Finding Joy in Chains (Part 12) (Phil.4:10-23)                                                                         2008.09.07    Pastor Edward Cheng  

        We began to talk about this phenomenal “secret” of Paul’s that he introduced to us last time – the secret of being content.  It’s a secret not in the sense that it has to stay a secret, as if the information was not allowed to be transmitted from person to person, but rather in the sense that it is information and knowledge that the average person does not know.  It’s information that the average Christian needs to be taught, to whom it needs to be demonstrated, otherwise he or she would not know it.  The first part of this secret, as seen in the first few verses of this section, showed us that being content has nothing to do with how much we have.  In other words, having more does not equate to more contentment.  And having less should not result is a greater sense of dissatisfaction with life.  For Paul, he was able to be content “whatever the circumstances” (Phil. 4:11).  Oh, that we would feel the same.  But there are two more aspects to this secret that we would do well to pay attention to.

Contentment Comes from the Strength of the Lord

        After realizing that contentment does not come from having, Paul gives the counterpoint to this fact; that in reality, contentment must come from the Lord.  This leads us to a well-known and often-quoted verse: “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13).  Does this verse offer to the believer a guarantee of supernatural strength and success regardless of the circumstance?  Is this the verse that David thought of when he faced Goliath?  Is this the verse that Jesus thought of when he faced the cross? 

        As wonderful as this verse sounds outside of its context, we have to remember that these words were written in context.  And in its context, the truth of this verse is a little narrower than we’d like to think.  While it may be true that God does offer us strength in any situation, it is probably not guaranteed by this verse in Philippians.  Rather, Paul is extending his thought concerning his ability to be content in any circumstance.  He says that he can be content in times of need and in times of plenty, in times of want and in times of abundance, in times of hunger and in times of being full.  He can do all these things because of the strength of the Lord.  This perhaps is a better and more accurate way of understanding this verse.

        In any case, we see now where lies Paul’s source of contentment – it is in the Lord.  Should we be surprised by this?  That his contentment comes not from material things but from the Immaterial One?  Only through Him can we find that deep inner contentment every person desires and has a need for.  Hopefully this serves as a reminder to us that our eyes must be focused on the Lord, at all times, whether in want or in plenty.  Like the Israelites who were about to enter Canaan in Deuteronomy 8, we are also encouraged this morning to remember the Lord especially in times of plenty, which is probably where we find ourselves most of the time living in this area.  The moment we take our eyes off the Lord and begin to search for contentment in other places is the moment that we begin to experience discontentment.

Contentment Comes From Sharing

        Finally, Paul concludes his thoughts concerning the secret of being contentment by switching gears and offering to us the last bit of information concerning this secret – that it comes by way of sharing in the body.  Who would’ve seen this coming?  But apparently this seems to be the point in vv. 14-19.  He says so several times: “It was good of you to share” (v. 14), “Not one church shared in the matter of giving and receiving” (v. 15), “You sent me aid again and again” (v. 16), and “They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God” (v. 18). 

        We have to learn how to share and be generous with one another in the Body of Christ.  Again, we have to be careful to remember that contentment does not come by way of having more, as if in our sharing we are providing more for others, but rather it is in our sharing that we share with each other the love of Christ so that we are all filled to the fullest measure of His love.  We need to look for opportunities to share, to be generous, just as Paul says in Galatians 6:10: “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”

        What are we left with?  Three aspects to this secret of being content: that is has nothing to do with how much we have; that it comes directly from the strength of the Lord; and that it comes by way of sharing and being generous in the body.  Let us follow Paul’s example and discover the secret of being content whatever the circumstance in our own lives.