AUG. 17: CONTENTMENT

Focal Passage: Philippians 4:10-20

Contentment is an enigma surrounded by a mystery folded within a conundrum. Paul says it is a “secret” (vs. 12). We all want it, but it proves elusive. What is contentment? Does it mean passiveness? Lack of ambition? Is it accompanied by an, “I don’t care what’s going on around me, I’m cool,” all the while the house is burning down? 

Added to the difficulty of defining contentment is that we live in a world that does not foster contentment. We are constantly sold advertising that teaches us to be dissatisfied with what we have so we will buy new clothes, a new car, or seek a new destiny. The disruptive nature of the world disrupts our ability to lived settled, peaceful, contented lives in Jesus Christ.

So, let’s define terms: Contentment is a disposition of settledness of mind and spirit we know and feel within ourselves when we know who we are, whose we are, and what our lives are about no matter the external circumstances of life or even our own internal doubts and uncertainties. Contentment does not mean we cannot be appropriately ambitious, goal setting, or even unsatisfied believers. It does mean that in the end that because we are in Christ we know who we are, whose we are, and what our lives are about; our lives are defined by Jesus and nothing else.

Paul himself was ambitious when he noted in Philippians 3:13-14  – “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Paul knew the challenge of living in a discontented world, yet the ambitious, goal setting, church planting, theologian of the first century church was able to be content, settled within himself, at peace. He gives us the key to this contentment in Philippians 4:10-20.

• Contentment and Circumstances (4:10-12a): Our contentment is not circumstantial. Paul had experienced great blessings and success; he had also known need and want. He had been elevated as an Apostle, and he had also been beaten and jailed as a preacher of the gospel. Paul was not opposed to the blessings of life; yet when difficulties arose, he did not consider himself a failure. He had learned contentment in all circumstances. As verse 12 notes Paul states, “I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.”

• Contentment in Jesus Christ (4:12b.-14): The center of Paul’s contentment was not his bank account, his reputation (which was often in the tank), or in his successes or perceived failures — it was squarely in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus defined “who” Paul was — forgiven, chosen, called, loved; “whose” Paul was — Paul belonged to God and not the world; “what” Paul was about — doing the will of God with all his might. Because Jesus never changes Paul’s sense of identity and purpose never changed. 

 • Contentment and Provision (4:15-20): Paul’s sense of contentment was grounded in the belief that God would provide for his every need. And how did God provide? God often provided through the faithfulness of God’s people. Paul knew the prayerful and financial support of the Church in Philippi and through individuals like Epaphroditus. Paul believed with certainty that (vs. 19), “God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”  WOW! Let us be content in Jesus Christ with who we are, whose we are, and what our lives are about, knowing that if we are in Christ He will provide for our every need. This unravels the secret of contentment. B&R