When
I first saw this picture, it made me laugh out loud—but just for a moment. Then
I took a closer look and realized that it was a picture of me. Of course my dog
is black but otherwise, it depicts me with remarkable accuracy. Maybe it
reflects you too. Take a closer look but don’t focus so much on the person or
the dog. Instead focus on the thought bubbles above each of them in comparison
to what they are doing. Notice they are simply sitting together on a bench.
While the thought bubble above the dog is a reflection of what they are doing
at that moment, the thought bubbles above the man reflects everything but what
they are doing. Instead, the thought bubbles above the man shows that he is
thinking about money, travel, a car, and a house. What he isn’t thinking about
is his companion who is simply content
to sit with the man. I’m sort of ashamed to admit that this very often
describes me. I can be with my wife or children or good friends or in deep
prayer to the Creator of the universe and my mind will drift to my
possessions—those I have and those I don’t have, vacations—those I’ve taken and
those I would like to take, money—how much I have and how much I want,
health—whether I will get better or worse, and so many other things that
agitate my thoughts.
I
stopped laughing when I saw this picture because God used it to show me
something that is desperately missing in my life—it isn’t more possessions,
more vacations, more money, or better health. Instead, God used that picture to
tell me that what is missing in my life is Contentment.
Does that describe you or is it just me? Do you scramble through your days
always trying to do more or acquire more or are you content with were you are
and what you have? Let me ask you a question, would you be content if you were
in perfect health? Of course you would be! Now, would you be just as content if
your health declined sharply? Probably not! Who would be content with being
ill? How about this, would you be content if you had lots of money? I know it’s
a silly question. Who wouldn’t be content to have lots of money? But would you
be just as content if you had very little money? Read that again carefully. I
know that many, maybe even most, of you have very little money and you likely
consider yourself as being content. However, I didn’t ask if you would be
content, I asked if you would be “just as content” as if you had lots of money.
That makes the question more difficult doesn’t it? The answer to these
questions will determine the degree to which you live your life in a state of
always striving for something more or different than what you already have or
whether you live your life in a state of Contentment.
Subject Text
Philippians 4:10-13
10I
rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me.
Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11I
am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content
whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I
know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in
any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty
or in want. 13I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Context
Paul
started the church in Philippi during his second missionary journey through the
region. Paul wrote this letter around 61 A. D. to thank the Philippians for the
gift they sent to him with one of their members, Epaphroditus. The letter was
obviously written to the Philippians but it has profound relevance for
believers today. This is a very short letter, only four chapters, with a
dominant theme of joy throughout the letter with such instructions from Paul as
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again: Rejoice! (4:4)” However, the most
important thing to remember about this letter in the context of our lesson on Contentment: Paul wrote the letter
while sitting in prison in Rome.
Text Analysis
10I rejoiced greatly in the Lord
that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but
you had no opportunity to show it.
Paul
continues with the theme of joy when he begins v. 10 with: “I rejoice.” The Philippians were obviously concerned
about Paul’s well being while he was in prison. Paul didn’t accept gifts from
the Corinthian church because he didn’t want to be accused of preaching the
gospel for financial gain. However, he did that in that particular
circumstance. Otherwise Paul teaches that people in ministry deserve to be
supported and have their needs met by those to whom they are sent to serve. In
this case, Paul accepted whatever care package the Philippians sent him because
they gave it willingly out of sincere concern.
“Paul
faces the difficult task of showing the Philippians his genuine appreciation
for their financial support, both past and present, but of also showing that
his work is neither dependent on nor motivated by this support. He does this
through combining expressions of gratitude and qualification designed to
prevent misunderstanding…Paul wants the Philippians to know that his joy does
not depend on the alleviation of his physical discomfort, thus, although he is
in prison, Paul says that he is not in need.”[1]
11I am not saying this
because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the
circumstances.
Again,
Paul wants the Philippians to understand in v. 11 that the joy he derived from their gift had more to do with
their sincere concern for him and their generous attitude than it did with
filling some kind of need that Paul may have had. Instead, Paul wants them to
know that he doesn’t expend a lot of energy focusing on the things he doesn’t
have and wants or needs. Instead, he lives his life in a state of what seems to
be perpetual joy. Paul isn’t detached from reality. He knows he’s in prison. He
knows he’s tired, hungry, and poor. However, he is very intentional about not
focusing on what he needs or what he does not have and instead focuses on
“Rejoicing in the Lord.” Paul has mastered the art of Contentment.
I
want you to notice something Paul says and what he doesn’t say. He doesn’t say
that Contentment is a gift. He
doesn’t say that Contentment is
something he was born with. Instead, he says that Contentment is something he “learned.” That means it is something
we can all incorporate into our lives. What does learning require? Learning
requires: Desire, intentionality, and practice. Contentment doesn’t just fall on us like rainfall. Contentment is something we must strive
to master. So what must we desire, be intentional about, and practice?
Rejoicing only and always in our relationship with Jesus. If that is our desire
and we are intentional and practice our focus on the relationship we have with
the One who gave His life for us then, like Paul, we will become masters of Contentment.
Paul’s
Contentment “was not Stoic
self-sufficiency, the cultivated attitude of the wise person who could face life
and death with equanimity because of his own inner resources; rather, Paul’s
independence of external circumstances was only because he was totally
dependent upon God. He is able to be content in all things because of his
relationship with Christ who gives him strength.”[2]
12I
know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have
learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well
fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do all
this through him who gives me strength.
Notice
in v. 12 that Paul doesn’t say that
the secret to Contentment is a life
of austerity. He also doesn’t say that Contentment
is found in a life of luxury. Instead, Paul says he learned the secret of Contentment in every situation of life—austerity
or luxury. Paul tells us his secret in v.
13 is his relationship and dependence on Jesus. But Jesus already told us
this secret during His earthly ministry.
A rich, young
ruler came to Jesus and asked Him what he needed to do gain eternal life (Mk
10:17-22). Jesus told him to follow the Ten Commandments. The young ruler told
Jesus that he had already done that. However, he wasn’t “content” with that and
asked Jesus what else he needed to do. So Jesus told the rich, young ruler to
sell all he had and follow Him. Mark tells us that the young man hung his head
and turned away from Jesus. There are so many lessons in the story of the rich,
young ruler but for the purpose of our lesson I want you to see that Jesus was
trying to teach the young ruler that he would be content in his salvation if he
sold everything and devoted himself to following Jesus. The young man had
everything most people desire—money, power, and position; he even appeared to
be faithful in his commitment to the Law, yet he was still not content. Jesus
gave him the secret to Contentment—stop
chasing after all the things that don’t bring Contentment and instead nurture a deep and abiding relationship
with Him.
“Circumstances
were the arena of spiritual growth, and through them Paul developed
adaptability…Paul displayed spiritual equilibrium. He was equally unaffected by
poverty and riches. This knowledge is learned by walking with Christ, who is
the sufficient one, and by developing a solid theology of material things.
Things ultimately do not matter. Relationships matter. Paul’s attitude
contrasted with the false teachers’. They were preoccupied with food and
earthly matters. Paul could rise above any set of circumstances.”[3]
Application
I’ll
be completely honest with you, I didn’t want to prepare this lesson because I
knew there would be some hard truths that I didn’t want to hear. If that
describes you then I’m thankful to not be alone. Contentment hasn’t always been difficult for me. However, after
being sick for more than two years now, I find myself constantly thinking about
and longing for a life without constant pain and exhaustion. I am anything but
content with my place in life so I knew this lesson was going to be hard. Is Contentment difficult for you as well?
Are you constantly jumping from one boyfriend or girlfriend to the next because
you’re just not content to be single? Are you constantly on the lookout for the
next house; a bigger house; a better house? Do you drive down the street in
your new car and long to have the car that just pulled up next to you at the
light? Do you move from job to job to job because you’re convinced that the
next job will make you happy? Are you constantly planning the next vacation or
“business trip” because you’re rarely content to just stay at home? If that
describes you and you’ve heard some things in this lesson that you didn’t want
to hear then maybe this lesson will help you as well.
Toward
the end of Jesus’ ministry, He told His disciples that He would be leaving
them. Naturally, His disciples were distressed and disturbed by that
revelation. In response to their concern, Jesus promised that he would send
them the Holy Spirit to be their constant companion to teach them and guide
them and who, in some translations, is referred to as the Comforter. At the end
of Jesus’ discourse about sending the Holy Spirit, He says something that is
important in the context of our lesson on Contentment.
He says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as
the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (Jn
14:27).” “Peace” is closely related to Contentment.
When we are content, our spirit is at peace; we are at peace. So Jesus made it
possible for us to be content because He gave us His peace. Notice that He says
that it’s not the same peace the world gives. The world says, you’ll find peace
when you’re together with your next boyfriend or girlfriend. You’ll find peace
when you buy a bigger home. You’ll find peace driving that nicer car. You’ll
find peace on that next vacation. The peace the world promises is always just
out of reach so that you are never content. The peace Jesus promises is the
gift of the presence of God in our lives. The problem is that we get distracted
by all the world has to offer and we lose focus on God’s presence in our lives.
Paul could say that he was content in all things because he never lost his
focus on Jesus and the strength Jesus gave him to cope with all circumstances
in his life. What was the secret Paul learned in v. 13? Paul detached himself from the temporal in order to stay
focused on God’s presence in his life. And when that became difficult, he
derived strength from the presence of Jesus in his life. Paul learned that Contentment was found when practicing
God’s presence in His life.
Other
than the gift of salvation that God freely gives us, everything else in our
relationship with God requires practice. And practicing the presence of God is
no different. Brother Lawrence was a humble cook in a monastery toward the end
of the 17th century. During his time there, he shared his spiritual
insights in letters and interviews that were compiled by an abbot, Joseph de
Beaufort, into a small spiritual handbook that was published with the titled, the practice of the presence of God.
Here is how brother Lawrence describes the presence of God and how we can
practice God’s presence. I want you to pay close attention to the key word
“peace” for which you can substitute Contentment:
“The
presence of God is the concentration of the soul’s attention on God,
remembering that He is always present.
“I
know a person who for forty years has practiced the presence of God, to which
he gives several other names. Sometimes he calls it a simple act—a clear and
distinct knowledge of God, and sometimes he calls it a vague view or a general
and loving look at God—a remembrance of Him. He also refers to it as attention
to God, silent communion with God, confidence in God, or the life and the peace
[Contentment] of the soul…
“By
dwelling in the presence of God [a person can establish] such a sweet communion
with the Lord that His spirit abides, without much effort, in the restful peace
[Contentment] of God. In this rest,
[a person] is filled with a faith that equips [that person] to handle anything
that comes to him [or her].
“This
is what…is called the ‘actual presence’ of God, which includes any and all
kinds of communion a person who still dwells on the earth can possibly have
with God in heaven. At times, [a person] can live as if no one else existed on
earth but [that person] and God. [A person] lovingly speaks with God wherever
[they go], asking Him for all [a person] needs and rejoicing with Him in a
thousand ways.
“Nevertheless,
one should realize that this conversation with God occurs in the depth and
center of the soul. It is there that the soul speaks to God heart to heart and
always dwells in a great and profound peace [Contentment] that the soul enjoys in God. The trouble that happens
in the world can become like a blaze of straw that goes out even as it is
catching fire. The soul can retain its interior peace [Contentment] in God.
“The
presence of God is, then the life and nourishment of the soul, which can be
acquired with the grace of God. Here are the means to do so.
1)
The first is a new life, received by salvation
through the blood of Christ.
2)
The second is faithfully practicing God’s
presence. This must always be done gently, humbly, and lovingly, without giving
way to anxiety or problems.
3)
The soul’s eyes must be kept on God,
particularly when something is being done in the outside world. Since much time
and effort are needed to perfect this practice, one should not be discouraged by
failure. Although the habit is difficult to form, it is a source of divine
pleasure once learned. It is proper that the heart—which is the first to live
and which dominates all the other parts of the body—should be the first and the
last to love God. The heart is the beginning and the end of all our spiritual
and bodily actions and, generally speaking, of everything we do in our lives.
It is, therefore, the heart whose attention we must carefully focus on God.
4)
In the beginning of this practice, it would not
be wrong to offer short phrases that are inspired by love, such as ‘Lord, I am
all Yours,’ ‘God of love, I love You with all my heart,’ or ‘Lord, use me
according to Your will.’ But remember to keep the mind from wandering or
returning to the world. Hold your attention on God alone by exercising your
will to remain in God’s presence.
5)
Although this exercise may be difficult at first
to maintain, it has marvelous effects on the soul when it is faithfully
practiced. It draws the graces of the Lord down in abundance and shows the soul
how to see God’s presence everywhere with a pure and loving vision, which is
the holiest, firmest, easiest, and the most effective attitude for prayer.”[4]
Paul was content
because he had his priorities right and he practiced the presence of Jesus in
his life. However, he said that he “learned” to be content in all things. Well
we won’t learn to be content unless we get our priorities right and likewise we
begin to practice the presence of Jesus in our lives. If you will take the time
with me to incorporate brother Lawrence’s practice of the presence of God in
your life, I am confident that you too will find the Contentment we all so desperately long for.
[1] Frank Thielman, Philippians, (Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan, 1995), 235-236.
[2] Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph
P. Martin, and Daniel G. Reid, eds., Dictionary
of Paul and his Letters, (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993),
625.
[3] Richard R. Melick, Jr.,
Philippians, Colossians, Phil
[4] Brother Lawrence, the practice of the presence of God,
(New Kensington, PA: Witaker House, 1982), 67-70.
(Audio version; Music--"Keep Your Eyes On Me" by: Tim McGraw & Faith Hill and "I'll Think About You" by: We Are Messengers)
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