Series: Joy for the Journey “Joy in Contentment” Philippians 4:10-13 As we open God’s Word today, we are in the home stretch in our series “Joy for the Journey.” Throughout this study we have repeatedly seen how to have joy even though life is a journey filled with many ups and downs at every turn along the way. When reading the book of Philippians, one would assume that Paul must have been living the life and enjoying all that was going on, but the truth is that Paul was facing great hardship. He had been imprisoned for preaching the Gospel and was awaiting trial. As he penned the words, he was chained to a Roman guard and most of his freedoms were gone. He didn’t know when his circumstance would end, if this would lead to him being acquitted or beheaded. However, Paul was not defeated or discouraged. Even in suffering Paul was able to look to the Lord and rejoice in Him. Paul knew Jesus and trusted God’s plan for his life. So, day by day, moment by moment, and verse by verse, Paul lived with joy and encourages us to do the same. Throughout our study we have seen many ways that we have joy in Christ, but today we come to one of the ways that seems foreign to many of us. What God calls us to in this passage is a great challenge for us today – Contentment. Let me ask you this morning, “Are you content?” The word “content” means to be “satisfied, pleased, happy.” Far too often in our culture and in the church, we are a discontented people. In order to be content, we think we need to have some experience, some relationship, some possession, some amount of wealth, etc. We might say, “Pastor, I am not content, but if I only had this then I would be. Or, if only this hadn’t happened to me, then I would be content.” Many of us think this way, and without even realizing it we become victims of our circumstances. However, God wants us to be victors over our circumstances. We don’t have to be defined by our circumstances, but by who we are in Christ. If we are living for Christ and find our identity in Him then we can find contentment, satisfaction, and happiness in Him no matter what we are facing today. Contentment doesn’t mean that everything in life is perfect, that I have finally gotten what I want or that everything in my life is satisfying and happy. If this were the case, nobody could have contentment because nothing in this world, apart from God and His Word, is perfect. Not everything in life is satisfying and enjoyable, and no matter how hard you try, you will never get everything that you want. Contentment isn’t a lack of hardship. Warren Wiersbe defines it well. He said, “Contentment is not escape from the battle, but rather an abiding peace and confidence in the midst of the battle.” With this in mind, do you have contentment? I believe that God shows us everything we need to know about contentment in this brief passage of Scripture. SHOW TEXT Contentment is not something that is talked about much today. It goes completely against the grain of our culture and our human nature. In our fallen human nature we are prone to want more, and in our culture we are told that we deserve more and should pursue it. This feeds right into the humanistic agenda where we make ourselves out to be god by doing the things that we want because we “deserve” it. However, it is all a lie and a plot of the enemy. He knows that no matter 2 how many experiences we have or how many possessions we have, none of these things can truly satisfy. The God who made us and knows us, and also knows what is best for us, calls us to live with contentment. True contentment is not found in more for me, but in less of me. True contentment is found not in temporary pleasures, possessions, or positions, but in eternal purpose and promises. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 says it well, “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” God speaks through Paul to show us how we can experience contentment today. I. The Draw of Discontentment (vs. 11) Paul begins with a simple statement, “I am not speaking from want.” Please don’t read today’s definition of the word into Paul’s use. When we speak of a “want” we are referring to something that we desire. We might say I want to go on that trip, I want to receive this gift, etc. However, Paul’s use of the word is very different. The only other time that this word is used in the New Testament is in Mark 12:43b-44 where Jesus describes the widow who gave her two mites. Jesus said, “This poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty (want), put in all she owned, all she had to live on.” This word translated “poverty” is the same exact word that Paul uses here in Philippians. Paul was in prison in this moment. In that day there were no benefits given by the state to the prisoners. This meant that he was entirely dependent on others for food and basic provisions, but Paul wanted them to know, “Even though I am in prison and my freedoms are limited, I am not in poverty, I am not poor, and I am not wallowing in my adversities. Instead, by God’s grace, I am content.” Here in verse 11, he lets us in on a secret that led to his contentment – he was focused on how he could honor God in HIS circumstance. Another way of saying this is that he was not distracted negatively by the situations of others. Paul clearly was aware of the situations that others faced, and all throughout the New Testament we see his concern and compassion for them. When he saw the situations of others, he sought for ways to help them and edify them. However, he didn’t allow his mind to be drawn away from the things of God by having an attitude of discontentment. It has been said that “All people live in one of two tents – content or discontent.” Which do you live in today? I believe that we have likely never dealt with such a crisis of discontentment as we see in our world today. Never in the history of the world have we had so much, yet still we want so much more. This is true in many ways, but there are three primary areas of discontentment: First, there is material and financial discontentment. We think that if we had that possession or this certain amount of money then everything would be fine. Second, there is relational discontentment. We think if only we had this type of friends, a spouse, if only I hadn’t been left out then my life would be so much better. Third, there is circumstantial discontentment. We think if only my circumstances were different, if this thing hadn’t happened to me, if only I were the boss, if only my parents hadn’t done this, if only...you get the point. None of us have likely ever wanted to be in this place of discontentment, but many find ourselves there without even 3 realizing how it happened. If we are going to overcome it, we need to know how it began so that when we are faced with the temptation in the future, we know what the devil is doing. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 2:11 that we shouldn’t be ignorant of Satan’s schemes. How does he bring us to a place of discontentment? How does he draw us away? A. We Are Drawn Away by Comparisons Remember, Paul was focused on his situation and how he needed to respond, he wasn’t dwelling on comparisons with others. When we live our lives focused on the situations of others it easily leads us to a place of discontent. **ILL: A few years ago, Heather and I had the opportunity to enjoy a nice meal with a few other couples. This meal was fancy. It was in a five-star restaurant, it was elegant, beautiful, and the ambiance was amazing. And, best of all, the meal was already paid for. We enjoyed the piano music, the flowers, and the courtesy of the staff. We ordered our salads which were delicious, then we had our entrees which were amazing, then we ordered our desserts. I ordered a dessert that sounded good, but when it was brought to the table I thought, “This isn’t what I ordered.” I looked at it and thought, “Well, I can’t complain. This was given to me, and it will probably taste ok, so I will eat it and be fine.” But, there was a problem. Everyone else at the table also ordered desserts. And, I watched one by one as they placed these picture-perfect desserts in front of my friends. I saw the layers of chocolate on one plate. I saw another with salted caramel drizzle decorating the side. I saw a cheesecake that looked like it came from the Cheesecake factory. We began to dig in, and with every bite I found myself thinking, “This is not good. I don’t like this.” And with every bite my wife and friends were giving an ongoing commentary of their delicious desserts. They were so vivid that they sounded like the hosts of a Food Network show. “Oh, this ganache is amazing. This fondant is so light.” Their descriptions were so fancy that I needed a translator. Needless to say, my dessert wasn’t that good. With every moment I was growing more and more dissatisfied. Our meal ended and we walked out of the restaurant. As we left, Heather told me about all the things she enjoyed and then asked, “How did you enjoy dinner?” I said, “My dessert was terrible.” Heather started giggling, because she was thinking what you’re probably thinking, “You got bent out of shape over a dessert?” In my comparison, I had allowed discontentment over a trivial thing to hinder all of the other amazing things that we enjoyed that night. The same is true in all our lives. One of the reasons that discontentment is at an all-time high today is because of how easy it is to compare. To understand this, we don’t need to look any further than social media. Social media is a platform for people to connect, and it can be used in many positive ways. However, it can also be extremely dangerous and harmful. It is easy for us to see the “glamour shots” of other’s lives and then look at the reality of our lives and compare the two. We then quickly conclude that our situation is less than or not good enough. We see the image of our friend and the new truck and we think, “Well I need a new truck.” We see that couple out on another date and we think, “Well I wish we still did that.” We see that family at the beach and we think, “Well I’d be happy too if I got to go to the beach all the time.” Paul could have easily done this. He could have looked at others and become discontent, but he refused to do so. He could’ve 4 said, “God, those people aren’t doing much for You and they’re living it up big. And look at the wicked over there. They’re doing all kinds of things and enjoying all kinds of pleasure. Here I am serving You, and what do I get? A prison cell, chains, and misery.” Paul could have compared his situation, but he refused to go down that path because he knew that it didn’t please God and it was filled with all sorts of lies and deceptions. In fact, in 2 Corinthians 10:12 he says that those who get caught up in this trap of comparison “are without understanding.” In other words, you don’t really know what you think you know. It brings you to false conclusions about others and yourself and, most importantly, even God. Sadly, though, comparisons don’t end there. They lead to further destruction. B. We Are Drawn Away by Covetousness Comparing ourselves with others will either lead us to pride or covetousness. If we compare ourselves to others and conclude that we are better off than others, we will likely become proud and confident in ourselves. However, if we conclude that our situation isn’t as good as others, we are likely to covet. To covet is to want, desire, and lust after something that belongs to another. Covetousness is simply another form of idolatry where we make our want our primary ambition. God spoke about it in the 10th commandment saying, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor,” Exodus 20:17. When we give in to the trap of comparison, this is normally where it leads us. Instead of acknowledging and appreciating what we have, we simply want more or different. Instead of being satisfied with our current situation, we selfishly want what others have. This is not only dangerous, it is sinful and evil. James 3:13-16 says it well, “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.” It may seem lighthearted and like it is no big deal, but did you hear the conclusion? It leads to disorder and every evil thing. We can see that in our own hearts, we can see that in social settings, we can see that in various movements, we can sadly at times even see that in the church. When we are bent on having our way and getting what we want, there will be disorder and every evil thing. Discontentment as a word doesn’t sound so bad, but God is wanting us to see the ugliness that it brings to our lives. C. We Are Drawn Away by Complaining Here’s a third step of destruction – complaining. We feel that we didn’t get what we deserve so we grumble, murmur, and let God and everyone else know our frustration. Paul has already instructed in Philippians 2:14, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing.” If we want to see how destructive our complaining is, just go read the Old Testament, especially the book of Numbers, and see how God dealt with the Israelites who were constantly complaining against the Lord and Moses. The fact is that none of us like circumstances. I have never heard anyone say, “I can’t wait for the next trial in my life.” 5

Usually when we face trials and circumstances we immediately begin praying, “Oh God, please remove this from my life. God, this is too painful. Please deliver me.” Notice that Paul said, I have learned to be content “IN whatever circumstances I am in.” This shows us that contentment isn’t automatic. You aren’t born with it, and you don’t suddenly have it when you are born again. We must learn contentment. The word used in verse 11 means “to learn from experience.” We can’t learn contentment from experience unless we face circumstances. Instead of asking God to change our circumstances, we need to ask God to change us, to grow us, to mold us. So, instead of complaining about our circumstances, let’s turn to Jesus and let Him change us in the midst of our circumstances. No wonder Paul would instruct us to, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” If we are going to overcome the draw of discontentment, we must resist the draw of comparing, coveting, and complaining. II. The Discovery of Contentment (vs. 12-13) So, how do we learn contentment? In verse 12, Paul uses another word for “learn” which meant “to learn by initiation and instruction.” In Paul’s day there were many false religions, much like cults today, who would speak about their deep mysteries and secrets. Even in the church at Philippi there were some who were claiming to present a truth that was deeper than what Paul was preaching. They did this to create a culture of mystery and secrecy, which was completely false and fed by the devil. I think Paul is having a bit of fun as he says, “God has taught me the true mystery. I have learned the secret.” The secret of what? The secret to contentment. The key to contentment is found in one place, a person, Jesus Christ. Did you catch the very first phrase of our text? Paul said, “I rejoiced IN THE LORD greatly.” What is his conclusion in verse 13? “I can do all things through HIM who strengthens me.” The “Him” is referring once again to Jesus. He is saying loud and clear, “Jesus is the key.” Friend, without Jesus it is impossible to be content. You might put on a good face, or shrug your shoulders at something that upsets you, but the only way that you can have true contentment is in Jesus. It was in knowing Jesus and looking to Him that Paul was able to be content no matter what he faced. If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior you, too, can walk through anything with contentment. I want to encourage you to focus on four specific things. Remember, those who are discontent are restless because they can never get enough. Nothing will satisfy them. They move from one pursuit to another, one experience to another, and still want more because they are discontent. But the content person is at peace because he relies on the Lord. How do we find contentment, even in our circumstances? A. Rely On the Providence of God Being content doesn’t mean that Paul’s life was easy or without challenges. Paul faced all kinds of trials and circumstances – beaten, shipwrecked, rejected, stoned, chained, imprisoned, mocked, hated, falsely accused, and soon to be sentenced. Through it all, though, he was content. How? Because he was focused on the providence of God. The word “providence” means that God sees it beforehand. It means that God is working to arrange circumstances and situations to accomplish His purposes. God is in control of all things, and while that doesn’t mean that all things are good, it does mean that God works through all things to accomplish His will. We see this clearly in the life of Joseph in Genesis 6 chapters 37-50. It seemed everything was against him and went wrong in his life. In the end, we see that God raised up Joseph to a prominent position in the land. This action wasn’t merely for the benefit of Joseph and his family, but ultimately for the Hebrew people, God’s chosen people through which He would send the Savior. Even Joseph understood this, which is why he declared to his brothers in Genesis 50:20, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” In other words, he knew that his life was not a series of accidents, but a series of divine appointments. Paul, too, experienced this. It would have been easy for him to be mad at the government, the guards, the immature believers, the other churches that weren’t supporting him, or just mad at the world, but he trusted that God was in control and was working to accomplish His purposes. Remember, in Philippians 1 he has already stated how God was using his imprisonment to actually further the work of the Gospel. He concludes in verse 22 of chapter 4, “By the way, the believers in Caesar’s household say hello.” How did they become believers? Likely because Paul was sharing the Gospel with them. In other words, how can we become bitter in the circumstance when we recognize that God is still in control? The question is simple, “Will we trust Him? Will we yield to His control?” You may not understand all that He is doing, but you can trust all that He is doing. B. Rely On the Presence of God

This is where Paul was. He wasn’t focused on what he didn’t have. He was focused on Who he did have – Jesus. Remember, in Philippians 2 he declared that there was encouragement in Christ, consolation of love, and fellowship of the Spirit. Then in Philippians 3 he states that he doesn’t care what he faced, he simply wanted to know Jesus more and more in “the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.” The word “fellowship” refers to a friendship and partnership. Paul’s secret in every circumstance is that he was not alone. The Holy Spirit was with him. Remember, the Holy Spirit is the Comforter Who works within us to point us in the right direction, to remind us of the truth, and to assure us of God’s love. Paul had several others who ministered to him during this time of need, but his contentment came in knowing that the Lord was with him. This is the instruction of Hebrews 13:5-6, “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have...” Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? What does contentment have to do with God’s presence? Listen to the rest of the verse, “for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’ so that we confidently say, ‘The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?’ ”

The key to contentment is knowing Christ, drawing near to Him, and abiding in His presence. Instead of focusing on who isn’t in your life, focus on Who you have in Christ. Instead of focusing on the things that you don’t have, focus on the all the blessings that God has poured out in your life. No matter what circumstance may come your way, nothing will ever take away the One who promised to never leave you or forsake you.

C. Rely On the Promises of God 7

Paul knew that no matter what he faced he could rely on the promises of God. He didn’t worry when he had humble means because he knew that God would provide. He didn’t fret when he faced another circumstance because he knew that God would bring him through. He didn’t panic when he was hungry because he knew someway God would meet the need. Whether he was in abundance or need, he knew that God was faithful. Earlier in his journey he had faced great hardship that tormented him. It was so severe that he prayed on at least three occasions that the circumstance would be removed. And God responded, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ ” Paul now had a choice, “Do I believe the promise of God or not? Am I going to get mad or am I going to trust God?” Listen to his conclusion, “Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well CONTENT with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” Paul discovered contentment as he relied on his relationship with Jesus. Friend, we can do the same. We can believe the promises of God. We can be assured of the presence of God. We can trust the providence of God. Even when the loved one passes away or leaves unexpectedly, even when we aren’t sure about the next financial burden, even when sickness comes our way, even when a pandemic sweeps across the globe, even when there’s political unrest, we can look to the Lord, walk with Him, and be content. D. Rely On the Power of God I love this final statement. He said, “Christ strengthens me.” Many athletes have represented this verse in various ways, but the context of this verse is speaking of contentment, no matter the situation. It means that we can do everything God asks of us with the help of Christ who gives us the strength and the power. Wiersbe said it well, “The Christian has all the power within that he needs to be adequate for the demands of life. We need only release this power by faith.” We can’t win this battle of contentment in our own willpower and strength, but we can win it as we rely on Jesus Christ who gives us the strength we need to overcome. In John 15:5b Jesus said, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” But the flipside to that is clear, “Through Christ we can do all things.” Brothers and sisters, the very power that raised Jesus from the dead is within us. As we abide in Him and commune with Him, He will strengthen us with His power to help us overcome and walk in contentment. Paul is saying loud and clear, “The secret to being content is found in knowing Jesus, trusting in Jesus, and growing in Jesus.” Maybe another way to say that was best said many years ago by King David in Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Most can’t say, “I shall not want” because they don’t know the Lord as their Shepherd. What about you? Do you know Jesus and are you finding your contentment in Him? Many pursue everything else this world has to offer, only to discover in the end that they wasted their lives and were never truly satisfied. But those who find their satisfaction in Christ find that He is more than enough.

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**ILL: On February 1, 1909, George Beverly Shea was born in Ontario, Canada. He grew up in a Christian home and came to know Jesus as Savior at a young age. As he grew up, he learned several instruments and had a powerful singing voice. This talent opened many doors for him. He eventually came to America to pursue a career in music. He was given many opportunities, which landed him the opportunity of a lifetime to sing full-time as entertainment on NBC. His future seemed destined for fame and fortune. As he debated his next steps and whether he should take the job, he went home to visit family. One evening he sat down at the piano and considered what to play. Being bored with his common songs, he went over to a shelf and picked up a booklet of poems that his mother had collected. For the first time, he read the words of a poem by Rhea Miller that was written in 1922. For months he had a melody in his heart that he would pick at, but he couldn’t settle on any words. He quickly went to the piano and put the words to the poem to the melody that had been in his heart for months. It sounded something like this: “I’d Rather Have Jesus” Verse: I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I’d rather be His than have riches untold; I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands. I’d rather be led by His nail pierced hand. Chorus: Than to be the king of a vast domain or be held in sin’s dread sway. I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today. Verse: I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause; I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause; I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame. I’d rather be true to His holy name. Chorus: Than to be the king of a vast domain or be held in sin’s dread sway. I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.

With that, George Beverly Shea knew what he had to do. He declined the offer from NBC and trusted the Lord with his future. A few years passed and he met a man named Billy Graham who asked him to come sing at a Crusade. Over the next 60 years, George would travel to countless stadiums, venues, and countries and would be featured on television, radio, and internet always singing about Jesus. Wikipedia says of him, “It is estimated that Shea sang live before more people than anyone else in history.” And in addition to that, it would be through that ministry that both of his own children would come to know Jesus. He passed away in 2013 at the age of 104. His legacy is a testimony that when you say “yes” to Jesus and find your contentment in Him, you will find, as did George, that He is more than enough!