Contentment

Scripture:

Phil. 4:10   I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹ Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. ¹² I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. ¹³ I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 

Observation:

In this section of his letter Paul wants to thank the Philippians for the ways in which they have supported him. He does, however, find himself in a perplexing situation in regard to culture. He has always been cautious, never wanting anyone to think that he is preaching to make money. There were far too many charlatans around who thought that this could be a money-making enterprise. Also, there were cultural understandings regarding reciprocity. Should Paul accept their good gifts, this could be viewed as a declaration his dependence upon them, thus changing the relationship, making them benefactors of his ministry. His relationship is not about what he can get from them, but what they have become to him, because of Christ. 

Paul goes back to his language of rejoicing. This is his intentional attitude toward life, whether things are good or bad. He acknowledges that they have been concerned about Paul and his condition, but didn’t have the opportunity to do anything about it, until they were able to send Epaphroditis. He doesn’t want them to feel badly about sending help, or not sending help. He’s grateful for what they have done, but he’s also learned that he can be content in any situation. 

Elaborating on his understanding of contentment, Paul has learned how to adjust to having very little, and to having plenty. Again, not wanting to express any kind of dependence upon the gifts of others, he says that he’s learned the secret of this life, and this brings us back to the theme of the entire letter. Paul can be content because he is living his life, “in Christ.” The power for holy contentment comes from Christ alone, not our circumstances. 

Application:

Sitting in our apartment in Moscow, I was listening to the short-wave radio reports. The situation in our city was tense, tanks having rolled down our street throughout the night. From our 8th floor apartment, I could see the plumes of smoke coming from downtown, as the sparks of civil war were just becoming visible. I dialed in to the Voice of America (VOA) to get updates on the crisis. It was currently unknown whether the situation would escalate, but United States citizens were to prepare for possible evacuation. If the call would come, each adult would be allowed one suitcase and would arrive at the designated meeting point to leave the country. I looked around at our “things” and thought about what we would take. There were four of us, and we would be allowed two suitcases. In that moment, my attachment to the things of this world changed. What mattered were the members of my family, our relationships with our friends, and caring for everyone in the moment. A new sense of contentment washed over me. Things eventually calmed down and after three days, the “war days” were over and our daughter was able to go back to school, but the lesson I learned in that time has stayed with me through the years. I became content with little, because in the little I found so much. 

John Chrysostom suggests that contentment with wealth is more difficult than contentment with poverty. When one has many things, they take up time and energy to be maintained, and can become a distraction to our walk with Jesus Christ. In every single circumstance, we are to learn the secret of contentment. This is possible whether we have little, or we have much, because the answer is found in Christ. 

Contentment is an attitude that we find in the life of the sanctified. Worry and anxiety — they are the antithesis of contentment. We are not to worry, but we are to pray, learning to participate in God and be dependent upon the One who will  give us strength to accomplish the task laid before us. We don’t need to rely upon human resources, but we need to be entirely dependent upon the One who gives us the strength to do all things. 

 Prayer:

Lord, may every day be a renewal of my dependence upon you. Amen.