Scripture: Philippians 4:10-20
I. You learn contentment by being generous.
A. Paul’s awkward word of thanks to the Philippians begins in verse 10. Even though Paul is in jail he says that he has an abundance because of the generous gift of the Philippians (vs. 18). The Philippians were quite poor. 2 Corinthians 8:1-2: “We want you to know, brothers, about… the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.”
B. The church gave generously because their gift was not so much a gift to Paul as it was a gift to God. Paul says in vs. 18 that the Philippians’ gifts were a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. In the Old Testament the priest would pour incense on a sacrifice which released a fragrant aroma that ascended upward toward heaven. This sweet-smelling fragrance pictured the pleasure that the sacrifice which the Philippians made brought to God.
II. You learn contentment by discipline.
A. Verse 11: “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” Contentment does not come naturally to anyone. It must be learned. At the end of his learning of contentment, Paul could say, “If God hasn’t given it to me, I don’t need it. I accept whatever circumstance then that God has placed me in. I am content.” Contentment is the opposite of covetousness. To covet is to be consumed with desire for something that belongs to someone else. To covet is to crave.
B, The children of Israel in the Old Testament did not learn the secret of contentment. They instead chose to complain. Exodus 17:8: “And (Moses) called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the LORD by saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?” God was testing the people’s faith (Ps. 81:7). And the people failed the test. They had not learned the discipline of contentment.
III. You learn contentment by trusting God.
A. We see Paul’s trust in God in vs. 20: “To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Paul would accept all of his circumstances as from God’s hand. And he would praise and trust God in each circumstance. Paul had learned to be content because he had learned to trust God. Because of what Paul learned in trusting God and contentment he gives to us two of the most precious promises in all of the New Testament in Philippians 4:13, 19. Because Paul was in Christ (vs. 13), he had the power to be content and to trust God in every circumstance.
Application:
Learn contentment so you will know that the person who possesses Jesus possesses everything.
Sources:
The letter to the Philippians
Commentaries on Philippians by Moises Silva, J.A. Motyer, D.A. Carson & Steven Lawson
Sermon Discussion Questions
1) To what extent is joy the emotional response to contentment? How do you lose contentment if you forget that God is sovereign or that God is good? How will being generous help you to learn contentment?
2) What is the secret of contentment? How have you already made progress in learning this secret? Do you think it is harder to find contentment in Christ when times are hard for you or when times are good for you?
3) How did the Philippians view their money and their giving? How does giving money away profit you as a Christian?