I Have Learned to be Content
4: 10-13
I have learned to be content DIG: What is contentment? What are Paul’s circumstances at this time (1:13-14)? How do you think Paul discovered the secret of contentment while under house arrest? How can our contentment be a witness to the lost? What does Isaiah say about overcoming the limit of our physical strength and resources? What does it mean to be independent of circumstances?
REFLECT: In what areas of your life do you struggle with contentment? What outside force is most likely to upset your contentment? Since God doesn’t always change negative circumstances, what might you need to change so that contentment is possible for you? Are you content with little? Are you content in abundance? How can you help others in this area of contentment this week?
Contentment is the ability to be utterly at peace in spite of negative circumstances.
Contentment is a highly prized, but elusive virtue. Though it comes only from being rightly related to ADONAI and trusting in His sovereign, loving, purposeful providence; nevertheless, people seek it where it cannot be found . . . in money, possessions, power, prestige, relationships, jobs, or freedom from difficulties. But by that definition, contentment is unattainable, for it is impossible in this fallen world to be completely free from problems. In sharp contrast to the world’s understanding of contentment is this simple definition of spiritual contentment written by the Puritan Jeremiah Burroughs, “Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.”181
As John MacArthur relates in his commentary on Philippians, before concluding this letter to his beloved Philippian congregation, Paul wanted to express his deeply felt gratitude to them. He had a special relationship with them since the founding of the church at Philippi. At one point in Paul’s ministry years earlier, they were the only church that had supported him financially (4:15-16). Now they had once again sent him a gift, and 4:10-19 is Paul’s thank-you note back to them for it.
Beneath the surface of Paul’s expression of thanks to the Philippians is the picture of a man utterly content in spite of such severe circumstances. In the direct statement of 4:9, Paul offered himself as an example of spiritual stability. In verses 4-10, as he thanked the Philippians for their gift, he indirectly offered himself as an example of contentment. Paul knew how to rejoice in every circumstance and be free from anxiety and worry (to see link click Bn – Do Not be Anxious about Anything), because his heart was guarded by the peace of God and the God of peace. His example is especially relevant today in our discontented culture.
Five principles of contentment flow from this seemingly mundane conclusion of Paul’s letter. A contented person is confident in God’s providence, satisfied with little, independent from circumstances, strengthened by divine power and preoccupied with the well-being of others. (1) A contented person is confident in God’s providence (4:10); (2) A contented person is satisfied with little (4:11); (3) A contented person is independent of circumstances (4:12); (4) A contented person is strengthened by divine power (4:13); and (5) A contented person is preoccupied with the well-being of others (4:14-19).
(1) A contented person is confident in God’s providence: I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last you revived your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it (4:10 NIV). Ten years had passed since Paul’s ministry in Philippi had resulted in the founding of the church in that city. The Philippians had generously supported him when he left Philippi to minister in the Macedonian cities of Thessalonica and Berea (Acts 17:1-13). When Paul moved south into Achaia, the Philippians continued their support as he ministered in Athens and Corinth (Acts 17:14 to 18:18). As the years passed, they had consistently been concerned about Paul, but lacked any opportunity to provide support for him. The reason for that lack is not given. Perhaps it was due to their preoccupation with their crushing poverty (Second Cor 8:1-2). He did so not primarily because the gift met his need, but because it gave evidence of their love for him. His joy overflowed that now at last, after ten years, they had revived their concern for him.
The Greek verb translated revived is a botanical metaphor, meaning to blossom again, like perennials or Spring shoots of trees or bushes. So, the Philippians’ generous support for Paul, after lying dormant for ten years, had once again blossomed. The apostle’s statement indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it, was intended to allay any misunderstanding on the Philippian’s part. Both verbs in this clause are imperfects, implying continual concern. So Paul knew that their lack of support had nothing to do with their concern for him, they merely lacked the opportunity to express it (Second Corinthians 8:12).
But recently an opportunity arose when Epaphroditus arrived in Rome, bringing with a generous gift from the Philippians (4:18) for which Paul rejoiced in the Lord greatly.
Paul’s gracious attitude reflects his patient confidence in ADONAI’s sovereign providence. He was certain that in due time God would arrange his circumstances to meet his needs. There was no panic on his part, no attempt to manipulate people, no taking matters into his own hands. The apostle was content because he knew that the times, seasons, and opportunities of life are controlled by the sovereign God who works all things after the counsel of His will (Eph 1:11), thereby causing all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28). Those who seek to control their own lives will inevitably be frustrated. A confident trust in God’s providence is foundational to contentment.
(2) A contented person is satisfied with little: In case the Philippians misjudged his statement in verse 10, Paul quickly added a disclaimer. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself (4:11 Greek). Though the situation was extremely difficult and stressful, Paul was not unhappy. It didn’t matter that he was a prisoner, living under house arrest, chained to a Roman soldier, subsisting on a sparse diet. None of that affected his contentment, because he was satisfied with what little he had. His contentment was not affected by his physical reality.
The Greek word translated content in verse 11 appears only here in the B’rit Chadashah. In extra-biblical Greek it was used to speak of being self-sufficient, having enough, or not being dependent on others. True contentment comes only from God, and enables believers to be satisfied and at ease in the midst of any problem. This is seemingly impossible in today’s society. People are not content with either little or much. Instead, people are obsessed with explaining their needs and loudly demanding that they be met. Need has become the number one value in our culture. Starting from the humanistic premise that God does not exist and mankind is therefore the ultimate and the goal in life becomes getting their needs met. They think that at the end of their life, the ones with the most toys wins.
Adding to the discontent is the blurring of the distinction between needs and wants. In today’s world, almost everything has become a “need.” Thus people “need” better jobs, fancier cars, and bigger homes; women “need” careers outside the home, and paradoxically, “nee” children; young people “need” unending sexual encounters to liberate their repressed egos; children “need” the freedom to express themselves outside the “bondage” of parental control. Like a hamster running around and around on a wheel and going nowhere, people desperately chase the contentment that is always tantalizingly just out of reach. But Paul knew that the chief end of mankind is not to have our “needs” met, but to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Because of that, he was satisfied with whatever God graciously granted him. He worked hard, and was content to let God control the results. When difficult times came, Paul remained content because he was satisfied with little.
(3) A contented person is independent from circumstances. 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 (4:12 Greek). Paul explains what he alluded to in the previous verse. The twice-repeated phrase I know how . . . I also know how reveals that he had learned by experience and spiritual maturity to live above his circumstances and not to let them affect his contentment. This is an important lesson for us to learn for it’s the difficult circumstances in life that most frequently steal our joy and our contentment. Like Agur (see the commentary on Proverbs Dt – The Sayings of Agur), we need to find the sweet-spot in life: Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread (see Proverbs Du – The Prayer of Agur). That is contentment.
Paul’s statement: I know how to get along with humble means, to be hungry, and to suffer need indicates that he had had his share of poverty. He knew what it was to get by with meager material things. But he also knew how to live in prosperity, to be filled, and to have an abundance when God granted him more than he needed. All six of these terms refer to the material, earthly needs of this life, not to spiritual needs.
Paul was no ivory tower theologian; he had lived and ministered in the trenches. His life was not exactly a testimonial for the prosperity gospel! The apostle’s trials began at Damascus shortly after his conversion. At Lystra on his first missionary journey, hostile Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead (Acts 14:19). Many of the Philippian believers no doubt remembered what happened to Paul and his fellow preacher Silas at Philippi (Acts 16:22-24). And things didn’t get much better for the apostle at Thessalonica (Acts 17:5-10). Trouble, in the form of hostile, unbelieving Jews, followed Paul from Thessalonica to Berea (Acts 17:13). Forced to flee Berea, Paul went to Athens where he was mocked and ridiculed by the skeptical Greek philosophers gathered at Mars Hill (Acts 17:18-34). From Athens Paul went to Corinth where Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat (Acts 18:12). After ministering for three months in Greece, a plot [to kill Paul] was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria (Acts 20:3). When he got to Jerusalem, Paul was attacked and savagely beaten after the Jews from Asia Minor recognized him in the Temple (Acts 21:31-35). Rescued from certain death by the quick action of a Roman officer (Acts 21:31-35), Paul began his long stay in Roman custody. Two years later, after hearings before the Sanhedrin and the Roman governor failed to resolve his situation, Paul exercised his right as a Roman citizen to appeal to Caesar. After a harrowing sea voyage, which included a terrifying, two-week-long storm that ended in a shipwreck (Acts 27). Paul finally arrived in Rome (Acts 28). As he wrote this letter to the Philippians, the apostle was under house arrest in Rome. In summing up his hard, difficult, painful life, Paul explained it all to the Corinthians (Second Corinthians 11:22-33).
In all of Paul’s unique and constant sufferings, he had learned the secret of rising above them. In the midst of all his trials, he kept his focus on heavenly realities (cf. Colossians 3:1-2). In Second Corinthians 4:17, the apostle wrote: For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond comprehension. With that perspective. Is it any surprise that no amount of suffering could affect his contentment? We can’t all be like the apostle Paul in regard to contentment, but that should be our goal.
(4) A contented person is strengthened by divine power. No matter how difficult his struggles may have been, Paul had a spiritual undergirding, an invisible means of support. His adequacy and sufficiency came from his union with the adequate and sufficient Messiah. Paul declared: I have been crucified with Messiah; and it is no longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me; and the life which I now life in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me (Galatians 2:20).
When Paul wrote: I can do (Greek: ischuo) all things, he had in mind physical, not spiritual things. Ischuo means to be strong, to have power, or to have resources. It is variously translated as overpowered (Acts 19:16), prevailing (Acts 19:20), and effective (James 5:16). The Greek text emphasizes the word translated all things (the context is a reference to physical needs in verses 11-12) by placing it first in the sentence. Paul was strong enough to endure anything through Him who strengthens me (4:13 ESV; cf. First Timothy 1:12 and Second Timothy 4:17). The apostle does not, of course, mean that he could physically survive indefinitely without food, water, sleep, or shelter. And notwithstanding the reality of martyrs in our world even to this very day. But what he is saying is that when he reached the limit of his physical resources and strength, even to the point of death, he was infused with the strength of Messiah. He could overcome the most dire physical difficulties because of the inner, spiritual strength that ADONAI had given him. In the words of Isaiah 40:29-31: ADONAI gives strength to the weary and increases the power to the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in ADOANI will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not get tired.
It is important to note that only those who live lives of obedience to God’s Word and His will can count on His power to sustain them. Those whose continued sin has led them into the pit of despair cannot expect God to bring them contentment from their circumstances. In fact, he may even add to their difficulties to chasten them and bring them to repentance. But God’s power will bring contentment to those who have no strength of their own. There is no quick fix . . . no shortcut to contentment. It only comes to those strengthened by divine power, and that divine power does not come through counselors, therapy, positive thinking, or self-help formulas, but only from consistent godly living.181
Dear heavenly Father, Praise you that I can be content as I focus and trust in Your love and power, no matter what is happening in this world (Philippians 4:10). What a comfort to know that You are almighty. You are in control. Trials of this life will soon be over and the joys of living and praising you will last for all eternity! For I consider the sufferings of this present time not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18). My heart goes way beyond contentment, to deep joy knowing that Messiah has promised to prepare a place in heaven for me. Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself, so that where I am you may also be (John 14:1-3). When I rest in Your love, it brings me such contentment! My heart is full of praise. You are so worthy of my love! In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen
Leave A Comment