Skipping down a couple of verses from the previous article, let’s look at a few more verses from Philippians 4. (By the way, reading entire paragraphs, chapters, or larger sections of the Bible to understand their context is a good habit to get into, even if many lessons about the Bible are based on a smaller selection of verses. Here’s a link to all of Philippians 4, if you want to do so right now.)
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:11-13 NIV
In this series of articles, we didn’t cover verses 2-3, where two women appear to have been in conflict. We did look at verse 6, which tells us to “not be anxious about anything”. If we have learned to not have conflict and not be anxious, though, we have an opportunity to find a great source of peace: contentment.
Now, just to warn you, if you find contentment, you become the bane of marketing departments everywhere. A study suggests that the global marketing sector is worth 1.7 trillion dollars [How Much Money Is In The Global Marketing Industry – More Than We Believed (forbes.com)].
When we are content – content with what God gives us, content in trusting Him to take care of us, and content in understanding that this world is just a prologue to our lives with Him in eternity – we obtain a powerful resistance to forces that tell us we need more, more, more!
Now, I don’t believe that this is an excuse to not keep working for the Lord. Some things require ongoing effort, like our goal of living like Jesus or our mission to make disciples of the nations. However, we typically don’t need a fancy car or a new wardrobe to achieve either of those things, especially with God providing for our needs.
Some might consider holy contentment to be a superpower, and maybe it is, but whatever we call it, contentment is available to you and to me today.
This chapter of Philippians has a lot of good advice. For most Christians like myself, though, we probably consider them to be commands from God, rather than just some “good ideas”.
So, let’s have a quick review. If I could summarize some of the key instructions from this chapter, they might be:
- Rejoice
- Be overtly gentle
- Don’t worry
- Give your requests to God in earnest prayer with thanksgiving
- Fill your mind with good things (and, letting your heart be filled with the Holy Spirit goes right along with this)
- Follow good examples and be a good example
- And, be content with what God has provided you in this world, whether that’s stuff or a situation
I encourage you to read Philippians 4:20 and Philippians 4:23 (or, just read all of Philippians 4 again)
My goal for you in this series is not that you learned something academically. I’m not here to teach you some sort of new rituals to practice so that you’ll live a good life. The outcome of this lesson series is not that you just try harder to do good things. Instead, it is my hope that, thanks to this study from Philippians, you will bring glory to God, and His grace will be with you.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for September 17, 2023
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press Commentary, Philippians Colossians & Philemon, by Anthony L. Ash. College Press Publishing Company, © 1994.
Those Who Sin Differently 