Finding Contentment. Philippians 4: Pastor Troy Dobbs Grace Church of Eden Prairie. November 29, 2015

Transcription

1 Finding Contentment Philippians 4:10-13 Pastor Troy Dobbs Grace Church of Eden Prairie November 29, 2015 By a show of hands: How many of you have finally realized that getting more and more stuff can still leave you feeling less and less satisfied? MORE does not guarantee contentment does it?! The poet Wallace Stevens said this: Even in contentment I feel the need of some imperishable bliss! 1

2 An imperishable bliss is a high that won t go away. I think Stevens put his finger on the problem we all experience. Even in a moment of gratification, we quickly realize there is something more out there. And the soothing sensation of satisfaction soon becomes a dagger in the heart as you realize this too will end. I mean, have you noticed there is this thing in us always longing / craving for: 2

3 something more or something else something bigger better and brighter something with more gigabytes something with more horsepower!? i A fortune-teller studied the hand of a young man and said, You will be poor and unhappy until you are 37. The young man responded, Well, after that, will I be rich and happy? The fortune-teller said, 3

4 No, you ll still be poor, but you ll be used to it after that. Unfortunately, those seem to be our only options in life we can either grasp at something we think will satisfy us, but never will OR We can just give up and conclude we will never be satisfied. Either way contentment eludes us! Neil Warren, in his book Finding Contentment, claims many Christians seek contentment through what he calls happiness highs. 4

5 He writes, We leap frog from one activity, one relationship, or one acquisition to the next and still contentment eludes us, a malady expressed in many ways: frequent boredom and emptiness a frustrating job a string of unfulfilling relationships feelings of being lonely purchasing something only to find the satisfaction wears off almost as fast as we bring it home. He is certainly onto something, isn t he? 5

6 Well, in Philippians 4:10-13, we find an incredible paradox: Here is a man in prison, awaiting possible execution over trumped up charges, TELLING US HOW TO FIND CONTENTMENT. AMAZING! READ TEXT Philippians 4: I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 6

7 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. ii Let me give you the 30 second back story here: The Philippian church had sent a financial gift to Paul the prisoner. So Paul wanted to express his heartfelt thanks without instantly that the Lord had not already met his every need. 7

8 Ultimately: he didn t want his donors to think that he was discontent before their gift arrived; and he also wanted them to know that their generosity was truly appreciated. So he tucks a valuable teaching on the secret of contentment amidst a thank you note to the Philippians. Interestingly, the word Paul uses for content (in v.11) is replete with images that his first century readers would have understood. 8

9 Being content (autarkes) was a virtue in Greek culture championed by a group called the Stoics. iii The Stoics believed that contentment was reached when you had come to the place of total indifference, when nothing could get under your skin anymore. In other words, you sort of thought yourself into an I don t care attitude. One ancient writer said: Begin with a cup or a household utensil. If it breaks, say, I don t care. 9

10 Go on to a horse or a pet dog. If anything happens to it, say, I don t care. Go on to yourself and if you re hurt or injured in any way, say, I don t care. And if you go on long enough, and if you try hard enough, you ll come to a time when those nearest and dearest to you will suffer and die and you say, I don t care. That was the Stoic meaning of contentment complete indifference! However, that is not Paul s meaning. 10

11 Paul actually transforms the word and fills it with new ideas. For Paul contentment meant COMPLETE SATISFACTION in Christ not COMPLETE INDIFFERENCE to circumstances. iv In particular Paul says: OUTLINE Contentment comes from embracing God s providence. (vv ) Now Paul hadn t received a gift from them in 10 years and not because they did not care, but because they had no opportunity to give (v. 10) 11

12 10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, BUT YOU HAD NO OPPORTUNITY. v Now don t miss this: Paul is able to rejoice in a sporadic gift from the Philippians because he ultimately knew that (not just the gift) but even the timing of the gift was IN God s control. Now if Paul didn t submit himself to God his thank you note may have given way to a it s about time where-on-earth-have-you-been how-could-you-forget-aboutme kind of note. 12

13 But Paul didn t come unglued as he waited. He knew it was all in God s hands. There was no panic in his heart, nor a need to manipulate people. You see, Paul knew that God (in due time) would prick the hearts of the Philippians and order the circumstances so that his needs would be met. So he waited patiently until the Lord made it happen. As such a key to contentment is learning how to wait-hope-trust not wait-stress-worry. vi 13

14 And the only way to do that is to embrace the providence of God over your life. Now what does that mean? Well, the Word of God says this about the Providence of God: Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. vii Proverbs 16:33 attests to God s providence in all things: The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. viii 14

15 Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want! ix Psalm 145:16 You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. x So when I speak of God s providence, I mean His loving, overarching care / provision for His children. The word providence isn t used much today, but it simply means that: God is the One who provides! God is the One who takes care of us! 15

16 God is the One who looks out for us! Subsequently as you begin to see God s control and overarching care for you, you can rest in Him / because you genuinely rely on Him! So when you can t solve your problems OR Eliminate the conflict OR Fix the marriage OR Control the relationship OR Resolve the health concerns 16

17 Then you still know that you know that you know God has not forgotten you! YOU STILL KNOW GOD IS GOING TO PROVIDE! Now to make this sticky I scanned the New Testament and I found four principles of contentment that help us learn to be content. OUTLINE The FIRST New Testament principle of contentment is to: 1) Be satisfied with your salary. xi 17

18 In Luke 3:14 John the Baptist gave some soldiers a practical way to know if they had truly repented He said, Don t extort money don t accuse people falsely and be content with your pay. xii Now what is He saying here? He is saying: If you are not CONTENT with your salary you might be tempted to resort to ungodliness: i.e. extortion or false accusations. 18

19 Moreover, if you can t be happy with what you already have, why should God entrust you with anything else. If you gripe about $20 now, God knows it will only be a matter of time until you treat $200 or $2,000 the same way! So trust God He will give you the financial increase in His perfect time! The SECOND New Testament principle of contentment is to: 2) Be grateful for life s basics. xiii 1 Timothy 6:8: But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. xiv So let me ask you 19

20 Are you content with the basics? You see, most of us don t need our possessions increased we need our wants reduced. xv F. B. Meyer put it this way, Contentment consists not in adding more fuel, but in taking away some of the fire xvi In Isaiah 55:2, God ponders aloud why we pursue those things that were never designed to satisfy: 20

21 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. xvii (Is. 55:2) SO: Be satisfied with your salary. Be grateful for the basics. The THIRD New Testament principle of contentment is to: 3) Be sure you want what you have even if you don t have everything you want. xviii I love that statement, don t you? 21

22 It unlocks a key to contentment for us The key to contentment is not having everything you want, but wanting everything you have. It is stated clearly in Hebrews 13:5, Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. xix Here again contentedness comes from knowing God will never leave you or forsake you! (PROVIDENCE one way we knew He cares is that He stays.) The FOURTH New Testament principle of contentment is to: 22

23 4) Be aware that to grow in godliness you must become content. xx 1 Timothy 6:6: But godliness with contentment is great gain. xxi Paul knew that if we didn t get a grasp on this issue of contentment, it would stunt our spiritual growth. The the point is: we should be content with our God-given circumstances but never satisfied with our spiritual growth. Unfortunately, our tendency is to do just the opposite. 23

24 Many of us are content with where we are spiritually but discontent with our circumstances. So, let me ask you a question: Would you settle for less, if it meant experiencing greater spiritual growth? xxii I think we would all agree that less can be more and more can be less which is what Paul is saying in verses Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 24

25 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. xxiii Notice Paul says: Contentment is a learned way of life He said: Look, I have been in both camps: The NEED Camp The PLENTY Camp And it is a lie to believe contentment comes from HAVING EVERYTHING or HAVING NOTHING! 25

26 Ultimately, the secret to contentment is trusting in the providential care of God Almighty. xxiv And God promises to meet all of your needs through His Son Jesus Christ. That s why Paul says what he does in verse 13! Phil 4:13 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Now verse 13 is one of the most hijacked (plucked out of context) verses in the Bible! Sometimes this verse of scripture is used like a magical formula to declare 26

27 we can leap over tall buildings in a single bound. However (the context) informs our understanding of contentment, not our ability to: Hit 60 homeruns Throw 30 touchdowns Run a 4-minute mile Shoot better than Stephen Curry Get a 36 on the ACT You see, the secret to contentment for Paul is not in his ability to enjoy plenty and endure poverty, contentment is found in Christ s powerful work in him. xxv I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 27

28 Bottom line: Because of Christ I can be content if I have everything. I can be content if I have nothing. xxvi OUTLINES Contentment is not about what you have or don t have it s about who you know! xxvii Do you see it? True contentment / lasting contentment comes from God alone through Christ alone. He is our everything. 28

29 Christ alone brings contentment to our hearts. Nothing this world has to offer will satisfy your hunger or slake your thirst. And the fabulous news is this: Contentment is not an elusive dream, nor a hopeful wish with no substance in reality. Contentment comes as we embrace that God cares for us and provides for us in and through the person and power of His Son Jesus Christ. xxviii 29

30 So don t try to find your contentment in the perfect gift - but rather in God s indescribable gift! Don t try to find your contentment from something wrapped under a tree, but rather in the One who died on a tree! Don t try to find your contentment In where you live What you drive What you wear How you look But rather in who you know Jesus Christ the Risen One 30

31 You see Jesus Christ alone fills our lives and gives us hope and meaning and purpose and direction and CONTENTMENT! 31

32 i I mean, have you noticed there is this thing in us always longing for something more or something else something bigger and brighter, something with more gigabytes, something with more horsepower! ii Philippians 4:10-13 iii Being content (autarkes) was a virtue in Greek culture championed by a group called the Stoics. iv For Paul contentment meant COMPLETE SATISFACTION in Christ not COMPLETE INDIFFERENCE to circumstances. v Philippians 4:10 vi As such a key to contentment is learning how to wait-hope-trust not wait-stress-worry. vii Proverbs 16:9 viii Proverbs 16:33 ix Psalm 23:1 x Psalm 145:16 xi The first New Testament principle of contentment is to be satisfied with your salary. xii Don t extort money don t accuse people falsely and be content with your pay. xiii The second New Testament principle of contentment is to be grateful for life s basics. xiv 1 Timothy 6:8 xv Are you content with the basics? You see, most of us don t need our possessions increased we need our wants reduced. xvi F. B. Meyer put it this way, Contentment consists not in adding more fuel, but in taking away some of the fire xvii Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. (Is. 55:2) xviii The third New Testament principle of contentment is to be sure you want what you have even if you don t have everything you want. xix Hebrews 13:5 xx The fourth New Testament principle of contentment is to be aware that to grow in godliness you must become content. xxi 1 Timothy 6:6 xxii Would you settle for less, if it meant experiencing greater spiritual growth? xxiii Philippians 4:11-12 xxiv The secret to contentment is trusting in the providential care of God Almighty. 32

33 xxv The secret to contentment for Paul is not in his ability to enjoy plenty and endure poverty, contentment is found in Christ s powerful work in him. xxvi Because of Christ: I can be content if I have everything. I can be content if I have nothing. xxvii Contentment is not about what you have or don t have it s about who you know! xxviii Contentment comes as we embrace that God cares for us and provides for us in and through the person and power of His Son Jesus Christ. 33