9. Content in Christ

Philippians • Sermon • Submitted a year ago

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Paul closes his letter with thanksgiving for the support received. He makes it clear that the money has been provided by God. Also the relationship has not changed because of the finance. Lastly, Paul makes it clear that whether rich or poor he is content with Christ -- Jesus is enough.

Notes

Transcript

Philippians

Philippians 4:10–20 NIV 2011

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Introduction

Main Point: Contentment isn’t about things, but Jesus.

Greatest Showman - P.T. Barnum Adventure - fame, money - but would it ever be enough? Sentiment captured by a song - Jenny Lind.

All the shine of a thousand spotlights All the stars we steal from the night sky Will never be enough Never be enough Towers of gold are still too little These hands could hold the world but it'll Never be enough Never be enough

What satisfies you? What are you aiming for in life - what do you suppose will happen if you ever get there? Will it be enough?

If, like me, you suspect it won’t be - God’s message to us matters - find contentment, not in possessions, fame, love, power, but in Him.

1. Thanksgiving

Main Point: Paul gives thanks for his gifts but won’t allow money to change the relationship. Giving is good, but don’t think of it as a trade. Trust God with your giving.

Money can make things awkward: ‘Neither a borrower nor a lender be’ - money changes relationships. Awkward receiving - what does this mean for our relationship now?

Favour - you owe me one.

Power - look what I can do for you...

Some of us are bad at receiving too - have to pay it back somehow.

This reality might go someway to explaining why Paul is making a somewhat thankless thank you:

Philippians 4:10-11 “I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, (…)”

And then:

Philippians 4:17-18 “Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.”

If we had financially donated to Paul’s mission, wouldn’t we feel a little put out at his lack of gratitude? Perhaps that points to the problem...

Understanding the ‘late’ payment - no opportunity.

But now amply supplied through Epaphroditus the sick messenger.

Instead, Paul desires not their gifts but that ‘more would be credited to your account.’

Paul is careful to avoid a patron/sponsor relationship, a power dynamic - instead koinonia - partners and equals.

Paul shifts focus to God - He supplied Paul’s need through the Philippians.

Waking us up to our role in expanding the Gospel. What is our approach to giving financially to the Church?

Difficult area to talk about, because so much abuse has taken place. Preachers living in mansions - “God will provide me a rolex...”

But there’s a reality - we need money to move as the people of God in the ways we are currently committed to.

Salaries, buildings, organised outreach and mission.

We could do things differently - meet underground - but we have chosen not to for good reasons. So we give responsibly:

How much? 10% tithe is a principle some people use.

In reality it’s a choice between you and God:

2 Corinthians 9:7-8 “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

NO compulsion, but JOYFUL - not through gritted teeth and with resentment.

BUT with Confidence that you are giving out of a place of security, not risk - God can provide all things:

Philippians 4:18-19 “They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

Meet all needs - riches our His glory (weight) all that He has available. We can give because we can trust that God won’t hang us out to dry… Not a guarantee of financial riches, but that when all is said and done we have all we need.

The reason we give, as well as for supporting God’s work, is because it is GOOD FOR US:

Few things communicate trust and affection than giving that which is valuable to us.

OT - giving of the first fruits, the most valuable. Not the cereal in the cupboard that you couldn’t care less about - that which is valuble to you.

It is good for us because we demonstrate in action that God matters more than material gain: “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” God isn’t interested in fruits, animals or even our money - He is interested in our hearts.

Can we be content with Him?

2. Content

Main Point: Find contentment in Jesus, not from elsewhere

Philippians 4:11-12 “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”

Question: How content are you right now? 1. being total angst and frustration and need, 10. being completely and totally satisfied! Where do you sit?

Question: Why do you sit there? What would take you up a point, or down a point? Take a moment to notice where your mind is taken - you might find out something interesting about yourself and what you value.

Paul refuses to play this game - he thinks altogether differently to you and I.

Paul’s contentment doesn’t rest in fears and desires he says “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”

Circumstances don’t define Paul’s peace (last week), and here Paul’s contentment. He is satisfied whatever the situation. But why?

Greatest Showman - P.T. Barnum & Charity Barnum - He brought her wealth and experiences, big house like she grew up in, beautiful clothes and food, ballet lessons for their daughters.

But the tragedy was that all she really wanted was him, and he had left her to seek out adventure fame, money and power. Her refrain in the song Million Dreams tells us her heart:

However big, however small Let me be part of it all Share your dreams with me We may be right, we may be wrong But I wanna bring you along to the world I see To the world we close our eyes to see We close our eyes to see

As human beings we can get our hearts caught up in the wrong pursuits - God asks everyone to come back to Him - make Him our first love.

And for us, the key to contentment is singing this refrain for ourselves as we sing these words to God:

However big, however small Let me be part of it all Share your dreams with me It may be easy, it may be tough But you will always be enough, In the world I close our eyes to see I close our eyes to see

Paul writes:

Philippians 3:7-8 “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.”

The secret to being content is knowing God: He alone is the one who satisfies - there is NO OTHER. Not Buddhism but ensuring Jesus comes first. Everything else leads to disappointment. This is the story of Scripture:

We have created for a relationship but decided to reject God in favour of our own self-sufficiency. We thought that we would be enough - we know from experience that we’re wrong here - It’s never enough. But it’s almost like we can’t help ourselves, we keep going after anything but Him:

Hosea 3:1 “The Lord said to me, ‘Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.’”

Story in microcosm - God rejected by humans as they fall in love with created things, sacred raisin cakes, the most trivial of idolatrous items - humans sell themselves into slavery, a way of living and thinking, sin, that causes them to fall FAR short of God’s intentions for them - God buys them back through a sacrifice to live with Him once again.

The focus is relationship:

The destiny of every human being depends on his relationship to Jesus Christ. It is not on his relationship to life, or on his service or his usefulness, but simply and solely on his relationship to Jesus Christ.

Oswald Chambers

That destiny begins now - what life will we live now? Because that life will reflect eternity. APPEAL!

Know Jesus now and be satisfied - and find eternal contentment, peace, joy and love that begins here today.

Experiencing God - Inexpressible joy!

3. Strength

Main Point: How content are we? When is it ever enough?

Inexpressible strength.

Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor. - Benjamin Franklin

Contentment in Jesus doesn’t just make you rich - it makes you strong! Which is important as we are at risk of being incredibly weak:

Nearly three-quarters of young people today want a career in online videos. Young people’s dreams are to sing for a living, make videos for a living - how does that end? What kind of life is that? How shallow, and anxious are we? Surely there must be more?! We were created for so much more!

When our confidence comes from the superficial we become immeasurably weak and dependant on circumstance.

Philippians 4:12 “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”

Plenty - our strength comes from our blessing. Affluenza, strength and status from material possessions - Oliver James, Eric Fromm.

Want - Some, especially Christians, draw strength from their poverty. To suffer means God trusts me with poor. I’m better because I’m not rich and because I suffer! WARNING.

Paul’s answer is NO, he will not play that game - he will not let circumstance dictate His strength - for He has Jesus in all circumstances!

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Do all this? Not superhero promises! Not ability to pass an exam. This can become a kind of warcry - I will succeed because I have Jesus - success is guaranteed.

NO - Jesus is guaranteed, whether you succeed or fail.

Do all this? Shape your contentment around Jesus - and thus become strong - more lightly and yet be immovable.

Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

What do you do with Paul? You imprison him and he says ‘to live is Christ.’ Threaten to kill him; ‘to die is gain.’

Totally unconquerable! Not a bad aim.

Stand with me ‘In Christ’ - avoid the trap of chasing idols and commit to loving Jesus - and know Him with you in all circumstances.

However big, however small Let me be part of it all Share your dreams with me It may be easy, it may be tough But you will always be enough

We are never nearer Christ than when we find ourselves lost in a holy amazement at His unspeakable love.

John Owen

2 Thessalonians 3:5 “5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.”