Philippians 4:11-13: Finding Our Contentment in Christ

Philippians 4:11-13: Finding Our Contentment in Christ

Our Scripture reading this morning comes from Philippians 4:11-13. It says,

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 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.

May God bless the reading of his Word.

Whether we have little or much in this life, we will all be tempted to be discontented. Our only hope of true and lasting contentment is Jesus Christ. So we must learn to recognize the roots, temptations and lies of discontentment, and look to Jesus to satisfy us.

The Roots of Discontentment: Our fallen nature

Walking thru Martins - unhappy faces - aisle of pet food/supplies - how can we not all be happy?

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 1 JOHN 2.16

John says that by being born into this world, we will all be tempted by the desires of the flesh, and the desires of the eyes and pride of life. The roots of discontentment comes from the desires of our sin nature that remains in our flesh. Before Jesus saves us we are completely ruled and dominated by our sin nature. When Jesus saves us he breaks the dominion of sin in our lives. We are no longer slaves of sin. But it is still there and seeks to tempt and influence us. James says:

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. JAMES 1.13-15

The lie of our flesh (and Satan) - If I just had THIS, then I’d be happy. Single men: if only I had a wife, then I’d be happy. Married men: If only my wife would do THIS, or look like THIS, then I’d be happy. 

Teens - if only I had a girlfriend then I’d be happy. If only I had my license, then I’d be happy. If only I had a job then I’d be happy. If only I had a different job, then I’d be happy. If only I could get married then I’d be happy….

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. GE 3.6

Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man. PR 27:20

You can have an incredible car, but then you look next door and your neighbor has an even more incredible car. You can have an absolutely beautiful wife. But never satisfied are the eyes of man - we must constantly pray and ask Jesus to deliver us from lust. 

The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. ECCL 1.8

The big LIE of the enemy (and our flesh): This world will satisfy us.

Solomon in his day was the richest man on earth. He could have anything he wanted. So he went after all this world had to offer to see if it would satisfy him:

1 I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” … 4 I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5 I made myself gardens and parks, …I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. … 9So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. … 10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, …11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. ECCL 2.1-11

Solomon had everything he desired and was still not satisfied. 

All Solomon’s success, all his pleasure, all his wealth was all vanity - empty - and “a striving after wind” - pointless, meaningless. And “there was nothing to be gained - NOTHING to be gained under the sun. In this life. It was all empty.

So the first thing God tells us in his word is that nothing in this world can bring us ultimate satisfaction. True satisfaction lies somewhere else.

1. WE MUST LEARN HOW TO BE CONTENT IN ANY SITUATION

I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

Paul had to learn:

• How to be brought low. God put him in prison. In chains. He was beaten. He was adrift at sea. He was hungry at times. God took him through all these things so he could learn to rely on Christ. God will take us through all kinds of things to teach us to rely on Jesus for strength.
• Paul had to learn how to abound. How not to count on abundance and not live for abundance. We can be just as tempted to discontentment when we’re prospering as when we’re struggling.

Learning takes time. Learning to be content in Christ is a lifelong process. And the big lesson Paul learned: I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

We must learn to LOOK beyond this life to eternity.

What we focus on will affect whether we are content or discontented. In Psalm 73 Asaph struggled with discontentment when he looked at the wicked. 

2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,

my steps had nearly slipped.

3 For I was envious of the arrogant

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For they have no pangs until death;

their bodies are fat and sleek.

5 They are not in trouble as others are;

they are not stricken like the rest of mankind...

12 Behold, these are the wicked;

always at ease, they increase in riches.

13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean

and washed my hands in innocence....

16 But when I thought how to understand this,

it seemed to me a wearisome task,

Asaph’s FOCUS was leading him to discontentment - “In vain I have kept my heart clean…” “a wearisome task”

16 But when I thought how to understand this,

it seemed to me a wearisome task,

17 until I went into the sanctuary of God;

then I discerned their end.

Now Asaph is changing his focus - he goes “into the sanctuary of God” - he begins to focus on God - he begins to look at eternity - “their end”

18 Truly you set them in slippery places;

you make them fall to ruin.

19 How they are destroyed in a moment,

swept away utterly by terrors!

Asaph struggled…

17 until I went into the sanctuary of God;

then I discerned their end....

19 How they are destroyed in a moment,

swept away utterly by terrors!

This life will be over in a moment. Then what will become of all the possessions and riches and pleasures of the ungodly.

Now Asaph begins to focus on God:

23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you;

you hold my right hand.

24 You guide me with your counsel,

and afterward you will receive me to glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?

And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;

you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.

28 But for me it is good to be near God;

I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,

that I may tell of all your works.

God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

When we make Jesus Christ our portion and focus, we have peace and contentment. Asaph says:

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?

And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

That is contentment!

Here is how David puts it in Ps 16:

5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;

you hold my lot.

6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. PS 16:5-6

If we have Christ, he is our chosen portion and our cup. Christ is our beautiful inheritance. If we have Jesus and focus on Jesus, we can learn to be content in all circumstances.

Spurgeon: “I have heard of some good old woman in a cottage, who had nothing but a piece of bread and a little water. Lifting up her hands, she said as a blessing, “What! All this, and Christ too!”

TO FOCUS ON CHRIST AND LEARN CONTENTMENT:

• Read God’s word - we need to meditate on the glory of Christ and all we have in Christ
• Practice thankfulness - for spiritual blessings, for material blessings

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thess 5:18 

Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, EPH 5.20

My Mom’s lesson when I was a new believer about thanking God for everything.

-Thank God first thing when you wake up

-Thankfulness journal

-Thank God constantly during the day