APRIL 28 – PHILIPPIANS 4:10-13
THE LESSON OF CONTENTMENT
In today’s world, there is less and less discussion about the providence of God. There is sometimes the idea that the world is a vast natural machine and that even God Himself cannot interrupt its operation. But the Bible clearly teaches the providential workings of God in nature and in the lives of His people. God’s providence simply means that God sees to it beforehand. The providence of God does not mean that God simply knows beforehand because providence involves much more. It is the working of God in advance to arrange circumstances and situations for the fulfilling of His purposes.[1]
The well-known story of Joseph and his brothers illustrates the meaning of providence (Gen. 37–50). “God did send me before you to preserve life!” said Joseph (Gen. 45:5). “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Gen. 50:20). This is the providence of God: His hand ruling and overruling in the affairs of life.[2] Paul’s life and ministry show his experience with God’s providence that enabled him to write, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). God in His providence had caused the church at Philippi to become concerned about Paul’s needs, and it came at the very time Paul needed their love most! The Philippians had been concerned for Paul, but they had lacked the opportunity to help. Sometimes we are the opposite. Believers have the opportunities, but they lack the concern. Not in every case, but in some cases.
Paul is quick to let his friends know that he is not complaining! His happiness does not depend on circumstances or things; his joy comes from something deeper, something apart from either poverty or prosperity. Most of us have learned how to be humiliated because when difficulties come we immediately run to the Lord! But few have learned how “to abound.” Prosperity has done more damage to believers than has adversity. “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” (Rev. 3:17).
All of nature depends on hidden resources. The large trees send their roots down into the earth to draw up water and minerals. The most important part of a tree is the part we cannot see, the root system, and the most important part of the Christian’s life is the part that only God sees. Unless we draw on the deep resources of God by faith, we fail against the pressures of life. Paul depended on the power of Christ at work in his life (see Phil. 1:6, 21; 2:12–13; 3:10). Paul’s motto was “I can…through Christ!”, and it can and should be our motto too.
In verses 10-20, Paul discusses what may be the reason why he wrote this letter. The Philippians had given him a gift and he desired to thank them for it. In this section, Paul indicates that the Philippians would be rewarded for their gift and that God would meet all their needs. In verses 10-13, we see the lesson of contentment, while in verses 14-20, it talks about the gift of generosity.
Today, we will focus on the lesson of contentment and the value of being satisfied in God.
10 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. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 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. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (ESV)
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Contentment is found in the strength of Christ
- Adaptability
- View our changing circumstances to what God is teaching and doing in our lives
- Dependence on God
- Without depending on God, we will fail to the changing pressures of this life
CLOSER LOOK:
Verse 10: Paul’s heart was made glad (“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly”) because of the continued interest the Philippian Christians showed in him. In the word “revived” (translated as “flourished again” in NKJV),[3] Paul uses an agricultural word found only here in the NT to picture a plant that “shoots up” or “sprouts again,” describing a condition of prosperity or abundance.[4] They had not forgotten him; through them, God had met his needs. Even before they sent Epaphroditus they were concerned but “had no opportunity” to show it. Paul respectfully lets the Philippians know that he is aware of their continual concern for him.
Verse 11: Paul did not beg God’s people to help him in his work. He just placed the need before them and trusted God to meet it. Too, he had learned the lesson of contentment. Changing circumstances did not affect the inner contentment he enjoyed. The word “content” (autarkēs) means “self-sufficient.” The Stoics used this word (which occurs only here in the NT) to mean human self-reliance and fortitude, a calm acceptance of life’s pressures.[5] It described a person who dispassionately accepted whatever circumstances brought. For the Greeks, this contentment came from personal sufficiency. But Paul used it to refer to true sufficiency or a divinely bestowed sufficiency, in “whatever situation” (or whatever the circumstances). This true sufficiency is found in the strength of Christ (v. 13).
Verse 12: At times Paul experienced definite financial and material needs, and at other times he had an abundance (v. 12). The term, “to be brought low.” in its passive form means “to be demoted to a lower rank” or “to be humiliated by frugal circumstances.”[6] Paul also knows how to live in affluence and to be richly supplied to the point of abundance (“perisseuō”). According to this verse, Paul knows what Job had learned centuries before: “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21, ESV).
He learned how to cope with both “need” and “plenty.” The words “I have learned the secret” translate memyēmai (from myeō), which occurs only here in the New Testament.[7] In the mystery religions, it was a technical term meaning “to initiate (into the mysteries).” Paul used it here to suggest a kind of “initiation” (by his experiences) into being content when either “facing plenty” (well-fed) or “hungry,” and either in “abundance” (plenty or in “need” (want). As this verb suggests, he was intimately acquainted with both circumstances since he had become familiar with both. Through trial and testing, Paul was “initiated” into the wonderful secret of contentment in spite of poverty or prosperity.
Circumstances were the arena of spiritual growth, and through them, Paul developed adaptability. In this verse, Paul presented three contrasts that provided the occasion for learning and explained the nature of contentment. The first and last speak to physical needs in general, while the middle refers to food. In these varied experiences, Paul displayed spiritual equilibrium. He was equally unaffected by poverty and riches. This knowledge is learned by walking with Christ, who is the sufficient one, and by developing a solid theology of material things. Things ultimately do not matter. Relationships matter. Paul’s attitude contrasted with the false teachers’
Verse 13: The basic meaning of this verb[8], “I can do,” is “to have power,” especially to possess the physical strength that allows one to accomplish difficult tasks. Paul said he could do “all things” (or “everything”)—including handling poverty and living in abundance—”through Him who” gave him strength. This was not an expression of pride in his own abilities but a declaration of the strength provided by Christ.
This verse is taken out of context frequently. Some assume Paul was making a comprehensive statement about the power and spiritual abilities of a Christian. Some act as if there were nothing they could not do. The text does not seem to point to that. Two factors in the text reveal why. First, the passage discussed material and physical needs. The rule of context means that this must be applied to economic matters. In the daily economic fluctuations, Paul knew a stability that enabled him to rise above the highs and lows. Second, Paul expressed his dependence on the power of the Lord. In this, he knew that wherever the Lord led him and whatever the situation, he had power. God and His will limited the application of the strength he knew. Misapplication of this verse can cause us to step out of God’s will for our lives. Hence, Paul expressed a crucial paradox. He was strong when he was weak (2 Cor 12:10)! He was content only when he was dependent! Although Paul realized the necessity of living in a Christian community, he also knew what it meant to face life’s problems alone and still triumph through them.
Unfortunately, it may be harder to triumph in the good times than in the bad. A Christian’s victory comes from a conscious dependence on the Lord and His power, and that can be practiced more readily when times get hard! Although, we still try to get ourselves out of the hard times by our own strength. One mark of maturity in Christ is that the mature Christian knows how to depend on the Lord in every situation of life, not only in those for which they assume they need help. Paul modeled this lifestyle for them and even in his thankfulness taught the truths of Christian living.
[1] Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary (Chicago: Victor Books, 1989),
[2] Ibid.
[3] BDAG: ἀναθάλλω (anathallō); “to cause to be in a state, identical with a previous state, cause to grow/bloom again”
[4] Earl D. Radmacher, Ronald B. Allen, H. Wayne House, eds., Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: Nelson, 1999), 1556.
[5] Robert P. Lightener, “Philippians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, eds. John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1985), 664.
[6] Radmacher, Allen, House, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary. DBL Greek: “ταπεινόω (tapeinoō), ταπεινόομαι (tapeinoomai)”
[7] Ibid.
[8] Strong’s 2480; DBL Greek 2710: “ἰσχύω (ischuō)”