Philippians 4:10-23

Philippians 4:10-23

Contentment

I.                    Life is only enough when Jesus is enough, so we must be content in Him (Vv. 10-13)

a.         As Paul closes his letter, he describes his gratitude for the financial gift from Philippi. However, he doesn’t want the money to be the focus of his gratitude, so he greatly rejoices in the Lord that the Philippians “revived” their concern for him. It wasn’t that they weren’t concerned before, but the conditions weren’t right for their concern to blossom into sacrificial giving. Whatever the circumstances were surrounding the absence of their support, Paul desired to ensure them that he was thankful for their financial support and Christian fellowship, but that God had provided for all he needs. He had experienced the gamut of life’s circumstances, and learned the secret which cultivates contentment so that he could make it through life with little and in great need, enjoy life when he had plenty, and be content in every circumstance in between. Contentment didn’t come naturally to Paul, he had learn it; and it doesn’t come naturally to any of us. The unprecedented times in which we live are likely some of the most fertile grounds which ever existed for cultivating discontentment. How do we cultivate contentment in the face of massive uncertainty due to COVID-19, civil unrest, injustice, and our volatile political climate? Paul experienced an even more brutal existence, but he says his secret is that, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” This verse is one of the most misapplied verses in Scripture. Paul isn’t suggesting limitless accomplishments of any kind. A better way for us to think of it is, “I can do all these things in Him who strengthens me.” The “all things” to which Paul refers are the circumstances he just mentioned. He’s saying that the secret to being content and to enjoying life in every circumstance, is being content in Christ, and trusting in His power and His control over all things. He says that life is only enough when Jesus is enough. And no matter who we are, where we are, what we have, what we can achieve, or how smart we are, we’ll never be content in life if we’re not content in Christ. (Vv. 10-13; Ps. 23:1; 145:16; Prov. 19:23; 30:7-9; Eccl. 5:10; Isa. 41:10; 55:1-2; Matt. 6:33; Luke 12:15; John 15:4-5, 11; 16:33; 1 Cor. 15:10; 2 Cor. 6:10; 12:7-10; 1 Tim. 6:6-12, 15b-19; Heb. 13:5; 1 Pet. 5:6-11)

II.                 Life is only enough when Jesus is enough, so we must live like we believe God has provided for all our needs (Vv. 14-23)

a.       Paul now continues to commend the Philippians for their generosity, which demonstrates their trust and contentment in Christ. They weren’t a church that had a lot, but they were the only church who supported Paul in his affliction and mission, even after he moved on from Philippi. Paul sees them as his co-laborers, and commends them for sharing in gospel ministry and all its struggles with him. He reminds them again that it’s not the gift they sent him which is important, but that the gift is a fruit which reveals the nature of their hearts, and he’s most excited for the eternal fruit, many time more valuable than their gift, which it will bear for them. Paul is overflowing with everything he needs after they selflessly sent their generous gift, and to express the magnitude of his gratitude, he uses Old Testament imagery to describe how their obedient and generous gift not only blessed him, but was pleasing and glorifying to God. Giving to God’s work is an act of worshiping God. As we give, we live out the truth that all we have belongs to God, and that we trust Him to give us all we need. A worshipful and giving heart is a fragrant aroma, pleasing, and glorifying to God, as opposed to how Paul previously described the nature and ultimately the aroma of all his many and great personal accomplishments before he belonged to Christ. Further, Paul assures the Philippians that their faith which produced their generous giving wouldn’t be empty or in vain, and that God will approve their faithful giving by supplying all their needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. When we hold tightly to our possessions, time, talents, and even lives, we live as though what we have in this life and what can earn in this life is most valuable and make it the source of contentment. We’ll never have enough, know enough, or be enough. But when we hold loosely to our possessions, time, talents, and even life, giving generously of all we have and are to God’s gospel work, and for His glory, we’ll grow in true contentment and see that God will never fail in His perfect faithfulness to provide for our needs. We’ll be able to praise and glorify God, rejoice in Him in all things, love and support each other in gospel work, and be amazed at what we see God do in and through us. (Vv. 14-; Matt. 6:19-24; Luke 6:38; 21:1-4; John 12:1-11; Acts 20:35; Rom. 8:32; 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 8:1-5, 9; 9:6-15; 11:9; Gal. 6:6; Phil. 1:5, 7; 3:4-8; 1 Thess. 5:16-18)