek you. Help us to seek the things that we need through you. And Lord, help us to seek what you know we need rather than what we want. Father, we ask for the strength of Jesus Christ to find contentment in any and every circumstance. Whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty. Thank you for revealing to us the secret of what it means to be content. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.