Believers find joyous contentment in God’s eternal presence. This is a Bible study teaching for “Joy through Contentment” on Philippians 4:10-20 from the “Explore the Bible” series from Lifeway.
Today’s lesson is titled “Joy Through Contentment” and we are going to be covering Philippians 4:10-20.
In last week’s lesson, we covered the first part of chapter 4 where Paul told the Philippians not to worry about anything, and he gave them the key to be able to doing that … which was to make sure that their focus was in the right place. Paul told them that God would “guard their hearts and minds as [they] live in Christ Jesus.”
And that is the secret to living a life without anxiety isn’t it? It is about having our thoughts fixed on Jesus, living “in” Christ, and focusing on what is true and beautiful.
In the second part of chapter four, Paul gives them part two of living a happy, full, and most importantly, a contented life, and we are going to be getting into that in a minute.
But before we do, let’s think about how our culture looks at “happiness.” Our nation was founded on the promise that all citizens not only would be able to worship God, but be able to pursue happiness and we looked at two older writers, Augustine and John Winthrop about what a successful “pursuit of happiness” would look like. I’m going to read that again, because both those writers are spot on and it is important that we understand their point and where our focus should be. Augustine wrong in City of God
as it is, cannot be happy except by partaking of the light of that God by whom both itself and the world were made; and also that the happy life which all men desire cannot be reached by any who does not cleave with a pure and holy love to that one supreme good, the unchangeable God.[1]
So for those of Augustine’s mindset, the right to worship God freely and the pursuit of happiness are really one and the same thing. It is being in fellowship with God, what Augustine referred to as “partaking of the light” of God that led to true happiness and fulfillment. Let’s review what John Winthrop wrote.
Now the only way to avoid this shipwreck, and to provide for our posterity, is to follow the counsel of Micah, to do justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly with our God. For this end, we must be knit together, in this work, as one man. We must entertain each other in brotherly affection. We must be willing to abridge ourselves of our superfluities, for the supply of others’ necessities. We must uphold a familiar commerce together in all meekness, gentleness, patience and liberality. We must delight in each other; make others’ conditions our own; rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together, always having before our eyes our commission and community in the work, as members of the same body. So shall we keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.
Winthrop saw the outworking of this fellowship with God as also fellowship with those around him, being in service to others.
Winthrop and Augustine were in agreement, and it seems that many of America’s founding father’s were as well based on the preamble of our Constitution. But not everyone did. Winthrop saw the path to happiness and peace as living in service to others and “walking humbly” with our God.
I’m going to contrast this with another early American writer because I think this highlights the dilemma we see in our society and the church today. There are ideologies at war and there has been since the very beginning. This is going to be a little long, but today’s Bible passage is short, and I want to read an excerpt of this because it’s relevant. The mindset that you will see in this passage is still playing out today.
You might recognize this passage, I’ll tell you who wrote it after I read it. But I will tell you that it was originally published in 1689 and this writer was very influential in the thoughts that resulted in the American Revolution. This is just an excerpt of a much longer work, and it is one that is justifying, based on what the writer is believing to be Biblical grounds, for throwing off British rule. In some parts of this essay, he writes very strongly about the God-given equality of man. But this is also a part of it:
But there is another sort of servant which by a peculiar name we call slaves, who being captives taken in a just war are, by the right of Nature, subjected to the absolute dominion and arbitrary power of their masters. These men having, as I say, forfeited their lives and, with it, their liberties, and lost their estates, and being in the state of slavery, not capable of any property, cannot in that state be considered as any part of civil society, the chief end whereof is the preservation of property.
…
Man being born, as has been proved, with a title to perfect freedom and an uncontrolled enjoyment of all the rights and privileges of the law of Nature, equally with any other man, or number of men in the world, hath by nature a power not only to preserve his property— that is, his life, liberty, and estate, against the injuries and attempts of other men, but to judge of and punish the breaches of that law in others, as he is persuaded the offence deserves, even with death itself, in crimes where the heinousness of the fact, in his opinion, requires it. But because no political society can be, nor subsist, without having in itself the power to preserve the property, and in order thereunto punish the offences of all those of that society, there, and there only, is political society where every one of the members hath quitted this natural power, resigned it up into the hands of the community in all cases that exclude him not from appealing for protection to the law established by it. And thus all private judgment of every particular member being excluded, the community comes to be umpire, and by understanding indifferent rules and men authorised by the community for their execution, decides all the differences that may happen between any members of that society concerning any matter of right, and punishes those offences which any member hath committed against the society with such penalties as the law has established; whereby it is easy to discern who are, and are not, in political society together.[2]
Do you know who wrote this? If you do, before you say, let’s look at what this writer is saying. Winthrop and Augustine tell us that true happiness if found in God and that the outworking of that happiness is living in service to others. What does this writer think is not only the foundation of society, but the source of happiness? Is it God? No. It is in “the power to preserve his property.” He doesn’t think a society can function without it.
And in spite of his claim to the God-given freedom of each man, a right to “perfect freedom,” does this writer think that all people are truly equal and have a right to be free? Obviously not. This “right” is only for some people in this writer’s opinion.
This is our heritage as a nation. On one hand, we have Winthrop who encouraged a life of humble service, and on other other we have this second writer who promotes avarice and oppression and subjection of those who he doesn’t think are deserving of these God-give rights. We see that even though this second writer appeals to God as an authority, that when it comes down to it, he believes that individuals are the arbiter of truth. He doesn’t believe, like Winthrop, that the community should conform to God’s law, but that the community decides what that law is.
So do you know who wrote this and where this excerpt is from? It is from Two Treatise of Government” by John Locke. We can see that the phrase in our Constitution guaranteeing the “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness” is a modified excerpt from the work by Locke, except that Locke promoted “life, liberty, and the pursuit of property.”
Locke wrote this over 300 years ago, but the ideology is still very much a part of our culture. This grasping avaraciousness, this focus on things. The belief that might makes right. That those with more have a right to set the rules, and that the one with the most in the end wins.
We like to think that we’re a Christian, God-fearing nation. First, we don’t have a state church. Second, some of those founding fathers were not only theological heretics, but some were also just out for what they could get.
We are a spiritual mixed bag.
And I would say that if the past year has shown us anything, it is that there are a lot more Lockes running things than Winthrops. Those that see people as useful tools to serve their own agenda rather than as those that should be served.
So the question is, where do you fall? Which is your north star? Is it on things and acquiring or is it on God alone?
Because here’s the problem with the ideology of Locke, not only does it spread misery and oppression every place it touches, but it also creates misery for the oppressing acquirer. When you believe the lie that happiness can be found in “things” and what you have, those “things” will never be enough.
We were made to be in communion with God. Connection with him is what our soul seeks, when we try to replace God with stuff … we condemn ourselves to misery.
So let’s move into our passage for today in Philippians 4:10-20
True Contentment
10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.
By the world’s account, Paul didn’t look like he was that successful. From the time he followed Christ to the day he was martyred, he was persecuted and he was constantly at odds with people in power. Often with Roman authorities, but always with the Jewish religious leaders. He wasn’t someone who was invited to lunch in the power circles. He didn’t get asked to speak to people of influence most of the time … except for when he was in chains. If he was living today, he wouldn’t be what you would call an “influencer,” he even often at odds with leaders in the Christian church.
Paul said what needed to be said. And I was just talking to someone about this yesterday, he also didn’t make a living preaching the Gospel. He mentions here in the next verse that out of all the churches he founded and ministered to, the Philippians were the only ones who supported him financially. Throughout his ministry, Paul made his living as a tent maker. Most of the time, not only did he support himself, but he funded the churches he started. He even had to pay for his upkeep in his final imprisonment in Rome.
The Gospel wasn’t his “gig.” It was his life. Everything he did went to promote it. Yet, he was the most influential apostle. Most of our New Testament was written by him. Most of what we understand about what it means to be a Christian comes from words he wrote.
I think if we had fewer “gig” workers … those people who see ministry as a profession rather than as a way of life … we would be a lot better off as the body of Chris.
13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
Paul was constantly running into problems and obstacles, but whatever problems he faced, he had learned to trust God in those problems. He had also learned humility. He had worked and funded his own ministry for much of the time, but obviously, at the time that he is writing to the Philippians, he had come to the end of his own resources and he was not too proud to receive their support.
15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
18 At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
20 Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.
This letter to the Philippians was a thank-you letter for their support. That we could all write such a blessing to those who give us gifts.
Paul had his eyes on the goal, he was proclaiming the Gospel of Christ … spreading the Good News. Paul had his job to do; however he got there … he would trust God for that.
Paul had confidence in God and contentment with where he was at because his focus was in the right place, it was on Jesus. If he followed the ideology of John Locke, just imagine what a miserable person he would have been. He probably would have seen himself as a complete failure.
So if you’re not happy or content where you are … it could be that God is getting ready to move you, to have an adjustment in your course. But it could be that your focus is off. Is your focus on Jesus? Are you willing to do whatever he wants you to do? Are you willing to go wherever he wants you to go?
If you think you haven’t “done” or accomplished enough … whose scoreboard are you counting by? Because here’s the thing … we don’t know what all is on God’s scoreboard. When we follow God’s lead, we have no idea how he is using that … we have to trust him for that as well.
To end, I want to share a story about someone who has racked up quite a bit on the world’s scoreboard, but that isn’t the one he’s focused on. I mentioned last week that I had been asked to teach a women’s Bible study in Pakistan. I taught the first class on Friday morning and there were about 50 people there. This is a new Bible study class. Most of the people in the class are completely unfamiliar with the Bible and don’t have Bibles of their own. So we’re starting with a series for Christmas and talking about God’s plan and why Jesus came.
The person that asked me is a man named Mark Ritchie. I connected with him several years ago after I wrote a review of his book and I’ve done some work for him since, like creating digital versions of his books and I’m currently editing his next book for him.
He made his money as a commodities trader. He wrote a book of his spiritual autobiography called “God in the Pits.” Which I had read, but I didn’t quite grasp what a big deal he was in the trading world until I was creating book detail page for his book on trading. One of his sons is a well-known trader, but Mark is known in trading circles as “the legendary Mark Ritchie.” I have no idea why, but he was really good at trading.
He’s asked pretty frequently to speak at conferences on trading, but do you want to know where he spends his time? In refugee camps in the Middle East. He does micro-lending to help people in impoverished areas build a life for themselves. And he has been preaching in Pakistan in cooperation with a local ministry there for the past year.
He said once, “I invest in orphans.”
He’s very good at making money, but money isn’t the goal. It’s just something to be used and he is using it in service to other people and to spread the Gospel.
Some people have more. Other people have little. But regardless of how much we have or don’t have, each of us has to decide how important “things” are in our life and where we’re placing our priority
This Bible lesson was originally taught by Carla Alvarez on October 10, 2021 in the Kingdom Citizen Bible study Class at the Second Baptist North campus in Kingwood, Texas.
Endnotes
[1] Augustine, The City of God, ed. Anthony Uyl, trans. Marcus Dods, Revised. (Woodstock, ON: Devoted Publishing, 2017), 166.
[2] John Locke, “Two Treatises of Government,” in The Works of John Locke, A New Edition., vol. V, Ten vols. (London: W. Sharpe and Son, 1823).
