CONTENTMENT

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 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. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:10-19 (ESV)

This past Sunday we had the privilege to sit under the teaching of Bob Isakson in the absence of our pastor. Bob brought us the word of God from Philippians 4:10-19. In his message, Brother Bob, addressed the issue of Biblical Contentment. He addressed how so many of us lack contentment in our lives. Bob shared with us how the Lord had been dealing with him in this area in his own life. He shared the reluctance in bringing this message to us due to the fact that this “is not him. ‘ ‘Not him’ being that he himself lacks contentment in areas of his life.

John Macarthur challenges us on the manner of contentment; “Contentment…a wonderful blessing and a glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. If we say we belong to Him we ought to be content with whatever it is that He has called us to endure and with whatever provisions He has made for us. And for those of us to whom He has given much, the challenge is even greater to be content and to be willing to divest ourselves of that for the benefit of others, for the sheer joy of seeing God pour blessing on them. What a tremendous privilege.”

The apostle Paul In chapter 4 is speaking to the Philippian church about how God had dealt with him as well, in the area of contentment. Paul gives testimony of how God supplied all of his needs. Paul continues to give all glory to the lord for the provision in his life. Paul’s life was full of peaks and lulls, yet Paul praised God during both seasons in his life. At times he lacked many of the common luxuries the rest of his countrymen possessed due to his ministerial lifestyle, imprisonments, and trials. Other times He had an abundance provided for him. Paul found his sufficiency in Christ. Paul closes by encouraging the Philippian believers that the Lord will supply all of their needs.

Bob closed his message encouraging the believers that God will supply all our needs. Through all circumstances in our lives, God’s provisional hand is always upon us. Bob closed his sermon with the story of Horatio Spafford(click here for more on this story), and how through many unforeseen events in his life he found his sufficiency in Christ. It is my prayer that we can find contentment through Christ’s great provisional hand in our lives:

“Heavenly Father, if I should suffer need, and go unclothed, and be in poverty, make my heart prize Thy love, know it, be constrained by it, though I be denied all blessings. It is Thy mercy to afflict and try me with wants, for by these trials I see my sins, and desire severance from them. Let me willingly accept misery, sorrows, temptations, if I can thereby feel sin as the greatest evil, and be delivered from it with gratitude to Thee, acknowledging this as the highest testimony of Thy love. When thy Son, Jesus, came into my soul instead of sin He became more dear to me than sin had formerly been; His kindly rule replaced sin’s tyranny. Teach me to believe that if ever I would have any sin subdued I must not only labour to overcome it, but must invite Christ to abide in the place of it, and He must become to me more than vile lust had been; that His sweetness, power, life may be there. Thus I must seek a grace from Him contrary to sin, but must not claim it apart from Himself.When I am afraid of evils to come, comfort me by showing me that in myself I am a dying, condemned wretch, but in Christ I am reconciled and live; that in myself I find insufficiency and no rest, but in Christ there is satisfaction and peace; that in myself I am feeble and unable to do good, but in Christ I have ability to do all things. Though now I have His graces in part, I shall shortly have them perfectly in that state where Thou wilt show Thyself fully reconciled, and alone sufficient, efficient, loving me completely, with sin abolished. O Lord, hasten that day.” (Valley of Vision)