(“When We Are Discontent”)

Philippians 4:10-20 (NASU)

circumstances I am.” (Philippians 4:11b)

33"Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I shall observe it to the end. 34Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law and keep it with all my heart. "

(Psalm 119:33-34)

(A) THE PROBLEM OF BEING DISCONTENT

(1) With Thanksgiving just around the corner I thought this might be as good a time as any to address the problem of being discontent – especially since it’s the antithesis of gratitude and/or giving thanks.

I would love to be able to report that discontentment – along with its step-children, “dissatisfied, disgruntled, and unhappy” – are only problems for those who have never professed faith in Christ. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. To our shame, we Christians can be just as discontent, disgruntled, and/or dissatisfied with the Lord and His provision as our unbelieving neighbors.

(2) Scripture tells us God is One who gives us everything we have. For example, He’s the One who gives us the ability to make wealth (c.f. Proverbs 10:22) … He makes the sun to shine and the rain to fall on the fields of Christians and pagans alike (c.f. Matthew 5:45) … His hand gives us every good and perfect gift we enjoy (c.f. James 1:17) … He’s the One who feeds us (c.f. Psalm 104:14-15), clothes us (c.f. Matthew 6:25-26), gives us our children (c.f. Psalm 127:3), and otherwise provides for ALL our physical and spiritual needs (c.f. Psalm 127:2).

(3) As far as we Christians are concerned, Scripture assures us the Lord “never withholds any good thing” from His people (c.f. Psalm 84:11c) – nor shall we ever “be in want of any good thing” (c.f. Psalm 34:10b). Furthermore, since God “did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (c.f. Romans 8:32). Even this morning’s Scripture lesson says “(our) God will supply all (our) needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (c.f. Philippians 4:19).

(4) Scripture uses different images to describe the relationship that exists between us Christians and our God and Savior. For example, He’s the Shepherd, we’re the sheep (c.f. Psalm 100:3) – He’s the Potter, we’re the clay (c.f. Jeremiah 18:6) – He’s the Bridegroom, we’re the bride (c.f. Isaiah 62:5b) – He’s the Creator, we’re the created (c.f. Psalm 100:3) – He’s our Father, we are His children (I John 3:1).

(5) Let’s think about that last one for a moment. We all know human fathers are not perfect, but generally speaking, do they withhold what their children really need? No! – and even if some do, our heavenly Father never does (c.f. Isaiah 49:15). Do earthly fathers always give their children everything they want? Of course not! – and neither does our heavenly father. Do human fathers ever withhold things their children want, not because they aren’t able to give them, but because they know doing without them will help their children grow up? Of course they do – and so does our heavenly Father. When fathers withhold things their children think they need, do the children always accept this with grace and understanding? Hardly! – when they’re small they pout and shout – as they get older they find other ways to express their unhappiness and discontent – in fact, until they reach a certain level of maturity, they are more than willing let everyone know just how dissatisfied they are – and quite often, you and I behave the same way.

(6) The Scripture says we Christians are in the process of maturing and/or growing up spiritually (c.f. Ephesians 4:13-15). Along the way, though, we often behave like children – especially when we don’t get what we want, and/ or the circumstances of life don’t go the way we had hoped. When this happens, we often become discontent. The thing that makes discontent such a serious matter, however, is that it’s actually directed at God, not some impersonal set of circumstances! To put it another way, when we are dissatisfied, we are dissatisfied with God and what He has chosen to give or withhold from us, as the case may be.

(7) From a human perspective, Paul could have easily been discontent with the God-given circumstances of his life at the time he wrote his letter to the Philippians. For one thing, he was in prison (c.f. Philippians 1:7, 13-14) – for another, death was a very real possibility, although he felt reasonable sure he would eventually be set free (c.f. Philippians 1:21-26 – also, there were some on the outside who were preaching Christ in hopes of making Paul envious and/or otherwise upsetting him (c.f. Philippians 1:15-18). In this morning’s Scripture lesson, however, he says he has “learned to be content in whatever circum-stances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (c.f. Philippians 4:11-13).

(B) THE SECRET OF BEING CONTENT

(1) As we move to an examination of our text (c.f. Philippians 4:11b), I want to start by giving you a biblical definition of “contentment”.

(a) When Paul spoke of being “content”, the Greek word he used (“autarkes”) means “to be sufficient, to possess sufficient strength, and/or to have enough” – hence, to be “satisfied”.¹ John the Baptizer underscored the idea of being satisfied with what we have when he told certain soldiers to “be content with your wages” (c.f. Luke 3:14).

(b) Interestingly, the stoic movement among the ancient Greeks used this word to teach the idea of “self-sufficiency” and/or self-reliance.² They reasoned that in order to be “content” people must learn to be autonomous, and/or independent – to be “content” people must learn to rely solely on themselves – to be content we must never rely on anyone or anything outside ourselves.

(c) While many people still think that way today, Paul had something very different in mind. To be “content” – to have sufficient strength and/or to be satisfied – we must learn to depend solely and only on Jesus Christ. To put it another way, the secret of contentment is NOT being “self-sufficient”, it’s learning to find our sufficiency in Christ³ and whatever He has chosen to give us at the moment. Hence, Paul said he “(knew) how to get along with humble means, and … how to live in prosperity … (that he had) learned the secret of being filled and going hungry … of having abundance and suffering need” (c.f. Philippians 4:12).

(d) Biblical contentment, then, can be defined as “an internal satisfaction that does not depend on external circumstances.”⁴ Biblical contentment comes from being satisfied with Christ and what He is providing⁵ at the moment. To put it another way, contentment is that state of satisfaction in Christ where we only want what our good, wise, and holy Savior gives us.⁶ Biblical contentment is reflected in the words of the psalmist who said: “Whom have I in heaven but You (O Lord)? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth” (c.f. Psalm 73:25).

(2) So how did Paul achieve this level of contentment? And equally important, how do we?

Let me begin with a caveat. Being content doesn’t prohibit us from trying to better ourselves and/or improve our situation if the Lord opens the door for us to do so. It doesn’t even mean we shouldn’t explore other opportunities and/or possibilities that might result in improving our health, getting a better job, or finding relief from pain, etc. It simply means we shouldn’t gripe and complain about our current situation, and/or how the Lord is treating us, while waiting to see if He opens the door. Hence, Paul counseled slaves who were coming to Christ, saying in part: “Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you – although if you can gain your freedom, do so” (c.f. I Corinthians 7:20-21, NIV).

(3) Having said that, the first thing we need to realize about biblical contentment is that it does not come naturally to us – indeed, discontent always seems to be lying just below the surface waiting to rear its ugly head.

(a) Consider what happened to Eve. There she was, living in a beautiful environment – all her emotional, physical, and spiritual needs being met – a loving husband – intimate fellowship with God – work that was pleasant and rewarding – literally lacking for nothing. And yet, in the midst of those perfect surroundings, all it took to sow the seeds of discontent in her heart were a couple of sentences from the serpent’s lips: “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?” (c.f. Genesis 3:1) – and, “God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (c.f. Genesis 3:5) – and suddenly, after hearing those things, her contentment was gone! There was no earthly reason why she should have been discontent – but she was! She had everything she needed (and more), but now she wanted the one thing she didn’t have – and because she didn’t have it, she grew dissatisfied, not only with her circumstances, but also with God.

(b) Contentment doesn’t come naturally to us either – especially in our fallen condition (c.f. James 4:2-3). We look at what others have, and feel like we’ve been short-changed. We make plans that get thwarted by unforeseen events, and think life is unfair. We pray for God to do this or that, and when He doesn’t we resent it and/or feel like He no longer cares.

(c) Discontent is Lucifer, the most beautiful creature God every made, saying: “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God … I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High” (c.f. Isaiah 14:13-14).

(d) Discontent is the people of Israel, having been set free from slavery by great signs and wonders, being miraculously provided for in the wilderness, complaining in the hearing of the Lord, saying: “We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now … there is nothing (to eat) except this manna" (c.f. Numbers 11:5-6).

(e) Discontent is Haman recounting the glory of his riches, the number of his sons, and the many ways the king of Persia had honored him and promoted him, saying: “all of this does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate” (c.f. Esther 5:9-13).

(f) If contentment doesn’t come naturally to us when things are going well, how much less when God turns our days of prosperity into days of adversity (c.f. Ecclesiastes 7:14)?

(4) The second thing every Christian needs to realize about contentment is that its something we have to learn. Notice what Paul said in our text: “I have learned to be content” (c.f. Philippians 4:11b).

(a) Learning takes time … learning requires hard work … the only way to confirm whether we’ve learned something is by giving us a test. Furthermore, one probably learns more about biblical contentment through deprivation than “having (an) abundance” – by actually climbing the mountain instead of flying over it – by “going hungry” instead of growing fat. Indeed, before we can learn to be biblically content in times of “prosperity”, we need to learn how to be content in times of “suffering” (c.f. Philippians 4:12) … before we can avoid the pitfall of basing our contentment on what we have (instead of on Christ), we need to learn how to be content without it.

(b) Paul said he had to learn how “to be content” just like everyone else. Shall I remind you of what he had to go through to learn it?

Right after he was converted, the Lord said: “I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake” (c.f. Acts 9:16).

Years later, he summarized some of the things he had “suffered”, saying: ^{24“Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28Apart from such external things, there is the (inward) daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches”} (c.f. II Corinthians 11:24-28).

(c) So much of our contentment is mistakenly based on our circumstances. Hence, as long as “things” are going along reasonably well, we are reasonably content. But just let those same “things” blow up in our face, and our contentment gets blown up with them.

(d) If Paul had not learned to be content in the biblical sense, he would have had ample reason to be disgruntled, dissatisfied, and/or discontent most of the time – in part, because once he became a Christian someone was always out to get him (c.f. Acts 9:23-24; 21:31; 25:1-3). The fact he learned to find his contentment in Christ rather than his circumstances is reflected in another statement he made in Second Corinthians chapter twelve, saying: “I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake” (c.f. II Corinthians 12:10).

(e) God taught Paul how to be content by taking Him through various difficulties and trials, essentially forcing him (as it were) to learn to find his satisfaction in Christ instead of his circumstances. To use a college metaphor, there’s only one course on contentment – and everyone who wants to graduate from the school of sanctification is required to take it. Hence, if you and I are going to learn to be content in the biblical sense, we’re going to have to take the same course Paul took.

(5) So what did Paul learn about contentment? In our text he said: “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” (c.f. Philippians 4:11b). The NIV says: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”

(a) We have to be careful here not to unwittingly adopt the attitude of the Stoics, whom we mentioned earlier. Stoicism (whether ancient or contemporary) says, “I will learn to be content by eliminating all my wants and/or desires”⁷ … “I will learn to be content by denying my emotions and/or holding my feelings in check”⁸ … “I will learn to be content by convincing myself what’s happening to me and/or around me doesn’t really matter.”⁸ To para-phrase one ancient Stoic, “If someone runs into my chariot and totals it, I will say, ‘I don’t care.’ If I’m turned down for a promotion, I will say, ‘I don’t care.’ If I break my leg, I will say, ‘I don’t care.’ And (if I’m really good at it) when someone I love dies, I will say, ‘I don’t care.’”⁸

(b) Paul was not advocating anything remotely like this – he was not suggesting we become “Christian stoics” – nor was he was saying we should adopt a kind of “grin-and-bear-it” attitude. Biblical contentment doesn’t require us to deny the challenges, disappointments and/or heartaches of life – nor the emotions that often accompany them. Rather, it teaches us not to be enslaved by emotions – it teaches us that our joy does not depend on our circumstances. It teaches us that we can be satisfied even in the midst of disappointments.

(c) How is this possible, you ask? Look at verse thirteen, where Paul says: “I can do all things through (Christ) who strengthens me” (c.f. Philippians 4:13).

I have heard people quote this verse to justify doing all kinds of outrageous things they were never meant to do. The context, however, clearly refers to the God-given ability to be content regardless of our circumstances.

Question: how can I learn to “get along with humble means, and also know how to live in prosperity when in comes?” Answer: “through Christ who strengthens me”.

Question: how can I learn to be content “in any and every circumstance”? Answer: “through Christ who strengthens me”.

Question: how can I learn be satisfied regardless of whether “I’m full or hungry”? Answer: “through Christ who strengthens me”.

Question: how can I be content “with abundance and/or while suffering need”? Answer: “through Christ who strengthens me” (c.f. Philippians 4:12-13).

(d) Without Christ we can’t do any of this – with Him we can! Apart from Christ we will never be content in the biblical sense of that word, no matter how much we have (c.f. John 15:5c), nor will we be truly grateful – with Him and/or through Him, however, we will!

Vol. I; p. 234.

664.

Thessalonians; pgs. 104-105.