C. BOSTIAN                                     CONTENMENT PT.1                               5/25/03

 

Philip. 4:10-14 (KJV)

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. [11] Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. [12] I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. [13] I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. [14] Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

 

OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS I’M GOING TO BE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THIS ELLUSIVE THING WE CALL CONTENTMENT.  PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE LOOKING FOR satisfaction and contentment AND SO FEW EVER FIND.  CONTENTMENT IS SOMETHING THAT WE MUST LEARN.  IT IS A LEARNED BEHAVIOR AND IT IS NEVER SOMETHING YOU CAN BUY.  BUYING THINGS WON’T GIVE YOU CONTENMENT.  HAVING ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY YOUR BILLS WITH NO NAGGING PHONE CALLS FROM COLLECTORS WILL NOT GIVE YOU CONTENMENT.  When people seek contentment in the world they assume that contentment is the absence of all problems. That's not the true meaning of contentment because if that's what contentment is no one will ever have it because you can't be completely free from all problems. True contentment is being able to be satisfied and content in the midst of any problem. That's the kind of contentment that God offers US through Christ. The person who has the answers to all of his problems is in heaven. YOU SEE, God IS THE ONLY ONE WHO can make us content in any situation and that's what we're GONNA learn from the Apostle Paul. LET’S READ THIS PASSAGE AGAIN FROM THE MESSAGE BIBLE.

 

Philip. 4:10-14 (MsgB)

I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you're again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. [11] Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. [12] I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. [13] Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. [14] I don't mean that your help didn't mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.

 

Now we are touching the heart of this great man, Paul. And we are finding that he is a man for all seasons. We are finding that he is a man of contentment, he is a satisfied man. He is a sufficient man. We have noted back in verse 4 that he commanded us to always rejoice. We have noted in verse 6 that he commanded us not to worry or be anxious for anything. And we remember in verse 7 that he introduced us to the peace of God. And in verse 9 he introduced us to the God of peace. Here is a man who knows how to rejoice in every situation. Here is a man who is free from anxiety and worry. Here is a man whose heart is guarded by the peace of God and the God of peace. Here is a man who now tells us that he has learned to be content.

Philip. 4:4-9 (MsgB)

Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! [5] Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute![6] Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. [7] Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.[8] Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. [9] Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

 

 

 

Could there be any more significant theme for our day than contentment? We live in an utterly discontent culture. We are discontent with what we have, we are discontent with what we look like. We are discontent with who we are married to. We are discontent with our lot in life. We are basically discontent with the circumstances and the difficulties that come our way. We are discontent. And we have so much. Here is a man who rejoiced, who was free from worry, who knew a surpassing explicable peace, here is a man who learned to be content, here is a man who in any and every circumstance found himself sufficient, satisfied. Naturally the question that is immediately posed is...how so? How can we be content? If he learned to be content, can he teach us to be content? He who was the pupil and learned the lesson, can he become the teacher and we the pupil? And I believe the answer is yes. And that's why we're looking rather closely at this text because it outlines for us what I believe to be the elements of contentment.

 

HERE We have here an account of Paul's learning, not that which he got at the feet of Gamaliel, but that which he got at the feet of Christ. He had learnED to be content; and that was the lesson he had as much need to learn as most men, considering the hardships and sufferings with which he was HAD TO ENDURE. He was in bonds, and imprisonments, and necessities, often; but in all he had learED to be content, that is, HE LEARNED HOW TO make the best of it.-- I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound, v. 12. This is a special act of grace, to accommodate ourselves to every condition of life, and carry an equal temper of mind through all the varieties of our CONDITIONS WE LIVE IN.

 

1.)             CONTENMENT WILL HELP US to accommodate ourselves

 to an afflicted condition-- to know how to be abased, how to be hungry, how to suffer want, so as not to be overcome by the temptations of it, either to lose our comfort in God or distrust his providence, or to take any indirect course for our own supply.

 

        (2.) CONTENTMENT WILL ALSO TEACH US HOW TO ADAPT to a prosperous condition-- to know how to abound, how to be full, so as not to be proud, or secure, or luxurious. And this is as hard a lesson as the other; for the temptations of fulness and prosperity are not less than those of affliction and want. But how CAN we learn it? I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, v. 13. We have need of strength from Christ, to enable us to perform not only those duties which are purely Christian, but even those which are the fruit of moral virtue. We need his strength to teach us to be content in every condition.  CONTENTMENT IS A GREAT VIRTUE OF CHRIST THAT HE WILL IMPART TO US AS WE GROW AND WAIT ON HIM.

 

Psa.37:16

For a little which a righteous man has is

better than the riches of many wicked.

 

BACK WHEN OUR CHILDREN WERE YOUNG WE USE TO WORSHIP AT THE SHRINE OF THE GOLDEN ARCHES EVERY WEEK.  I’M NOT SO SURE THAT THE KIDS EVER PAID AS MUCH ATTENTION TO THE FOOD AS THEY DID TO THE LITTLE PLASTIC TOY THEY GOT WITH THEIR MEAL.  NOW THE LITTLE TOY WAS PRETTY CHEAP BUT IN A MOMENT OF MARKETING GENIUS THE OFFICIALS AT MCDONALD’S GAVE THIS MEAL A SPECIAL NAME.  ANYONE KNOW WHAT IT IS CALLED.  ITS CALLED A HAPPY MEAL.  SO THAT WHEN YOU’RE BUYING IT YOU’RE NOT JUST BUYING A HAMBURGER, FRIES AND A PLASTIC TOY, OH NO, YOU’RE BUYING A HAPPY MEAL.  AND MY CHILDREN WERE CONVINCED THAT THEY HAD A LITTLE MCDONALD SHAPE VACCUUM IN THEIR LIFE THAT ONLY MCDONALD COULD FILL.  SO THEY WERE HAPPY FOR ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF.  THE PROBLEM WITH THE HAPPY MEAL IS THAT HAPPY WEARS OFF.  IT DOESN’T LAST, I MEAN NOBODY IN HERE HAS EVER HAD A CHILD WHO HAVING REACHED ADULTHOOD SAID, ‘DAD, THANKS YOU FOR THE HAPPY MEAL I GOT WHEN I WAS A KID.  I KNEW IF I COULD JUST GET THAT LITTLE TOY THAT I WOULD BE A CONTENTED PERSON AND I AM DAD AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR IT FROM THE BOTTM OF MY HEART. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WISDOM AND GENEROSITY.’ THERE WILL BE NO COUNSELING AND THERAPY FOR THESE CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY GREW UP WITH A MEAL THAT MADE THEM FOREVERT HAPPY AND CONTENT.  NOW AS PARENTS YOU WOULD THINK YOUR KIDS WOULD ONE DAY CATCH ON TO THIS BEWITCHMENT.  YOU KNOW MOM AND DAY, I KEEP GETTING THESE HAPPY MEALS AND THEY DON’T GIVE ME LASTING CONTENTMENT OR HAPPINESS.  SO I’M NOT GONNA BE A SUCKER ANY MORE.  I’M NOT GONNA SET MYSELF UP FOR FRUSTRATION, DISCONTENTMENT AND DISSAPPOINTMENT AGAIN.  BUT IT NEVER HAPPENS, THEY JUST KEEP BUYING HAPPY MEALS.  IN FACT, THE ONLY ONE HAPPY MEALS MAKE HAPPY IS MCDONALDS.  WHY DO YOU THINK RONALD MCDONALD WEARS THAT STUPID GRIN ON HIS FACE?  I’LL TELL YOU WHY…20 BILLION HAPPYMEALS.  20 MILLION HAPPYMEAL ADDICTS AND HE’S THEIR PUSHER AND HE’S SMILING.

 

NOW, ONLY A LITTLE CHILD COULD THINK THAT HAPPINESS COULD BE PURCHASED THROUGH THE ACQUISITION OF A LITTLE TOY.  THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT AS WE GROW OUR TOYS GROW BIGGER BUT THEY STILL FAIL TO BRING US HAPPINESS AND CONTENTMENT.  IN FACT THE MORE STUFF YOU HAVE THE MORE YOU WORRY ABOUT THAT STUFF.  YOU SEE THE ACQSITION OF THINGS WILL NEVER BRING YOU LASTING HAPPINESS AND CONTENTMENT.

 

Hebrews 13:5-6 (KJV)

Let your lifestyle be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. [6] So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

 

 

1 Tim. 6:6-12 (KJV)

But godliness with contentment is great gain. [7] For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. [8] And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. [9] But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. [10] For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. [11] But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. [12] Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

 

GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN.  GODLINESS SPEAKS TO US ABOUT OUR GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION INTO THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD IN OUR PERSONAL CONDUCT AND BEHAVIOR.  IF THERE IS ANY AREA IN OUR LIVES WHERE WE ARE DISCONTENT IT SHOULD BE IN OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND OUR EFFECTIVENESS IN MINISTRY.  I WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT  LATER.

 

Proverbs 21:17 (MsgB)

You're addicted to thrills? What an empty life!

The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied.

 

Proverbs 30:15 (MsgB)

A leech has twin daughters

named "Gimme" and "Gimme more."

 

Three things are never satisfied,

no, there are four that never say, "That's enough, thank you!"—

 

Eccles. 5:10-12 (MsgB)

The one who loves money is never satisfied with money,

Nor the one who loves wealth with big profits. More Show.

[11] The more loot you get, the more looters show up.

And what fun is that—to be robbed in broad daylight?

[12] Hard and honest work earns a good night's sleep,

Whether supper is beans or steak.

But a rich man's belly gives him insomnia.

 

Matthew 5:5 (MsgB)

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

 

LET’S LOOK AT HOW WEBSTER DEFINES CONTENTMENT: HAPPY ENOUGH WITH WHAT ONE HAS OR IS, NOT DESIRING SOMEHTING MORE OR DIFFERENT,; SOMEONE WHO IS SATISFIED; TO BE PLEASED WITH WHAT ONE HAS OR IS.  THE BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF CONTENTMENT IS Freedom from anxiety or worry. The idea of contentment comes from a Greek word that means "independence" or "selfsufficiency." But the apostle Paul used the word in a Christian sense to show that real satisfaction or sufficiency comes from God: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" <Phil. 4:13>.(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary).

 

ALL DAY LONG YOU AND I ARE BOMBARDED BY TWO MESSAGES.  ONE IS YOU OUGHT TO BE DISCONTENT.  AND THE OTHER ONE IS THAT CONTENTMENT IS ONLY ONE HAPPY MEAL AWAY.  WE ARE BOMBARDED BY THE MEDIA: USE ME, BUY ME, WARE ME, DRIVE ME, PUT ME IN YOUR HAIR AND YOU WILL BE A HAPPY AND CONTENTED PERSON.  BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT PEOPLE IN THE U.S. ARE HEALITHER, CLEANER, SMARTER, RICHER THAN THEY’VE EVER BEEN BEFORE.  WE LIVE LONGER, WE EAT BETTER, WE DRESS BETTER, WE PLAY MORE AND WE WORK LONGER THAN ANY TIME IN HISTORY.  BUT ARE WE HAPPY?  OR HAVE WE JUST BECOME CLEANER, HEALITHER, SMARTER AND WEALTHIER SAD PEOPLE. YOU SEE, MY GUESS IS THAT THERE IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF DISCONTENTMENT EVEN IN THIS ROOM. 

 

Ps 55:1-2

1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. 2 Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

 

Ps 142:1-7

1 I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. 2 I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.

3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. 4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. 5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. 6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. 7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

 

david made his complaint know to the lord in the form of prayer.  i bet everybody in this room has complained about something in the last six months. SO LET’S CHECK JUST TO BE SURE.  IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS HAVE YOU COMPLAINED ABOUT YOUR EDUCATION, YOUR ATHLETE ABILITY, ACHIEVENENTS OR LACK OF THEM.  HAVE YOU COMPLAINED ABOUT YOUR education, your knowledge , your HEALTH, YOUR AGE, YOUR BOSS, THE WEATHER, YOUR CO-WORKERS.  HAVE YOU COMPLAINED ABOUT YOUR MATE, YOUR CHILDREN OR YOUR FRIENDS.  HAVE YOU COMPLAINED ABOUT ANYTHING IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS THEN PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.  MY, MY, MY YOU’RE A BUNCH OF GRUMPY PEOPLE.

 

 

phil.4:11

[11] Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

 

it would do us good to know what paul meant when he said in phil.4 that he learned to be content in all things.  we need to learn what he meant because there are some things he did not mean. first he did not mean that he learned to accept the status quo.  i’m talking about being complacent.  we are not called to be content about segragation or racial injustice.  the call to contentment is not a call to focus on my personal comfort regardless of poverty or injustice in this world.  the call to contenment is not a call to apathy or resignation.  there are times in people’s life when the bible says we will experience some sadness, some grief or some tribulation.  but let me define contentment with a question.  who is the persona that is more content: the person with seven million dollars or the person with 7 children?  well, the person with seven children cause he doesn’t want any more.  you are so slow this morning, don’t want no more.  But the person with 7 million dollars always wants more, he’s not content.  you see contentment is not being driven by wanting more.  it is the experience of inner freedom, freedom from dissatisfaction and out of balanced appetities because of unflfilled desire.  it’s a freedom from the itch that says, ‘i’ve got to have it.’  i can’t live until i get what i don’t have.’  contentment is confidence.  the confidence that i can face any situation that i might have to go through in the moment.  paul says i’ve learned the ability to be both abased or to have little and to abound or to have an abundance.  how many of you know there are temptations in both states.  when there is little i am tmapted to complain.  when i abound i am tempted to fulfill my lusts and desires cause i have the finacial ability.  paul says, i have learned to face any of those situations because of my relationship with christ who give me strength in every situation.  so it’s the ability to live fully in the moment.  my life is not on hold until i get something i don’t have.  my life is not on hold until i am promoted.  a contented life is a simple, focussed life.

i was trying to think of a word picture of contentment.  the only thing i could come up with was the old ness tea commercials that use to run on the tv years ago.  the has just finished mowing the grass and he’s about to have an ice cold glass of ice tea.  as soon as he finishes his tea he falls back into a soothing swimming pool.  it’s the ness tea plung that epitomizes contentment.  take that picture with you today as an example of contentment. 

 

now if contentment is this wonderful thing, and it is then where does it come from?  because the conventional wisdom is that you won’t be content until you satisfy your desires.  for example, if only the right circumstances would fall into place, you’d be content.  or if you just had adequate money you’d be content.  or the right home in the right neighborhood or the right job or the possessions you desire to have.  you would be content.  but there’s no place, no location and no set of circumstances that will ever give you lasting contentment as a human being because all those things are constantly changing.  now the trouble with the pursuit of happy meals is that happy always wears off.  think of the last time you were able to buy something you’ve wanted for a very longs time.   ask yourself this question, does the possession of that thing still give you the same happiness and satisfaction it did when you first brought it home.  you see, the answer is always no.  jesus put it this way in: 

 

Luke 12:15

15  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

 

if you go away with anything this morning go away with the truth that your possessions, your promotions and your places to live will never bring you lasting contentment.  the best they can give you is fleeting and passing contentment. but the qualifying word is lasting contentment.  the world simply cannot give you that.  true contentment is something that  comes out of an active faith in christ.  it is a virtue that he teaches and imparts to us as we trust him with all our heart and lean not unto our own understanding.

 

2 Tim. 1:12 (KJV)

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

 

Romans 8:37-39 (MsgB)

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. [38] I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, [39] high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

 

Contentment begins with confidence in God's providence in verse 10. Contentment begins with a settled confidence in God's sovereign control of all of the events of life that ultimately are going to reach us for our good. That's what he was saying by implication in verse 10, "I rejoiced when your gift came." He was, you remember, a prisoner in Rome, he was captive there, chained to a Roman soldier, incarcerated in some apartment in the city of Rome. He was a man who therefore had lost his comfort and his freedom. He was subsisting on the bare minimum in terms of the necessities of life. And here the Philippians had sent him a gift, perhaps money, perhaps food, perhaps clothing, perhaps some other amenities that he was in need of. And he is saying...Look, it's fine, I know it didn't come any sooner because you didn't have any opportunity to do it any sooner. He is content with the sovereign God who providentially orders opportunities. And there is the base line element in contentment, that great confidence that God has not forgotten me, that God is attentive to me, that God knows the number of hairs on my head, that God understands everything about my life, maybe even puts my tears in a bottle, God knows my uprising and my down sitting, He knows my coming and my going. I am the constant focus of His omniscient love and He orders everything in His universe to bring to pass my good. When you believe that, you will experience contentment.

 

in phil.4:12 he says, "I know how to get along with humble means and how to live in prosperity." At the end of the verse he says, "I can be filled or go hungry, I can have abundance or suffer need." In the middle of the verse, "In any and every circumstance I've learned the secret." I've been initiated into the inside secret of how to be content in any kind of circumstance. It doesn't matter what it is...positive or negative, plus or minus. And, beloved, again that is a component of satisfaction. Satisfaction is not related to what you have. Satisfaction is not related to what you don't have. Satisfaction is related to living above that level and understanding the providence of God, the promises of God and being satisfied with little in this life, anticipating much more in the life to come.

 

Romans 5:2-5 (MsgB)

And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.  [3] There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, [4] and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. [5] In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

 

Hebrews 6:10-12 (MsgB)

God doesn't miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you've shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it. [11] And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. [12] Don't drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.

 

YES, WE HAVE A LIVING HOPE THAT CAUSES US TO BE CONTENT EVEN IN THE MIDST OF ADVERSITY.  PAUL TOLD US THAT THE SUFFERINGS OF THIS PRESENT LIFE CAN NEVER BE COMPARED WITH THE ETERNAL GLORY THAT WE WILL RECEIVE WHEN WE GET TO HEAVEN.  OUR CONTENTMENT IN CHRIST IS BASED ON OUR FUTURE HOPE.  HOPE IS AN ANCHOR TO THE SOUL, WHICH CAN BE VERY FICKLE AT TIMES.  IT HOLDS OUR EMOTIONS AT BAY SO THAT WE CAN ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE AND RECEIVE HIS PERSPECTIVE AND MAINTAIN AND ACTIVE FAITH UNTIL THE VERY END.

 

WE WILL BE LEARNING MORE ABOUT CONTENTMENT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.  THIS IS A MUCH NEEDED VIRTURE IN OUR LIVES THAT WILL ENHANCE OUR EFFECTIVENESS AND OUR TESTIMONY IN CHRIST.  LET’S LEARN TO BE PEOPLE OF CONTENTMENT.

 

2 Peter 1:3-10 (MsgB)

Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! [4] We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust. [5] So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, [6] alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, [7] warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. [8] With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. [9] Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books. [10] So, friends, confirm God's invitation to you, his choice of you. Don't put it off; do it now. Do this, and you'll have your life on a firm footing,