Learn To Be Content In All Circumstances

Sermon Transcript

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” If you’re anything like me, then you may have two simultaneous reactions to that statement. The first reaction is longing. Who of us doesn’t want to be able to honestly say, “I have learned to be content independent of my circumstances”? Think about the various circumstances that you’re facing. Now imagine learning to be content independent of how those circumstances unfold. Our first reaction is, “I desire that more than nearly anything.” Our first reaction to the idea of contentment is a longing desire for it.

However, if we’re honest, many of us have a second, simultaneous reaction to hearing Paul say, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content,” and that reaction is skepticism. Is he exaggerating? Is that possible for me? Can he say that just because he has a laid back personality? We know that Paul wasn’t exaggerating and that he didn’t have a laid back personality by reading the earliest church history book ever written, the New Testament Book of Acts. In Acts chapter sixteen, Paul and his friend Silas traveled to the city of Philippi, in modern day Turkey, and risked their lives to passionately preach the message that Jesus Christ died and rose for the forgiveness of sins. Not something a purely laid back person would do. As a result of their preaching, Paul and Silas were brutally beaten and thrown in prison. Listen to the record of how they responded. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. [25] About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them (Acts 16:24-25). Paul sang with joy independent of the worst of circumstances. In fact, Paul wrote the words, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content,” to the church in Philippi while he was in prison, likely chained to a Roman guard. Philippians is one of what is called Paul’s prison epistles. His contentment wasn’t theoretical, nor an exaggeration. And it wasn’t just Paul who sang in prison, but a normal Christian named Silas.

Yes, we all long to be content independent of our circumstances, but we don’t need to be skeptical about contentment. Contentment independent of circumstances is the duty and privilege of everyone who loves the same Lord that Paul did. That brings us to the big idea of our passage this morning: Learn to be content in all circumstances. Paul said he learned contentment. Contentment is neither natural nor automatic. Learn contentment. How do we learn contentment? Our verse for this morning reveals three ways: 1. Know the urgency of it 2. Understand the nature of it 3. Embrace the secret of it.

KNOW THE URGENCY OF IT

There are at least two reasons why contentment is so urgent and we can see them both in Philippians 4:11: Discontentment dishonors the Lord and spoils everything. Dishonors God and spoils everything. Philippians 4:11, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians, in large part, to thank them for renewing their financial support for his ministry. Now, why didn’t Paul simply say, “Thank you for renewing your financial support for my ministry”? Why does Paul emphasize that his delight in their gift didn’t spring from a place of need? Well, if Paul’s thanks sprang from a place of ultimate need, that would dishonor the all-sufficiency of Christ to make us content independent of circumstances. I love the way that late British preacher Martin Lloyd-Jones describes the way Paul says thank you in Philippians 4:11: Paul was always jealous for the reputation of the Lord, and he was afraid that in thanking the Philippians for their gift he might somehow give the impression that the Lord was not sufficient for him. He must keep that first. He loves these Philippians very dearly and he is profoundly grateful to them. But he loves his Lord still more, and he is afraid lest in thanking them he might somehow give even a suspicion of a suggestion that the Lord was not sufficient for him, or that he had been depending upon the Philippians in an ultimate sense. Contentment is urgent because discontentment dishonors the Lord, but it also spoils everything, especially good things. If Paul was in need, if we cannot be content without something, we’ll never be content with it. We’ll get it, but it won’t satisfy because it was a need. Discontent spoils everything. No doubt many of you have been watching the Olympics this week. I love the Olympics. One of my favorite movies as a kid was Cool Runnings, which is about the first Jamaican Olympic bobsled team. In one scene, the captain of the team is talking with his coach, who had previously won two Olympic gold medals. The captain is talking about his ambition to win a gold medal and in response the coach says, “a gold medal is a wonderful thing, but if you’re not enough without it, you’ll never be enough with it.” Discontentment will even spoil a gold medal. Without contentment, you could get everything you want, everything you’re facing could go your way, and it won’t be enough. That’s why Paul said, “not that I am speaking of being in need.” That’s why learning contentment begins with knowing how urgent it is. Contentment delights in God in all circumstances. Discontentment dishonors God and spoils everything. Discontentment in your heart is upstream from all your sinful actions and negative emotions. Contentment is urgent.

Consider just a few examples that illustrate the urgency of contentment. Let’s begin with our vocations. Contentment curbs ungodly, selfish ambition so that you can work hard unto the Lord and know when to desist. However, discontentment will either make you lazy, a workaholic, or a whinny combination of both. Contentment is urgent. Now consider body image. Contentment guards against gluttony because it frees you from relying on food for satisfaction. However, discontentment will lead you to either always need another bite or another workout, believing that satisfaction is the result of a full bully or a flat one. Contentment is urgent. Consider your sexuality. Contentment allows you to be at peace with what God has given and, if you’re married, lovingly improve it. However, discontent will lead you to look at porn, read smutty romance novels, be demanding, or commit sexual acts with someone who isn’t your spouse. That’s trading a rich inheritance for a bowl of soup. Contentment is urgent. Consider how you manage money. Discontent in your heart will lead you to either be a careful money saver or a loose money spender, but only contentment can free you to be a financial servant. Lastly, consider anger. Discontent in your heart is upstream from being easily offended, argumentative, and defensive. Contentment frees you from being overly self-concerned. Contentment is urgent because discontentment dishonors the Lord and spoils everything. The first step to learning contentment is knowing how urgent it is, knowing it’s a treasure worth digging for. Secondly, to learn contentment…

UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF IT

What is and what is not contentment? To learn contentment we can’t only know its urgency, we also have to understand its nature. Philippians 4:11 – Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. The Greek word translated “contentment,” in simplest terms, means independence from circumstances. The very next verse helps us see that. Philippians 4:12 – I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. Independence from circumstances. However, true Christian contentment is more than that and it’s quite different from Buddhist conceptions of renunciation from the world or mindfulness techniques for detachment. Christian contentment is more than that. We know that because just a few verses earlier in Philippians 4:6, Paul instructed Christians to be anxious for nothing, pray about everything, and then regardless of circumstances the peace of God will keep their hearts in perfect peace. We know that Christian contentment, though not less than independence from circumstances, is more than that because King David said, “The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. In light of these verses, here is my working definition of that nature of Christian contentment. Christian contentment is a peaceful heart that delights in God’s Fatherly wisdom in all circumstances. Leave on screen.

Let’s unpack that definition in three parts and in doing so I’ll share some of my favorite quotes from my favorite book about contentment outside the Bible, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment. In fact, you can assume that everything I say in this point is gleaned from God’s word or Rare Jewel. First, contentment is a peaceful or quiet heart. In other words, contentment is not just holding your tongue or looking calm or carefree on the outside. A shoe can look great on the outside, but cause blisters on the inside. That’s not contentment. As Burroughs says, “Many may sit silently, refraining from discontent expressions, yet inwardly they are bursting with discontent.” Contentment isn’t just a peaceful face, it’s a peaceful heart. Contentment is a quiet heart, even when you have a noisy life.

I think now would be a good time to mention what a peaceful heart isn’t opposed to. A content heart isn’t opposed to feeling afflicted. This separates Christian contentment from stoicism. Burroughs reminds us that Christ does not say “Do not count as a cross what is a cross”; he says, “Take up your cross daily.” Contentment isn’t opposed to feeling afflicted, it’s learning to have a peaceful heart precisely when you feel afflicted. A content heart also isn’t opposed to honestly unburdening your heart to God and your friends. After all, contentment often comes through the comforting presence of God in honest prayer and the timely words from a friend to a weary soul. Finally, a peaceful and quiet heart isn’t opposed to using God-pleasing means to change your circumstances. Do you want to be married? It’s no sign of discontentment to go on a date. Do you want to get out of debt? It’s no sign of discontent to save money, so long as you’re also using it to serve through sacrificial giving. Do you want a child? It’s no sign of discontent to make an appointment with a fertility doctor. However, a peaceful heart is opposed to complaining and murmuring against the circumstances God brings while you’re seeking to change them. A peaceful heart is opposed to letting circumstances unsettle you in a way that distracts you from the God-given responsibilities of the day. A peaceful heart is opposed to allowing circumstances to lead to sinking discouragement, which quenches your love for God and leads you to seek relief in ungodly ways. Contentment is a peaceful, quiet heart.

Second, Christian contentment is a peaceful heart that delights in God’s fatherly wisdom. Christian contentment isn’t self-mastery, rather it’s a peaceful heart because it delights in its Heavenly Father whose ways are perfect and works all things together for our good. Citylight – I want to tell you something with no hint of false-humility: I am by nature the most discontent person I have ever met. So, I want to share a Burroughs quote with you that really helps me keep a peaceful heart by delighting in God’s Fatherly wisdom. Disposal = wise ways.

A contented heart looks to God’s disposal, and submits to God’s disposal, that is, he sees the wisdom of God in everything. In his submission he sees his sovereignty, but what makes him take pleasure is God’s wisdom. The Lord knows how to order things better than I. The Lord sees further than I do: I only see things at present but the Lord sees a great while from now. And how do I know but that had it not been for this affliction, I should have been undone. I know that the love of God may as well stand with an afflicted condition as with a prosperous condition.

Christian contentment is a peaceful heart that delights in God’s fatherly wisdom. Now the final part of the definition: in all circumstances. Christian contentment is independent of circumstances, no matter what kind of circumstances they are or how long they last. Contentment that rises and falls with circumstances is no contentment at all. Christian contentment is a peaceful heart that delights in God’s Fatherly wisdom in all circumstances. We’ve seen the urgency of it, the nature of it, but, finally, to learn contentment we have to…

EMBRACE THE SECRET OF IT

Over the next three Sundays, we’ll spend significant time learning the secret to contentment. This morning, as we close, we’re only going to dip our toe in by beginning to embrace the secret of it. In the two verses following Philippians 4:11, Paul writes, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. [13] I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:12-13). The secret of contentment is Christ. Though circumstances change, Jesus Christ does not. The heart of the Christian faith is the good news that Jesus Christ died and rose to forgive the sins of everyone who receive and rest in Him alone for salvation. Christ is the unshakeable ark who protects you in the storm. When God sent the great flood, Noah and his family went into the ark. However, even when the flood waters began to subside, the Lord told Noah that he had to remain shut up in the ark. No matter how long you are shut up in your afflictions, you are safe in the ark that is Christ. And in Christ, the God who was once your judge is now your Father who works all your circumstances – the good, the bad, and the failings – together for your good. This wonderful gospel message helps us see the main way we learn to have peaceful hearts that delight in God’s Fatherly wisdom in all circumstances: worship the Father for your afflictions. Don’t just worship him when you see the good that he’s working through your afflictions. That’s not the way to a peaceful heart because he is always doing a million good things on your behalf in your afflictions, and you may only see one. Worship him, hallow his name, at the first moment you feel affliction and at the very first rising of your heart from peace to anxiety. Right then, worship. As Spurgeon said, “when grief presses you to the dust, worship there.” With Christ the secret of contentment, God is your Father who is always doing ultimate good to you. Therefore, we get a peaceful heart by actively hallowing his name in our afflictions. As Burroughs says, “For if a man is to be free from discontent and worry it is not enough merely not to murmur but you must be active in sanctifying God’s name in the affliction. Indeed, this will distinguish it from a sturdy resolution not to be troubled. Though you have a sturdy resolution that you will not be troubled, do you make it a matter of conscience to sanctify God’s name in your affliction and is this where your resolution comes from? That is the main thing that brings quietness of heart and helps against discontent in a gracious heart.” Only the grace of Christ, the secret of contentment can lead our hearts there. Do you have him? He is the great treasure & pearl of great price. By having Him you have all, even if you lack everything. Have you come to embrace Him and rest in Him alone to forgive your sins? Are you learning to know and take pleasure in him? He is the secret to learning contentment. As another great puritan pastor, Thomas Brooks once wrote, “So saith a gracious soul, though honor is not, and riches are not, and health is not, and friends are not, it is enough that Christ is, that he reigns, conquers, and triumphs.”