As we end our study through Philippians today, I wonder how many of us looked over the fact that Paul wrote this letter while he was in prison. Probably for those of us who have done our Bible study on Philippians, we know that this is a prison epistle in which Paul writes to the Philippians to encourage them to know the joy of living to Christ. But have you ever really stopped to think how incredible that is? Have you ever really stopped to think how hard it might be to live the way Paul lived if we were in his same circumstances?
I wonder how many of us could sit in the Madison county jail for having done nothing wrong, and write encouraging letters to our brothers and sisters in Christ who were out and living free. For that is the circumstance that Paul is in. How did he do it? Wouldn’t you at least think every once and a while, “Why am I in here and they out there when we are both about the same task? Why is this happening just to me?” I think I might.
But Paul didn’t. He was sitting, writing a letter to encourage those on the outside.
In the final verses of this fourth chapter, he shares with us how he was able to do it. And as we look through it, it would do us good to take on the mindset of wanting to model his actions. For we should be people who live this way as we are striving to be people who live like our Lord. We need to model Paul’s actions, as I believe Paul was modeling Christ.
And to be fitting to the message of this letter which has provided us with so many basic things to the Christian life (i.e. Having Christian fellowship, treasuring and prizing Jesus Christ, living with the attitude of Christ that was displayed on the cross, modeling the example of godly saints, striving to know Christ more, and standing firm until the end) the solution Paul gives us for living as he does is quite basic. I pray that it is something that we knew and lived out before we ever set foot in this building today. However, as I said last week, it is not the problem that we do not know certain things. Rather, our problem is that we do not keep our minds renewed to these things, and in doing so we fail to see our lives transformed by them.
This attitude of Paul that we are marveling at, the ability to write joyfully from prison is identified in verse 11. He writes, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances.” And that is what we want to be able to mimic in our own lives. We want to be content no matter what happens.
But how do we do it? Paul gives two keys. I will mention both, but I want to spend a majority of my time this morning elaborating on the second.
First of all, he says that we learn contentment not in exposure to good or bad situation alone, but to both. He writes in verse 12, “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.”
I think this is important for us to recognize because it helps us see how pervasive the idea of contentment needs to be in our lives. I say this because when we think of someone struggling with contentment, we think of someone who has come from a background that has allowed them many luxuries. And we think, “I bet that person would really struggle with contentment if there were a time when he wasn’t able to live that way.” And there is legitimacy in thinking that way.
However, there is another side to contentment that we probably ignore. What about the person who comes from a really poor situation and stumbled into wealth? Would wealth instantly corrupt him, or would he be able to handle it in a godly manner?
For there is not only wanting and arrogance with those who have wealth; it is just as easy to love money and be spiritually arrogant when you have little to nothing. Thus, we need to learn a way in which we can be content no matter what our circumstances happen to be. We need to learn to be content regardless of circumstances.
We can learn how to do it in all circumstances. But what is it? What is Paul’s way of finding contentment in all situations?
He says in verse 13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
If there has been a verse that has been pulled out of context, this is it. We have taken this to mean a number of things that I do not think it means. For instance, this does not mean that because of Christ we are some Christian superhero.
It does not mean that if I quote this verse that I can break aluminum bats over my knee. And I fear that it has been used to promote this idea way too much.
I also fear that we have used it to provoke by guilt individuals to do things that they were not in any way called to do. For example, no one wants to teach the fourth grade boys on Sunday morning, so the pastor comes up to someone who is not gifted or called to the task and says, “Now, you know that you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength!”
This verse should not be used in that manner.
Rather, the idea is that in whatever circumstances Paul finds himself, he casts himself wholly upon the strength of Christ, trusting that he will be given the grace to do the task that God has called him to do.
This is the secret of contentment in all circumstances. It is living by the strength of Christ. There is no reason, therefore, that we should struggle in contentment when Christ offers himself to us. All Christians should be able to say that we can live contentedly regardless of having little or having much because of the strength of Christ.
But before I get to exactly how we go about that, let me point out that though we should be able to be content in having little, this does not mean that we should not refuse to give to those in need. That is what Paul wants the Philippian believers to see in verses 14-17 as he writes, “Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.”
Thus, for example, when one of you is in need, I shouldn’t say to myself, “Now, if he is living godly, he will cast himself upon Christ for his strength to find contentment” and ignore your need. That statement doesn’t excuse my obligation to love my neighbor as myself. With that said, however, we all should be able to find contentment through the strength of Christ.
But how do we do what I just said? “Throw yourself on Christ for His strength” is kind of an abstract exhortation isn’t it?
Well, I think Paul gives us steps for doing this in the following verses. Therefore, I want us to look at the remaining verses to see what “throwing yourself on God for his strength” in order that we may find how contentment is actually lived out.
I’ll give three basic exhortations to flesh it out. And I think as we abide by these, we will find ourselves living as Christ and Paul, and we will know deeper contentment than we have known to this point.
Paul writes in verse 18, “But I have received everything in full, and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.”
You’ve heard me say in the past that when we sin, even before doing something wrong to another person, first and foremost, we are despising God in our action. In the same way, Paul can tell the Philippians that their gift to him was a pleasing aroma and acceptable sacrifice to God.
In order to find contentment in life, in everything you do, do it to God. You will find no trouble in being content in your job, your dealings, or your circumstances if in everything you do, you are doing it to God.
I would challenge anyone to go to work on Monday morning, do everything unto God and covet another job that you wish you had. It won’t happen if you are truly doing your job to God because there is fulfillment in that.
That’s why I don’t think the Philippians hesitated to provide this gift for Paul. They knew that they were doing it unto God. And that thought propelled them to give with great eagerness. In fact, Paul says in verse 16 that they had even provided for him in Thessalonica.
If you remember Paul’s missionary travels, then you realize that after leaving Philippi, Paul quickly passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia on his way to Thessalonica. Therefore, he had hardly left Philippi before he had arrived in Thessalonica. Yet even there the Philippians were already finding ways to meet Paul’s needs.
I think it is because they gave as if they were giving unto God. And Paul recognizes this in verse 18.
This realization will allow you to gain contentment when everything seems shaky all around you. For these are often the hardest times to be content. It’s hard to be content in darkness.
And it could be that as the Philippians were giving that Satan began to throw the lie to them, “Hey, you’ve given to Paul, but no one is going to be here for you when you are in need.” Yet, Paul exposes this lie, writing, “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (v. 19). When you give unto God, God gives back even more unto you in himself.
God gives us more in himself than we could ever give to anyone. And he knows our needs. A rock for contentment should be our realization that God is in control in every circumstance that we are facing.
However, the best way Paul shows this is in his statement in verse 22. He writes, “All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.”
Now, aren’t these the kinds of verses that we read and think that they are not helpful for us at all? But that is not true. They are quite helpful in showing God’s control in this circumstance.
Do you remember where Paul is? He is in jail, most likely in Rome. Therefore, he is in jail because of Caesar. But do you think that he thinks that God is not in control and that Satan has the upper hand? Of course not. Instead, he smiles to himself, and writes, “All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.” Caesar may have Paul in jail to stop the spread of the gospel, but the gospel has already penetrated Caesar’s house.
This is a good reminder to Paul, I believe, and should have been to the Philippians, and should be to us that God is in control. How can we not be content when our God is in control.
Paul ends his epistle (as he does every other) reminding his hearers that God’s grace will be with them. He writes in verse 23, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”
Again, I don’t think he just wastes thoughts. He is reminding the Philippians that just as they trusted God’s grace to save them from their sins, they can trust his grace to be there for them no matter what circumstances come into their lives. God is not going to remove his grace from the lives of his children. When he begins a work, he finishes. Therefore, we may know with assurance the words of John Newton from Amazing Grace, “Grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.”
Therefore, let us learn the secret of contentment by continually casting ourselves on Christ for his strength for every task to which he calls us, doing everything unto God, realizing God’s control, and trusting in his eternal grace.
His grace will be with you. Amen.