Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction:
Two friends met each other on the street one day.
One looked downcast, almost on the verge of tears.
His friend asked, “What has the world done to you, my old friend?”
The sad fellow said, “Let me tell you: three weeks ago, my uncle died and left me forty thousand dollars.”
“That’s a lot of money.”
“But you see, two weeks ago, a cousin I never even knew died, and left me eighty-five thousand dollars, free and clear.”
“Sounds to me that you’ve been very blessed.”
“You don’t understand!” he interrupted.
“Last week my great-aunt passed away.
I inherited almost a quarter of a million from her.”
Now the man’s friend was really confused.
“Then, why do you look so glum?”
“This week—nothing!”
I found this story on the internet and it had an unknown source so sadly, I cannot property cite it.
But I thought it really highlighted the difficulty of finding contentment.
Warren Wiersbe once said:
Prosperity has done more damage to believers than has adversity.
“I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” (Rev.
3:17)
Warren Wiersbe
If this is true, we are in great danger my friends.
We live in the most prosperous nation in the most prosperous time in the history of the world.
The poor among us have it better than most everyone did in Biblical times.
So how do we find the secret of contentment - even in a world such as today?
Join me as we read Philippians 4:10-13
Prayer
Today we are going to discuss three ways that you can learn the secret of contentment.
The first is:
I.
You Can be Content...Through Reflective Remembrance (10)
Paul has used the word ‘rejoice’ a few times already but this is the first time he quantifies it.
He rejoiced in the Lord greatly.
This word greatly means to an intense degree.
It was no small rejoicing.
What was it that made him rejoice so much?
It is the renewed concern and love that he has from the Philippian believers.
As we have stated before - he is some 800+ miles away in Rome and is imprisoned.
He knows that they want to help him and be there for him but they haven’t had an opportunity to do so.
He is clear that he is not bitter about this and understands their situation.
You see, the Philippian church was one of the few that supported Paul in ministry and gave gifts to him.
The reason this was so amazing is seen in the following verses: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
As you can see on this map:
The church of Philippi was in Macedonia.
This is who Paul is talking about.
And we also see that extreme poverty has hit the church.
Yet they remain generous.
They give of their finances and they give of themselves - including the sending of Epaphroditus - the man whom we discussed in chapter 2 that almost died from illness while attending to Paul in Rome.
And the same man who likely carried this letter back to the Philippian church!
I find it very interesting that the letter to the church of Philippi is so filled with the word joy.
The logical situation of these people doesn’t seem to lend to a group of people that should be full of joy.
They are in poverty.
Yet, it is this group of people that Paul states has an abundance of joy in 2 Corinthians 8:2
2 Corinthians 8:2 (ESV)
2 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.
(2 Corinthians 8:2 - ESV - emphasis mine)
We see this phrase ‘abundance of joy’ as having two bookends that are seen in italics.
Most of us would say these two bookends are very negative in nature!
He states they have an abundance of joy but what proceeds and precedes this statement?
A severe test of affliction and their extreme poverty!
Wow.
Joy in the midst of suffering and poverty.
And what is the result of this - a wealth of generosity.
We can learn a lot from the church of Philippi.
Joy does not come from wealth or things.
It comes from being obedient to the Lord.
Being generous and willing to share.
Giving to the work of the Lord and to those in need.
As we enter this Thanksgiving and Christmas season - I pray that we remember these facts.
We are about to be bombarded with advertisements that promise joy and happiness.
If only you upgrade your appliances then you will be happy.
If only you upgrade your phone, then you will be happy.
If only you get that new toy - then you will be happy.
Paul lets us know here that true joy comes from being obedient to the Lord and having a generous heart.
The Philippian church was full of joy and brought joy to Paul’s heart because of their generosity and obedience to the Lord.
Paul rejoices because of reflective remembrance of the Philippian people.
He is learning the secret of contentment by appreciating the love and support that he has recieved over the ten years since he founded the church in Philippi.
He has seen their spiritual growth and their love and concern for him and chooses to focus not on what they can’t provide - but instead on what God has provided through them.
Reflective remembrance with a thankful heart is a good way to start your journey to contentment.
Next we see...
Scripture References: Revelation 3:17, 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
II.
You Can be Content...Through Earthly Experience (11-12)
Paul has learned contentment from the school of hard knocks.
He has taken quite the hard knocks throughout his life.
We talked last week about how we need to hear and receive truth and then we can learn and practice it.
It is during the practice that we truly see the truth and godly character coming out.
We can know the right thing do and still fail to do it!
James 4:17
It takes perseverance and diligence to continue walking in the truth even when things aren’t easy.
In verse 11 Paul makes an interesting first statement.
Not that I am speaking of being in need.
He makes this statement to let the believers in Philippi know that he is not grateful simply because they met some of his earthly needs.
We also see him repeat this in Phil 4:17
Paul wants to the believers to know that his appreciation of them is because of the surpassing worth and glory of Christ and not on what they can do for him.
As John MacArthur stated:
“But Paul knew that the chief end of man is not to have his needs met, but to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
- John MacArthur
The last half of verse 11 is very interesting if you study the original Greek.
We get back to the word learned again.
Paul has learned in whatever situation - this assumes that he has had a lot of situations.
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