The Secret of Being Content
Philippians 4:10-13
Let’s turn to Philippians 4:10-13. If you need a Bible, please raise your hand and we will bring one to you. In the Bibles we are passing out, Philippians 4 is found on page 982.
In this passage Paul says he has learned the secret of how to be content in every situation. Paul had learned what to do in order to feel completely content – no matter what was going on around him. Paul had learned the secret of being content.
So how about us? Have we learned the secret of contentment?
When it comes to contentment I would guess each of us falls into one of 3 categories.
Some of us think we will be content as soon as our circumstances change. We think we will be content as soon as we get married, have children, get the promotion, buy the house, or retire. But if that’s what we think – will be surprised by what Paul says.
Others of us know the secret of contentment, but need to pursue this more. Even if we know the secret of contentment, none of us is experiencing this all the time. So if we already know the secret of contentment, this morning God wants to strengthen us so we grow in experiencing contentment.
Others of us are not content, and don’t think we ever will be. We have been so disappointed, so discouraged, that we have given up on the possibility of contentment. So if that’s you, Paul has some wonderful news this morning. He is going to tell you how you can experience true contentment.
So let’s look at what Paul says in Philippians 4:10-13 –
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.
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.
In verse 10 Paul talks about how his readers had shown their concern by supporting him financially. Paul had been low on money. And he knew that even though his readers cared about him, they had not been able to send him money until just recently. So he wants to thank them for their gift.
But when you read the passage you see that he doesn’t get around to thanking them until verse 14. And the reason is because in verses 11-13 he wants to make sure they don’t think that before their gift came he was discontent, or frustrated, or discouraged. He wants them to understand that he was content during that season of being brought low, and facing hunger, and being in need.
So that’s where we are going to focus on this morning. Let’s start with this first question –what does Paul mean by contentment? I found two clues in verse 11. Let’s read that verse again –
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
The first clue is that phrase “not that I am speaking of being in need.” Paul wants to make sure they understand that he was not in need. But how can Paul say he was not in need, when he had not yet received their money? I think what Paul is saying is that even though he had needs, he did not feel needy.
Here’s why I say that. Notice that the word “need” shows up again in verse 12 –
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.
So Paul is saying it’s possible to face need, without being in need. And I think what he means is that you can have needs circumstantially, without feeling needy emotionally. So contentment would mean not feeling needy emotionally.
The second clue is that word “content” at the end of verse 11 –
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
I looked that word up in two Greek dictionaries. One said this word means “to be satisfied; happy.” And the other said this word means “to have a happy state of mind.”
So putting those two clues together, I think contentment means feeling satisfied and happy even when we have needs. So this would mean feeling satisfied and happy when you need a job, or when you have the flu and would like to be healthy, or when you are stuck in traffic on the 280. Being content with means feeling satisfied and happy no matter what is going on.
Now obviously that’s not easy. None of us does that all the time. So we need to ask Paul – what is the secret of contentment?
Two weeks ago I was shocked as I listened to a Christian radio talk show, and the hosts were talking about this very passage. But in my opinion they completely misunderstood what Paul was saying.
They said the biggest enemy of contentment is comparison: where you compare your situation unfavorably with someone else’s situation. Like maybe you see on Facebook that your friend posts about their fancy vacation dinner in the Bahamas, and there you are at home, so when you compare your situation to their situation he no longer feel happy and satisfied, you feel unhappy and empty.
So the people on this talk show said that the secret to contentment was to realize that even though they posted about their fancy vacation dinner in the Bahamas, what they didn’t post about was their eight-hour layover on the way to the Bahamas, and how it poured rain their first three days in the Bahamas.
In other words, the people on this talk show said the secret to contentment was to realize that life is just as bad for other people as it is for you. So if you can understand that their vacation to the Bahamas wasn’t as great as it sounds, then you’ll be content.
But there are huge problems with that approach. The biggest problem is that it completely misses what Paul is saying. The other is that there are times when other people are doing better than you. You might be thinking you wouldn’t mind an eight hour layover on the way to the Bahamas, or three days of pouring rain in the Bahamas. You would just like to be in the Bahamas!
So the reason I mention this radio talk show is to help us see how important it is that we study God’s word carefully to see exactly what it is saying.
So what is the secret to contentment? Paul gives us a clue in verse 13 –
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
This is a verse that is often taken out of context. Paul is not saying that he can literally do all things because Christ will strengthen him. Paul is not saying he could become Emperor of Rome or bench-press 500 pounds because Christ will strengthen him. No.
The context has to do with being content in any and every circumstance. So Paul is saying the reason he can be content in any and every circumstance is because Christ strengthens him. But don’t let that be just a cliché.
Paul is saying that the living Jesus Christ really comes to him and strengthens him. The living Jesus Christ regularly meets Paul so powerfully, strengthens Paul so meaningfully, that Paul is able to feel content and peaceful and happy no matter what the circumstance.
So the secret to contentment is that there is something Jesus Christ will do for us that will so strengthen us that we are content, and peaceful, and happy in every circumstance.
So what is it that Jesus Christ does? Paul has already told us -- back in chapter 3. Look at Philippians 3:7-8 –
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord ...
Notice that we can know Christ Jesus. We can know him. Jesus Christ is not just words in the book, or doctrines to be believed. Jesus Christ is also a personal being you can know.
Think about Jesus Christ. You can know him, talk with him, fellowship with him, worship him, trust him, pour out your soul to him. You can know Jesus Christ.
And Jesus Christ is so loving, powerful, good, wise, merciful, gracious, and strong -- that knowing him is the surpassing worth. The worth of knowing Jesus is so much greater than any other worth that in comparison everything else is loss.
And because in comparison everything else is loss, you can be completely content in losing everything else, because you have Jesus.
Imagine that you are hungry, and that in front of you is a plate of Saltine Crackers. That plate of Saltine Crackers would make you content. But if someone took away those Saltine Crackers, you would feel discontent, frustrated, bitter.
But what if you are hungry, and along with that plate of Saltine Crackers there is another plate full of fresh out of the oven chocolate chip cookies – think, warm, full of slightly melted chocolate chips – and a big glass of milk right next to the plate.
Compared to the Saltine Crackers, chocolate chip cookies have surpassing worth. So if you have both chocolate chip cookies, and the Saltine Crackers, and someone takes away the Saltine Crackers – how would you feel? You would feel okay. You would be content. Because you have the surpassing worth of the chocolate chip cookies. Because the chocolate chip cookies will satisfy you so much that you don’t need the Saltine Crackers.
And that’s what Jesus Christ does. He so satisfies our hearts in himself that we don’t need anything else. When we know Jesus Christ, we are so full, so satisfied, that we will be content even when we are sick, or low on money, or someone else gets the promotion.
So the secret of contentment is to understand that Jesus Christ can so satisfy our hearts in himself that we are completely content no matter what else is going on.
That’s what Paul is saying in chapter 4 verse 13. Look at again –
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
But the problem is that much of the time our hearts are not satisfied in Christ. Much of the time we are not seeing the chocolate chip cookies. And the reason is because sin is blinding us to Christ. Our indwelling sin and unbelief is blinding us to Christ’s all satisfying worth.
So there is one more crucial question we must ask – how can we experience this heart-strengthening work of Christ?
Think about whatever is making you discontent right now. If you are feeling discontent because of your health, or your finances, or your children, or your spouse, or your job, or your ministry – the problem is that your indwelling sin is blinding you to Christ. But the good news is that Jesus Christ can strengthen you so that you will once again see the surpassing worth of Christ, and taste surpassing worth of Christ – so you will be content. But how do we experience this strengthening work of Christ?
Let me give you six steps –
First, turn. Turn to Jesus Christ just as you are. Don’t try to change your heart by your own power. Don’t try to make yourself feel better by telling yourself that other people have a just as bad as you. Turn to Jesus – because he is the only one who can help you and satisfied.
Second, confess. Confess to him that you are feeling discontent, because your sin is blinding you to who he is. It’s crucial that you confess your sin to him.
Third, trust. Trust that by faith alone you are forgiven for all your sin, and clothed with his perfect righteousness, so that God delights to love you and help you.
Fourth, ask. Ask Jesus to strengthen your faith so you once again can see and feel his surpassing worth.
Fifth, ponder. Ponder verses in Scripture describing who Jesus is and what he has done and what he promises. Jesus will work through the word to overcome your unbelief and help you smell the chocolate chip cookies of his glory.
Sixth, persevere. Persevere in asking and pondering until you feel your faith strengthening, and sin’s power weakening, so you are content, because your heart is once again filled with the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.
If it helps, turn that into an acronym TCT-app.
The secret of contentment is that no matter what’s going on around you Jesus Christ can completely satisfy your heart in himself.
So next time you are not feeling content, turn to him, confess your unbelief, trust him to forgive you, ask for his help, ponder is truth, and persevere -- he will so satisfy you in himself and you will be completely content.