The Secret to Contentment (Philippians 4)
This sermon delves into the profound topic of contentment, exploring why many believers struggle with it in today's culture. It then turns to the apostle Paul's powerful testimony to unveil the biblical path to finding satisfaction and peace, no matter what life brings.
Many believers struggle with discontentment in a consumeristic world, but Paul's example in Philippians 4 reveals five biblical principles to cultivate true satisfaction and purpose regardless of circumstances.
Overview
The sermon begins by addressing a troubling trend: a growing indifference and lack of commitment to the church. The preacher identifies several contributing factors, including a consumeristic mentality, the privatization of spirituality, disillusionment with church leadership due to moral failures or poor teaching, and unrealistic expectations of perfection within the church. He emphasizes the church's divine origin and the importance of corporate gathering for spiritual growth and obedience.
Transitioning to the core topic, the sermon introduces contentment as an essential spiritual attitude for believers and the church. The apostle Paul, writing from prison, is presented as the supreme example of a contented man. Despite sparse conditions, isolation, and an uncertain future, Paul declares, "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am."
The preacher then unpacks five principles for learning contentment from Paul's life. First, Paul trusted in God's providence, seeing God's hand in all circumstances, even the long-delayed gift from the Philippians. Second, he was satisfied with little, recognizing he had no true needs beyond the basics. Third, he lived independently of his circumstances, equally able to manage humble means or abundance.
Finally, Paul's contentment was sustained by divine power, believing he could "do all things through Him who strengthens me." This power comes from being connected to God through obedience. The fifth principle, and a crucial one, is a preoccupation with the well-being of others, as Paul rejoiced not in the gift itself, but in the spiritual profit it brought to the givers, highlighting the blessing of unselfishness and generosity.
Key points
- A growing indifference to the church is observed, driven by consumerism, privatized spirituality, disillusionment with leaders, and unrealistic expectations.
- Contentment is an essential spiritual attitude commanded in Scripture, meaning to be satisfied or to have enough.
- The apostle Paul, writing from a Roman prison, serves as a prime example of a contented man who had learned to be satisfied in any circumstance.
- Five principles contribute to contentment: trusting in God's providence, being satisfied with little, and living independently of circumstances.
- Contentment is also sustained by divine power, through a believer's connection to Christ, and by being preoccupied with the well-being of others.
- Paul rejoiced in the Philippians' gift not for his own sake, but for the spiritual profit and eternal reward it accrued to them.
- Selfishness and a victim mentality are antithetical to contentment, which is instead marked by faith, humility, submission, dependence, and unselfishness.
In John MacArthur's words
“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”
“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
“Selfish people are never content, never.”
Outline
- I. The Centrality of the Church and Contemporary Challenges
- A. Indifferent Attitude Towards the Church
- B. Contributors to Lack of Commitment
- 1. Consumeristic View of the Church
- 2. Privatization of Spirituality
- 3. Disillusionment with Church Leadership
- 4. Unrealistic Expectations for Perfection in the Church
- C. The Danger of Isolating from God's People
- II. The Essential Spiritual Attitude of Contentment
- A. Definition: To Be Satisfied
- B. Context: Dissatisfaction in Our Culture (Seeker-Friendly, Needs Theology)
- C. Biblical Command for Contentment (1 Timothy 6:6, 1 Timothy 6:8, Hebrews 13:5)
- III. Learning Contentment from Paul's Example (Philippians 4:11-13)
- A. Paul's Circumstances: A Prisoner in Rome
- B. Paul Knew Nothing of a Victim Mentality
- C. "I have learned the secret" (Greek: mueō - initiated into inner secrets)
- IV. Five Principles of Contentment
- A. Trust in God's Providence (Philippians 4:10)
- 1. God orchestrates all contingencies to His will (Proverbs 16:9, 19:21, Philippians 2:13)
- 2. Examples from Scripture (Joseph, Esther, Ruth)
- B. Be Satisfied with Little (Philippians 4:11a)
- 1. Paul's declaration: "I have no needs."
- 2. The plague of prosperity and needs theology
- 3. Not content with personal spirituality or world's treatment of Christ, but content with physical circumstances
- C. Be Independent from Circumstances (Philippians 4:12)
- 1. "In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret"
- 2. Paul knew how to live with humble means and in abundance
- 3. Suffering can lead to dependence on God (2 Corinthians 12)
- D. Be Sustained by Divine Power (Philippians 4:13)
- 1. "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me"
- 2. Adequacy comes from being connected to the power source (Ephesians 3:16, 5; Galatians)
- 3. God's strength for endurance, even when deserted (2 Timothy 4:16-18)
- 4. Christ lives in the believer (Galatians 2:20, John 15:5)
- E. Be Preoccupied with the Well-being of Others (Philippians 4:14-19)
- 1. Selfish people are never content
- 2. Paul's joy in the Philippians' gift was for their spiritual profit, not his own gain (Philippians 4:17)
- 3. The gift was a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice to God (Philippians 4:18)
- 4. Living out Philippians 2:4: looking out for others' interests
- 5. God will supply all their needs in response to their giving (Philippians 4:19, Luke 6:38, 2 Corinthians 9:6-10)
- V. Conclusion: Contentment Glorifies God (Philippians 4:20)
Scripture references
- 1 Timothy 6:6
- 1 Timothy 6:8
- Hebrews 13:5
- Philippians 4:11
- Philippians 4:12
- Philippians 4:13
- 1 John 3:14
- Proverbs 18:1
- Psalm 122
- Philippians 4:10
- Proverbs 16:9
- Proverbs 19:21
- Philippians 2:13
- Acts 16
- 2 Corinthians 12
- Philippians 2:4
- John 15:5
- 2 Timothy 4:16-18
- Ephesians 3:16
- Ephesians 5
- Galatians
- Galatians 2:20
- Philippians 4:14
- Philippians 4:15
- Philippians 4:16
- Philippians 4:17
- Philippians 4:18
- Luke 6:38
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-10
- Philippians 4:19
- Philippians 4:20
- Psalm 73:25-26
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.
2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
21 There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Insights
True contentment means having little and needing nothing in this world.
Our circumstances do not dictate the spirit's inner peace.
A deep trust in God's orchestrating hand brings lasting satisfaction.
Questions & answers
Why does the preacher say there is an indifferent attitude toward the church today?
He identifies several reasons: a consumeristic view where people attend only if they gain something, the privatization of spirituality where individuals define their own beliefs, disillusionment from past hurts by church leaders, and unrealistic expectations of perfection within a congregation.
What does the sermon define as contentment?
Contentment is defined as being satisfied, having enough. It is an essential spiritual attitude commanded by the Bible that allows a person to be free from dissatisfaction, regardless of their circumstances.
How does Paul's imprisonment illustrate contentment?
While chained in sparse conditions, isolated from friends, and facing potential execution, Paul declared himself content. His ability to find satisfaction in such dire circumstances demonstrates his deep reliance on God and detachment from worldly comforts.
What does the sermon say about 'needs theology'?
The sermon criticizes 'needs theology' as an unbiblical approach that emphasizes personal needs and self-fulfillment as the compelling issue. This contrasts with biblical contentment, which teaches satisfaction with little and a focus on God's will.
What is the fifth principle of contentment discussed?
The fifth principle is a preoccupation with the well-being of others. Selfish people are never content; true contentment comes from being more concerned with meeting others' needs and seeing them blessed than with one's own desires or gains.
Why did Paul rejoice over the Philippians' gift, according to the sermon?
Paul rejoiced not because the gift met his personal wants, but because it increased the 'profit' (fruit) to the Philippians' heavenly account, representing an acceptable sacrifice to God that would result in eternal reward and God's continued blessing upon them.
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