The Secret of Contentment
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Topical Sermon OutlinesSermon on Contentment
INTRODUCTION: Read Philippians 4:10-14.
A. “I’ve got a secret”
1. There is something fascinating about those words
a. Ears perk up, and people lean in as they whisper, “What is it? I won’t tell anyone”
b. Religiously speaking, there are many who claim to have the “secrets” to spiritual life – but they are frauds
2. In sharp contrast to these frauds, notice Philippians 4:12
a. Here Paul speaks of a genuine and important “secret”
b. One has called this “the only secret that we need”
B. We are nearing the end of Paul’s letter to the Philippians
1. He has one final task: to express his appreciation for the gift that was sent him by Epaphroditus
2. In doing this, Paul will include some profound moments of spiritual and practical insight – including the “secret of contentment” … Paul begins by discussing…
DISCUSSION
A. A SATISFYING SITUATION
1. Philippians 4:10
a. What caused Paul to rejoice “greatly”?
b. It was the Philippians’ expression of love
c. We will see, though, that the apostle’s happiness was not so much for the gift, but for the fact that it showed concern
d. The emphasis in this section is not on things, but on people – not on the gift, but on the giver
2. The phrase “your thought for me” [care – KJV, concern – ESV] is in the imperfect tense in the Greek indicating continuous action in the past.
a. They had concern for Paul, the problem was they lacked opportunity to express their concern
b. Paul had not been out of their thoughts, but he was out of their reach
c. We cannot be sure why the Philippians lacked opportunity to help Paul, but what ever it was it was a circumstance beyond their control
3. They finally overcame the problem (what ever it was), and their concern for Paul “revived” – coming from a Greek word meaning to again flourish and blossom
a. Their concern was like a barren tree in winter reviving in the spring
b. Their concern appeared dead – but it was not
c. Paul now makes …
B. A STARTLING STATEMENT
1. Philippians 4:11, 12, 14
2. Paul having just said that he rejoiced in the gift of the Philippians, you might expect him to say, “after all, I really needed what you sent!”
a. There is little doubt that he needed help
b. He spoke of his “affliction” in verse 14
c. Paul, however, wanted his readers to know that his rejoicing was not so much for the gift as it was for the concern it expressed
d. Thus he quickly added, “Not that I speak in respect of want” – I other words, “I am not saying this as a hint to send another gift
e. It is kind of like the gifts you get from your children when they are young – they are special, not because of the gift, but because of who they came from and the love behind them
3. Paul now makes a Declaration
a. “I have learned, in whatsoever state [situation – ESV, circumstance – NAS] I am”
1) These circumstances that Paul listed might be considered as the ups and downs of life – the good times and the bad times
2) There were times when Paul was in need, and times when he lived in plenty
b. Now here is the problem we have with the ups and downs of life:
1) When we are down, the danger is despair – and when we are up the danger is pride
2) Paul did not let the downs degrade him or the ups to exalt him
3) Paul understood, as should we, that the circumstances of life change in a moment and that none of those circumstances define who we are
4) He believed that the Lord could handle anything that happened to him
c. 1 Timothy 6:6-8… Hebrews 13:5
4. Exactly what did Paul mean when he spoke of being “content”?
a. “Contentment” is sometimes misunderstood – it is not complacency or a false peace based on ignorance, and it is not pretending that a bad situation is a good one
b. To truly understand “contentment” we need to look at the Greek word
1) The word translated “content” in 1 Timothy 6:6-8 and Hebrews 13:5 (a form of arkeo) means sufficient
2) The word in Philippians 4:11 translated “content” is from a compound word which combines arkeo and the word for “self” (autos) – thus, the literal translation could be “self-sufficient”
3) The word was used to describe the person who through discipline had become independent of external circumstances, and who discovered within himself resources that were more than adequate for any situation that might arise
c. Paul’s satisfaction was not based on outward situation, but on inward sufficiency
1) This sufficiency was not based on personal resources
2) It was based on divine resources
5. Notice too that Paul “learned” to be content
a. Paul is telling us that the Christian life is a learning experience
b. Contentment is not something that we are born with
c. We learn through:
1) Painful experience … 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
2) Earnest prayer … Philippians 4:6-7
d. If Paul could learn to be content, so can we
C. THE STRENGTHENING SECRET
1. Philippians 4:12-13
2. The “Secret”
a. The phrase “I learned the secret” is translated from a single Greek word
1) Meaning: “being initiated into the mysteries”
2) Paul’s entire life was an initiation process by which he learned the marvelous secret
3) What was the secret? No matter what happened, the Lord would stand by him
b. Philippians 4:13 – perhaps the most well know verse in the Bible
1) “I can do” comes from ischuros meaning strong – thus, the idea is: “I have strength for every situation
2) “Strengtheneth” is from a compound word in the Greek – the heart of that word is dunamis (dynamite)
3) This passage is also in the present tense (indicating continuous action) so the passage might read: “I can continue to have strength in all things through Him who constantly gives me power”
c. “I can do all things” must be considered in light of its context
1) Not – leap tall buildings
2) But, in good and bad situations
3. The Source
a. Our source of strength and contentment is Christ!
1) Paul’s secret was Christ!
2) The world has not learned this – they think contentment comes from education, money, etc
b. Ephesians 3:16-17
c. Colossians 1:9-11
d. John 15:1-7
CONCLUSION
A. Have you discovered the secret of contentment?
B. If not, get into Christ and His will!