Grace Still Amazes

Warren Wiersbe said that when he was asked to launch an Old Testament series of commentaries, he could think of no better place to start than Ecclesiastes, with the title “Be Satisfied.”

Yet satisfaction is what this book seems to lack, at least at first.  It shows that although we seek satisfaction in all the events, activities, people or things of life, we inevitably come up short.

Every one of us craves meaning and happiness—it’s human nature to look for it.  The question is, where are we looking to find it: work, pleasure, our children, our spouse, beauty, sex, our possessions, our position, our reputation, our accomplishments?

Ecclesiastes won’t allow for pat answers to these deeply existential questions—it forces us to look deeply at life and see where happiness and true satisfaction come from.

C. S. Lewis once wrote: “Human history…[is] the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.”

For those who see no end to their laborious search for meaning and satisfaction, Jesus promises rest: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Again, setting the book within its context of wisdom literature:

Proverbs is all about getting us moving in the right direction, toward the Lord and away from ourselves.  Job shows us how to keep moving in that direction when everything falls apart.  Ecclesiastes completes the triptych of wisdom books, inspiring us to persevere in that journey, despite how frustrating it may be to do so.

Proverbs tells us what is generally true in God’s moral universe.  Ecclesiastes seems to argue against that.  It points out the exceptions, the dark side of reality, which we all feel at times and need to grapple with in a serious manner.

Ecclesiastes, more than other any book, reveals the fallout from the curse of Genesis 3.

Today we want to look at the argument of Ecclesiastes, how it is laid out to accomplish its purpose.

The thesis of this book is stated in Ecclesiastes 1:1-11, and the thesis is clear: Life is empty.

1:2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. 

That’s how it’s stated. It’s stated that way not because that is Ecclesiastes’ final verdict, but to shock all who are trying to live life apart from God, or without a living trust in God, into the reality of what they are facing.

To restate the thesis in light of the total teaching of Ecclesiastes: Life “under the sun” (that is, life lived apart from God) is empty.

This phrase “under the sun” is used 29 times in the book of Ecclesiastes (and nowhere else in Scripture) to emphasize the perspective from which Solomon is speaking.  What that literally means is you lock God out of a closed system, and you are left with only this world of time plus chance plus matter.

But we should not think of “under the sun” in a spatial sense, but more of a temporal sense, “now rather than then.”  It is like Asaph’s struggle in Psalm 73 with the blessings he saw the wicked enjoying (now) but ultimately came to realize that in eternity the roles would be reversed.  We live under the sun today, but we will live in glory tomorrow.

In his famous sermon “Learning in War-Time,” C.S. Lewis wrestled profoundly with the relationship between things temporal and things eternal.  The particular pressure point in his context was the advent of the Second World War.  How should his students make sense of the pursuit of academic pleasures — what Lewis called “placid occupations” — while Europe was poised on the precipice of so great a conflict?

Lewis engaged the question by widening its lens, dramatically broadening the scope from the immediate danger to the more remote but greatest reality of all: judgment by the living God.  If learning in wartime may be compared to Nero fiddling while Rome burned, then “to a Christian the true tragedy of Nero must be not that he fiddled while the city was on fire but that he fiddled on the brink of hell.”  In other words, Lewis suggested, the real question is this: How should we make sense of anything at all in our present, bodily, earthly lives while the yawning chasm of eternity waits for us beyond the grave?

Under the sun, life is monotonous; over the sun, it’s adventurous.  Under the sun, wisdom is vain; over the sun, wisdom is extremely useful. Under the sun, wealth is futile; over the sun, wealth opens up great opportunities.  Under the sun, death is certain; over the sun, death provides great motivation.  The Christian life can be compared to a puzzle, a battle, a challenge, a race, a treasure hunt, or a pilgrimage.  None of these are monotonous or boring. They are the stuff of true adventure.

Life “under the sun” is meaningless.  It is futile.  It’s a bad joke.  In this book, “the Preacher” (that’s what the author calls himself) argues that every human avenue to meaning and fulfillment fails, apart from faith in the God of providence.  All substitutes for finding true enjoyment and meaningful, well-grounded satisfaction in life, other than God Himself, end up empty.  Throughout the book, especially in the early going, he explores ways that humans try to dig themselves out of this meaninglessness: through thinking about life hard and long, through the pursuit of pleasure, through work, family, and affluence, for instance.

This books tells the story of perhaps the only person ever to have everything the world has to offer—money, wisdom, and pleasure—and he comes to the conclusion that those things cannot satisfy.

In the first cycle, Ecclesiastes 1:3-11, Solomon says that work has no advantages.  There is no advantage to work from earth’s perspective because of the cycles of life which entrap people and because of the lack of fulfillment in doing anything.  Because everything is cyclical “under the sun,” one is never satisfied (v. 8), there is nothing new (v. 9-10) and nothing will be remembered (v. 11).

Verse 2: “Everything is meaningless” (I’m empty.)

Verse 8: “All things are full of weariness” (I’m tired.)

Verse 8: “Never enough…not satisfied” (I’m restless.)

Verse 11: “There is no remembrance” (I’m expendable.)

Ever felt that?  Empty, tired, restless, expendable?  This is the perspective of the person who has not yet integrated his or her relationship with God into the experiences of everyday life.

In the second cycle (1:12-18), Solomon tries to escape into wisdom, into learning more and more.  But he ends up in the same place. 

1:13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 

Wisdom “under the sun” merely sees work as affliction, that life cannot be altered, and that there is pain in life.  Solomon concludes that being wise, knowledgeable, savvy, smart, philosophically reflective, and astute can’t provide meaning/satisfaction. Indeed, it leads to despair.

So Solomon tries another (3^rd cycle, 2:1-11) escape route, this time into pleasure.  He says, in effect, “Well then, if wisdom brings grief/despair, what about pleasure/laughter?  Maybe escape from grief via comedy and the satiation of the senses will suffice.”  But it doesn’t.  Pleasure-seeking as a way of satisfaction fails because God has not built us to be satisfied that way. “It cannot quench man’s spiritual thirst.”

A fourth cycle goes back to wisdom in 2:12-18).  In examining wisdom and folly Solomon affirms that the former (wisdom) is preferable, but not ultimately fulfilling since death is the end of both the fool and the wise (2:12-16) and because we all die it is empty and senseless (2:17).  Solomon’s conclusion, in v. 17, is…

So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

In 2:18-26, he discusses escape route #3–the belief that work/vocation can provide meaning/satisfaction.  But there the Preacher explains, first, why work won’t work (18-19) as the provision of meaning/significance in life; second, why work alone (apart from relationship with God) leads to despair (20-23); and then tells us, third, about the kind of work that truly satisfies (24-26).

Verses 24-25 introduce a key thought:

24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 

Enjoying life for the moment is appropriate, even in the midst of hating life (on the whole) because of its troubles and inability to deeply satisfy.  Enjoying life is “from the hand of God” and is totally dependent upon Him.

Actually, Solomon will say this, or something like this, seven times throughout the book.  It’s a troubling answer, but it’s also a simple one.  Believe it or not, seven times the answer is to have fun and enjoy the life that God has given.  Until chapters 11-12, that is the only answer, but it is the penultimate answer.

So where does one go from here?  The best human wisdom can’t supply meaning.  Pleasure can’t either.  Work/vocation, apart from God, fails. Where to?  That leads us to 3:1-22 and the Preacher’s first full-scale attempt to give a positive, constructive answer to the depressing scenario of life under the sun.  From the contemplative life, to the sensuous life, to the active life–in search of meaning and satisfaction–and he can’t find it there, anywhere (apart from God).  The solution: sovereignty and providence!  The world is divided into two camps: those who believe in God’s sovereignty and those who reject it.  All else is a variation on one of those two themes.

In 3:1-8 Solomon affirms that everything, including events and experiences which seem to be contradictory, has an appointed time. 

Then in 3:9-21 Solomon gives a general solution: Although the appointments of life may point to despair in striving, meaning for life may be found if one follows the eternal drive within oneself to recognize God as the giver of life.

Here again, Solomon gives us a clue that the answer to life lies beyond this life. In v. 11 he says…

He has made everything beautiful in its time.  Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 

There is an afterlife.  We may not have the answer to every question in this life, but we can trust God for life after death.

Then, in a very difficult, somber, and sobering passage, Ecclesiastes 4, the Preacher contemplates all the rampant injustice and oppression in this world–the Preacher proves once again that “if we hope only for this life, we are of all men most miserable.”

Then moving through chapter 5 we see that the overall theme of chapters 4-5 is that Solomon affirms that life can be enjoyed rather than fearfully protected and despaired of when one knows God as the One who gives life.

We learn here that though wealth can be a gift from God, it is an awful curse without Him and a major trial even with Him.  There he shows the emptiness of wealth, prosperity, and affluence, without God.

In our religious life we must revere God (5:1-7).  In our business life we do not trust in riches (5:8-17).  Once again, Solomon returns to the theme of enjoying the moments:

18 Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. 19 Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil–this is the gift of God.

It is ok to enjoy God’s good gifts, pleasures, possessions and powers.  These are gifts from God.  The danger is when they become the source of our joy or we begin trusting them, rather than trusting in and enjoying God Himself.

We must be careful not to allow good things to become god things—to put our ultimate trust or love or satisfaction in them.

As Augustine said, ““He loves Thee too little, who loves anything together with Thee, which he loves not for Thy sake.”

In 6:1-12, we find the Preacher’s summary of various escape routes from nihilism, vanity, and meaninglessness: wealth, long life, family, work, words; but we also find there that none of these can provide true satisfaction, significance, happiness, blessedness, meaning, fullness, fulfillment.  The search for satisfaction, significance, happiness, blessedness, meaning, fullness, fulfillment is not wrong in itself, but often pursued wrongly.  God has not built life for anything apart from Him to satisfy.

In 7:1-29, by presenting a series of opposites, dangers, and fallen-world life scenarios, the Preacher shows true wisdom and the folly of trying to make sense of life apart from God. And in 8:1-17, he continues and confirms the point of chapter seven by pointing out the quandary of oppression in this life, the futilities that face us.  This life, considered apart from God, has no cheering answer to give us about the meaning of life, and no hope to offer us–only frustration.

In 9:1-18, the Preacher emphasizes that the person who knows God draws comfort from God’s sovereignty, even in the face of death and life’s difficulties, and views death in moral terms.

Death is the big bugaboo in the book of Ecclesiastes.  It comes to all of us, cuts life short and “under the sun” is the end.

Then in 10:1-20 he compares and contrasts wisdom and folly, and basically gives us a taxonomy of folly.  The Preacher makes two basic points: a little folly can do a lot of damage, and folly is a heart problem, shows in character and conduct, is found in high places, has consequences, is especially apparent in speech and laziness, and has dreadful effects on a nation.  Although wisdom doesn’t solve every problem, it is clearly superior to folly.

In 11:1-10, we learn how to respond to the uncertainties of life in light of an overarching trust in God’s providence.  It’s the beginning of the Preacher’s “end game.”  

“The life of indifference and unbelief has been placed against [the life of faith] on the scales and been found wanting.” Now the Preacher calls for a verdict.  The whole section is a sustained call to decision.  We must respond to God without delay, in wholehearted faith, whether life is adverse or comfortable, for we are marching towards the day of our death.” (Eaton).

We meet here a call to bold, confident, and joyous living, even in light of the uncertainties of life because of the certainties of God’s providence.

11:9 and then chapter 12 encourages us to “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

The key verses of the book are found at the end, where Solomon at long last gives us the answer what makes sense of life:

13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

The book of Ecclesiastes shows us there are no pat answers in matters pertaining to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He does whatever he pleases, which often will look to us like “time and chance” (Eccl 9:11).  But His word never fails, His promises are sure, and His commandments are not burdensome.  When He sets his affection on you, he gives you the gift of irrational joy in the face of such frustration.  Don’t ever give that up or take it for granted, for Jesus died and rose so the pure life of the age to come could invade our present age of frustration.

Christians ought to respond to their world in a way unlike anyone else, and Ecclesiastes explains why.

Ever heard of the term YOLO?  It’s an acronym that became popular internet slang in 2012.  It means “You only live once.”  Along the same lines as the Latin carpe diem (‘seize the day’), it is a call to live life to its fullest extent, even embracing behavior which carries inherent risk.

YOLO captures the thinking and philosophy of the American young person.  It focuses on oneself and offers an answer to Aristotle’s ancient question: How ought a man live his life?

This worldview says, “you only live once and then you die.”  It is a fairly pessimistic worldview and it focuses only on the material world and the here and now.  So, go for the gusto, enjoy yourself, eat, drink and engage in sex, for tomorrow we die.  Get the most out of life now.

And aren’t we guaranteed, by our Constitution, the right to pursue happiness?

Yet Malcolm Muggeridge, in his book Jesus Rediscovered, states…

This lamentable phrase, ‘the pursuit of happiness’ as an inalienable right, is responsible for a good part of the ills and miseries of the modern world.  To pursue happiness as a conscious aim is the surest way to miss it altogether, as is only too evident in countries like Sweden and America, where happiness is most ardently pursued, and the material conditions thought to be most conducive to happiness are all in place, and yet despair abounds.

Of course, the gospel presents a different worldview—a worldview that includes a resurrection to life hereafter, investing this life with so much more meaning.

But that pursuit of trying to find meaning in this life is ancient.  And today we are going to go back to the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon, though that is debated.  I believe it was Solomon because verse 1 tells us…

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

Solomon, of course, fits that description.  He was the son of David and he was king in Jerusalem.  Solomon also had the opportunity to pursue the paths that the author believes would lead to meaning—pursuing wealth, wisdom and pleasure.

Solomon reigned at the high point of Israel, under him the nation of Israel prospered like never before!  Solomon was rich in wisdom, the wisest person on the planet.  People traveled from all over the world to hear his counsel.  He also had over 700 wives and 300 concubines.  With his wives, he engaged in parties and rituals and festivals.

This man was the epitome of YOLO.  Surely this guy knows how to enjoy life and surely he is satisfied?  But in the second verse of Ecclesiastes he says: “Meaningless! Meaningless?’ says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”

The book of Ecclesiastes is part of the Writings, the Kethubim, in the Jewish Bible.  It is part of a five-book grouping knowing as the Megilloth, the “scrolls.”  In Jewish tradition one of the five short books is read on each of the five major holidays that are based on the Old Testament: the Song of Songs is read during the Passover, the book of Ruth during the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), Lamentations on the anniversary of the destruction of the temple in 586 B. C., Esther during the Feast of Purim (Lots), and Ecclesiastes during the Feast of Booths, otherwise known as the Feast of Ingathering.

Why read during the Feast of Booths?

One possibility is that it recalls the forty-year sojourn of Israel in the wilderness, re-enacting that time of struggle by living in tents or booths, which matches Ecclesiastes’ focus on the brevity and struggle of life.

A second possibility is that Booths is a time of singing, dancing and drinking because of the new vintage and the harvesting of other produce.  Ecclesiastes likewise encourages eating and drinking and finding enjoyment in the gifts of God during this transitory life (2:23; 3:13; 5:7-18; 8:15; 9:7).  At the same time, the outwardly somber tone of Ecclesiastes, which accents the brevity of earthly life and the coming judgment (12:13-14), would serve to keep the revelry under control.

A third possibility is that Booths, like most Old Testament feasts, includes the theme of thanksgiving:  even though the believer may have to sleep on bare ground in a lean-to and live a hand-to-mouth existence, he still rejoices in his God, who somehow or another continues to provide for all his daily needs, fulfilling the petition to “give us this day our daily bread” (Matt 6:11).  It reminded Israel to look to God and depend upon Him.

Of course, in our English Bibles the book of Ecclesiastes is part of the section we call poetry or wisdom: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs.

We acknowledge three Old Testament books as belonging to Solomonic authorship—Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon, although reading the three seems to be from three different people.

Many believe that Proverbs was written first, presenting wisdom in a positive sense that guided a person to making the best choices and thus most normally experiencing God’s blessings.

Song of Songs explores the marriage relationship, again from a largely positive perspective.  Of course, remembering how many wives and concubines Solomon had, we can see that Song of Songs represents an idealistic viewpoint.  In reality, Solomon was not happy through marriage.

Barry York says…

In this final stage, toward the end of his life Solomon wants to gather people before him as a “Preacher” (1:1) and have them reflect with him on what he has learned through the years.  He evaluates his life and realizes how much of it was lived “under the sun,” or in the foolish worldview that lives life without acknowledging the God who rules from on high above the sun.  All of his false pursuits of riches, knowledge, and pleasure – representing deviations from the fear of God he encouraged his son to follow in Proverbs – were vanity (1:2) and chasing after the wind (1:14).

Yet he does this evaluation without demeaning the earlier stages, as he encourages such things as enjoying hard work (2:24), good food (2:25), companionship (4:9-12), and the joys of youth (11:9).  What must accompany these activities is the fear and presence of God.  When we reach the end of our days, will we have finished well by coming to the conclusion that Solomon expressed in the last words of Ecclesiastes (12:13-14).

By the way, the English title, Ecclesiastes, is from the Greek, meaning “congregation.”  The Hebrew title Qoheleth, means “preacher.”

Luther envisions

These words were spoken by Solomon in some assembly of his retinue, perhaps after dinner…to some great prominent men who were present.  He spoke this way after he had thought long and hard to himself about the condition and vanity of human affairs….This is, then, a public sermon which they heard from Solomon.

There are three approaches to the study of Ecclesiastes.

For example, Tremper Longman sees Ecclesiastes as having two voices. The most air time is given to the Cynic, as most of the book is an extended quote of his cynicism (Eccl 1:12-12:9).  The outer frame (Eccl 1:1-11, 12:9-14), however, refers to “the Preacher” in third person; therefore it was composed by someone else, who is evaluating the Preacher’s message.  This outer frame is the only place in the book where we find an orthodox, praiseworthy message.

In short, this approach typically sees the book as entirely (or almost entirely) negative and not to be commended as godly.  It is in the Bible primarily to help us understand the worldview of a thoughtful unbeliever.

The second approach, which in my observation is most common among pastors, says the book of Ecclesiastes is to be commended and held up as a model for the wise life.  Some proponents of this approach are Zack Eswine and Douglas Wilson.  The book is exploring hedonism, the pursuit of pleasure.

That pursuit may be ungodly, leaving God out, “Life is meaningless, so let’s just live it up while we can,” or it might be commendable, “Life is meaningless in itself, but God miraculously blesses us with the ability to enjoy it anyway.

In other words, Ecclesiastes presents both a dark side and a light side to life. The dark side is the vanity of life “under the sun” (which is all human existence); the light side is the supernatural gift of joy from God, despite the ubiquitous vanity. God has created a world with no meaning inherent within it; yet he also blesses his people with an irrational joy in the midst of that vanity.

Thus, this view helps us understand how to find the good in the midst of the bad.  It is in the Bible to help God’s people learn how to derive joy from the Lord even when the vanity of life may war against such joy. And the best way to apply the book is to recognize both the vanity of life on earth and the gift of joy from God.

The third approach, which in my observation is most common among evangelists and engagers of culture, says the book of Ecclesiastes is to be commended as a model of how to expose a false worldview and replace it with the truth.  Some proponents of this approach are Sinclair Ferguson and Leland Ryken.

Some, such as Ryken, see in Ecclesiastes two competing voices, which alternate, almost in dialogue.  There is the voice of the unbeliever, for whom life under the sun is meaningless and hopeless.  And there is the voice of the believer, who expresses the joy of seeing the God who superintends everything from beyond the sun.

In this approach, the phrase “under the sun” tends to refer not to human existence universally (as in the Hedonist approach), but to the human existence of the unbeliever.  Believers, therefore, can be freed from an “under the sun” perspective and have it replaced with an “eternal” perspective.

In short, this approach typically sees the book as roughly half true and half false. It is in the Bible to help God’s people relate to those whose only perception is “under the sun,” and to win such folks to a more truthful and satisfying outlook on life.  The best way to apply the book is to help people grapple with the despair of materialism and naturalism, and to win them to a God’s-eye view of the heavens and the earth.

Why Study the Book of Ecclesiastes?

I am sharing here Matt Francisco’s article The Ancient Book for Anxious Moderns, in which he says…

There is perhaps no Old Testament book more perfectly suited for preaching to the modern West than Ecclesiastes.  Even before the disquieting unrest of 2020, it was clear that America had entered a new age of anxiety.

Just over the past few years, diagnoses of major depression have skyrocketed, rising 33 percent from 2013 to 2016, as have the number of people who describe themselves as lonely.  The percentage of Americans who experience stress is 20 points higher than the global average––all while life has been getting better for the average American by almost every available metric.  As Gregg Easterbrook has written in The Progress Paradox,

If you sat down with a pencil and graph paper to chart the trends of American and European life since the end of World War II, you’d do a lot of drawing that was pointed up.  Per-capita income, “real” income, longevity, home size, cars per driver, phone calls made annually, trips taken annually, highest degree earned, IQ scores, just about every objective indicator of social welfare has trended upward on a pretty much uninterrupted basis. . . . But your graphs would lose their skyward direction when the topics turned to the inner self . . . the trend line would cascade downward like water over a falls on the topic of avoiding depression.  Adjusting for population growth, ten times as many people in the Western nations today suffer from “unipolar” depression, or unremitting bad feelings without a specific cause, than did half a century ago.  Americans and Europeans have ever more of everything except happiness.

The problem, as Easterbrook illustrates, is not primarily that the American dream is dead, but that it has been achieved by so many and found wanting.

This is exactly what the author of Ecclesiastes warned us about. For 12 chapters the Preacher chronicles mankind’s fruitless attempts to find meaning, purpose, and joy under the sun, concluding time and again that all is vanity, a striving after the wind (1:14, 17; 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4, 6, 16; 6:9).

He asks, “What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?”  But his question is not meant to lead us to despair.  Instead, like a skilled physician of the soul, his question is meant to expose the prevailing symptom of our malady––an unrelenting restlessness and dissatisfaction with life––in order to lead us in the way of wisdom and joy.”

The quest the Preacher describes startles us with its familiarity: we too have staked our hopes on finding meaning, purpose, and joy under the sun; we too have been left disappointed.  Sure, we may have had moments where we almost grasped what we were after––maybe when we first landed that job, when we first got married, or when our work was finally recognized––but as soon as we held it, it began slipping through our fingers.

Naively, we assumed these moments pointed to a future moment, just out of reach, when everything would finally make sense, when we’d be able to rest, when we’d be unassailably happy.  As long as we were willing to follow the requisite steps, all we ever wanted would be ours.  But the moment never comes, and so we remain hungry and restless.

The Preacher reveals that he’s had everything we think we want, and his probing questions confirm our darkest suspicions––those we’ve sought to silence through busyness, distraction, and denial––that there is nothing under the sun that will ever satisfy the longing of an infinite soul.  There never could be a relationship, career, or accomplishment that would bring us rest, joy, and peace.  Pursuing these things as ends in themselves is a striving after wind.

In the end, death will make them vanish anyway, for “the wise dies just like the fool” (2:16), and man dies just like the beast.  And so castles made of sand slip into the sea eventually.

Without the sobering perspective of Ecclesiastes, we could easily be deluded into thinking that we’re restless and dissatisfied simply because we haven’t “arrived.”  The Preacher disabuses us of that notion.  In the face of this bleak future, we too cry “Vanity; vanity; all is vanity!” as we see the futility of life under the sun. But his words are not meant to leave us hopeless; instead, as Derek Kidner writes, “He shocks us into seeing life and death strictly from the ground level, and into reaching the only conclusions that honesty will allow.”

The first honest conclusion is that our restlessness and dissatisfaction arise from our attempts to find meaning and joy in God’s creation apart from the Creator.  In other words, “vanity, vanity, all is vanity” will always be true for the life lived apart from God.  We may choose to ignore the Preacher’s warning, continuing to place infinite expectations on finite things, but we do so at the cost of real joy, meaning, and purpose.

The second conclusion gives us hope: our inmost desires for joy, meaning, and purpose not only can be satisfied, but were designed to be.  Our disappointment in created things is not an act of cosmic cruelty; it’s a merciful signpost.

As early as Ecclesiastes 2:24–26, the Preacher writes, “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. . . . For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy.”

Six times the Preacher encourages his reader to “eat and drink and make your soul enjoy the good of its labor, for it is a gift of God” (Eccles. 2:24; 3:12–14; 3:22; 5:18–19; 8:15; 9:7–9). Think of this phrase as a chorus meant to bookend every “verse,” gently reminding us that there is purpose and meaning and joy in one place only: a life lived before God.

The whole duty of man is to “fear God and keep his commandments” (Eccles. 12:13), a summary of his wisdom, and a message in full harmony with the rest of the Bible.  As Tim Keller has explained, the fear of the Lord is not terror, but instead a “life-rearranging, joyful awe and wonder before God.” Therefore, wisdom is found in recognizing and submitting to God, the gracious King.

Only when we recognize God and his gifts (Eccles. 3:13; 5:19) are we freed to rightly enjoy his created things. We can eat and drink and find enjoyment in our toil, because we know they’re but signposts pointing to the deeper joy of a life lived before God.

Therefore, far from a manifesto of hopelessness, Ecclesiastes shows us how to find joy in every moment.

Well, today we get to the final portion of Philippians, Paul’s benediction in Philippians 4:21-23.

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

In many ways Paul, here in this final passage, recapitulates several of the themes that have been woven through this epistle from the very beginning.  Paul has emphasized fellowship and grace throughout this epistle.

Five times Paul has mentioned the fellowship that he shared with the Philippians and the fellowship they had amongst themselves.  It was a precious thing they were in danger of throwing away through conflict.

Together they were a community of brothers and sisters in Christ bound together by a great quest that was nothing less than the evangelization of the Gentile world—a quest they had pursued from the very first day.  They need to hold that dear.

Someone has written concerning the early church,

What that first century world saw was the phenomenon of people of all walks of life loving one another, serving one another, caring for one another, praying for one another.  Slaves and free men were in that community.  Rich and poor were in the fellowship; Roman citizens and non-Roman citizens were in that community. Members of the establishment and those violently opposed to the establishment were part of that community.  The intelligencia and the illiterate were members of that community.  To the utter amazement of the world outside they were bound together in an inexplanable [sic] love and unity. (Source unknown.)

God’s grace was mentioned in the very beginning (1:2) and forms the backbone for every exhortation Paul gave.  The indicative—what God has done for us—always forms the motivation and power for the imperative—what God calls us to do.  Without grace there would be no ability to be a fellowship.

Paul sends his own greetings, then the greetings of his team mates, and even all the Christians there in Rome.  The “brethren” who were “with” Paul in Rome included Epaphroditus, and probably Timothy.

He doesn’t mention them by name, like he does in Romans 16.  Perhaps, since the church at Philippi was so dear to him, the list would have just been too long.  Coffman says, “If Paul saluted a few friends by name at the end of this epistle, it would have been an insult to a hundred others whom he personally knew in Philippi.”

But even so Paul instructs the leaders of the church to greet each and every one, individually and personally.  Each one is an important partner in his ministry.  Each one has an important part to play.

By the way, by greeting “every saint” it includes Euodia and those who sided with her, as well as Syntyche and those who sided with her.  We don’t know how this conflict turned out, but Paul still considered them worthy of a greeting because they were still “saints in Christ Jesus.”

What he does call them, as well as the believers in Romans is “saints,” in fact, “saints in Christ Jesus.”  That is our most important identity.  If we could just live in that identity, we would find greater joy, security and power to live our daily lives.

So often today people want to identify themselves by their problems (their victim status) or by their rebellion against God.

But if you are a Christian, you are a “saint in Christ Jesus.”

You didn’t achieve that sainthood by living a good life or doing some great deed.  You are a saint precisely because you are “in Christ Jesus.”  You were placed into Christ Jesus—baptized into Christ—by the Holy Spirit the moment you believed the gospel.

Always remember who you are in Christ Jesus.  That is the most important thing about you.

Notice also Paul’s mention of “Caesar’s household.”  Remember that back in chapter 1 Paul had said that his imprisonment in Rome had allowed him to advance the gospel so that “it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.”

These handpicked soldiers, the cream of the crop, had been assigned to guard Paul and throughout the weeks and months of his imprisonment had been exposed to the gospel so that many of them came to faith in Christ.  That word then got out into “Caesar’s household.”

So it was that some soldiers and cooks and housecleaners and civil servants in Caesar’s house had come to Christ.  Here John Calvin cuts to the chase: “it is evidence of divine mercy that the Gospel had penetrated that sink [pit] of all crimes and iniquities.”

Yes!  Though both the Philippians and Paul were under Roman oppression, there were brothers and sisters even within Caesar’s walls who were on their side and praying for them.  Since Philippi as a colony had close ties with Rome, it is likely that some of the Roman Christians had friends in the Philippian church.

Robertson seems amazed at the ending here.  He remarks how, “…this obscure prisoner who has planted the gospel in Caesar’s household has won more eternal fame and power than all the Caesars combined.  Nero will commit suicide shortly after Paul had been executed. Nero’s star went down and Paul’s rose and rises still.”

Thus this innocuous final greeting trumpets the grand reality that one day the very seat of imperial power will bow its knee and “confess that Jesus Christ [Messiah]) is Lord [Yahweh], to the glory of God the Father” (2:11).

The mention of Caesar’s household must have been a huge encouragement to the church at Philippi.  Barclay enlightens us on this saying:

It is important to understand this phrase rightly.  It does not mean those who are of Caesar’s kith and kin.  Caesar’s household was the regular phrase for what we would call the Imperial Civil Service; it had members all over the world. The palace officials, the secretaries, the people who had charge of the imperial revenues, those who were responsible for the day-to-day administration of the empire, all these were Caesar’s household.  It is of the greatest interest to note that even as early as this Christianity had penetrated into the very center of the Roman government.

Thus, the very words of Acts 28:30-31 are in play here:

30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

And we can be thankful that God’s Word is not bound.  Almost a year ago we thought it would be.  Churches had closed due to COVID, treated as “non-essential.”  But the Word of God was never bound.

Paul later wrote a letter to Timothy from prison.  Locked up in Rome again, expecting to die, Paul senses his preaching days are over.  What can he do while locked up in prison?

But Paul knows something about Scripture and it fills him with confidence, even as he’s lost his freedom. “The word of God is not bound!” he writes (2 Timothy 2:9).

But even when the preacher is silenced, God’s Word continues to spread.  The more you try to stop it, the more it seems to do its work.  Centuries later, after many attempts to stop it, it still continues to take new ground and capture new hearts.

You can lock up the preacher, whether by prison or by social distancing.  But you can never lock up God’s Word.  It always runs free.  It always accomplishes what God wants it to do.

“God’s Word can no more be chained than God himself,” says Kent Hughes.

The Word of God isn’t bound.  It can never be quarantined.  It’s still doing its work no matter what happens to the rest of us.  Nothing can stop it: not prison, not persecution, and certainly not a virus.

God’s Word will accomplish its purpose.  It always has; it always will.  In Isaiah 55 we read:

10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 12 “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

God’s Word is performative.  It will accomplish God’s purpose.  It can bring radical transformation.  Whoever heard of a cypress growing up out of a thornbush, or a myrtle out of briers?  It doesn’t normally happen.  It is not natural, but supernatural.

But that is what God’s Word can do.  It changes lives.

Finally Paul says, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”

Paul did not say this to simply fill up space at the end of his letter.  To him, the Christian life begins and ends and is filled throughout with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, so it was appropriate that his letters began and ended with grace also.

I like what MacArthur wrote concerning this, “Believers are not only saved by grace, but also sustained by grace.  They are governed by grace, guided by grace, kept by grace, strengthened by grace, sanctified by grace and enabled by grace.  They are constantly dependent on the forgiveness, comfort, peace, joy, boldness, and instruction that comes through God’s grace.”

Grace not only saves us but empowers us.  It justifies and it transforms.  Grace is at the center of our lives.  It is the unearnable, undeserved favor of God.  Grace is the very opposite of merit… Grace is not only undeserved favor, but it is favor shown to the one who has deserved the very opposite.

Martin Luther explains how this gift, which we couldn’t possibly purchase, was paid for at great price:

Although out of pure grace God does not impute our sins to us, He nonetheless did not want to do this until complete and ample satisfaction of His law and His righteousness had been made.  Since this was impossible for us, God ordained for us, in our place, One who took upon Himself all the punishment we deserve.  He fulfilled the law for us.  He averted the judgment of God from us and appeased God’s wrath.  Grace, therefore, costs us nothing, but is cost Another much to get it for us.  Grace was purchased with an incalculable, infinite treasure, the Son of God Himself.”

Jerry Bridges notes:

Grace is God’s free and unmerited favor shown to guilty sinners who deserve only judgment.  It is the love of God shown to the unlovely. It is God reaching downward to people who are in rebellion against Him.

Or, as Sam Storms puts it:

The first and possibly most fundamental characteristic of divine grace is that it presupposes sin and guilt.  Grace has meaning only when men are seen as fallen, unworthy of salvation, and liable to eternal wrath… Grace does not contemplate sinners merely as undeserving but as ill-deserving… It is not simply that we do not deserve grace; we do deserve hell.

Grace is receiving God’s absolute best when we deserve the absolute worst!

Without grace, we could not receive the gospel, because none of us can ever earn or deserve it.  Without grace, we could not grow in holiness, because we are so selfish and sinful that if God gave us what we deserve, we all would have been wiped out long ago.  We stand daily, constantly in need of God’s grace.  Without it, we would be quickly consumed.

William Farley, in his book Gospel Parenting, writes:

Grace is reward, or favor, given to those who deserve judgment.  If a judge found a serial rapist guilty, and then stepped down from his bench, agreed to take the death penalty in the criminal’s place, and sent the rapist on an all-expense-paid vacation to Hawaii for thirty years, that would be grace.  The severity of the criminal’s crimes would be the measure of the judge’s grace.  In the same way, the knowledge of what we deserve, and what it cost God to be gracious, is the measure of His fatherly grace.  When it is said and done, the cross is the tape that measures the length and breadth of God’s grace.

Grace is what builds fellowship as well.  It was at the center of the Philippians fellowship with one another.

God’s grace is something we all want for ourselves, but we don’t want to extend it to others, especially to those who have offended or wronged us.  But grace motivates us to forgive others and bless others.  It is when we understand and appreciate the grace shown to us that we will be more quick to forgive others.

Charles Spurgeon and Joseph Parker both had churches in London in the 19th century.  On one occasion, Parker commented on the poor condition of children admitted to Spurgeon’s orphanage.  It was reported to Spurgeon however, that Parker had criticized the orphanage itself.

Spurgeon blasted Parker the next week from the pulpit.  The attack was printed in the newspapers and became the talk of the town.  People flocked to Parker’s church the next Sunday to hear his rebuttal.  “I understand Dr. Spurgeon is not in his pulpit today, and this is the Sunday they use to take an offering for the orphanage.  I suggest we take a love offering here instead.”  The crowd was delighted.  The ushers had to empty the collection plates 3 times.

Later that week there was a knock at Parker’s study. It was Spurgeon. “You know Parker, you have practiced grace on me.  You have given me not what I deserved, you have given me what I needed.

Moody Monthly, December, 1983, p. 81.

We owe everything to the grace of God.

I hope this series on Philippians has encouraged you.  It is an epistle of joy and I hope that your joy in Jesus Christ and His good gifts has grown.

This is a book that calls us to a magnificent vision of life, to live for Christ and to want to know Christ, to pursue Him with all our strength as one leaning towards the finish line.

We are also called here to imitate Christ, to humble ourselves and put others ahead of ourselves.  That isn’t easy and that is why we continue to need the grace of God throughout our lives for every thought, affection, word and deed.

Paul ends this letter with a word of grace, because that is what the gospel is all about: the grace of our Lord Jesus who gave himself for you and for me.

Thus, Paul ends his short but joyous epistle to the first church in Europe, the church of the Philippians.  Barclay says, “It was to be another three hundred years before Christianity became the religion of the empire, but already the first signs of the ultimate triumph of Christ were to be seen.  The crucified Galilean carpenter had already begun to rule those who ruled the greatest empire in the world.”

I hope you will join me again next week as we tackle that difficult book called Ecclesiastes.

Until then, soak yourselves in the amazing grace of Jesus Christ.

In 1965 Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote a song to promote the film Alfie, entitled “What’s it all about Alfie?”  Remember that song?

What’s it all about?  That’s an even more important question when we ask Paul, or Moses, or David.  What is life all about?

Paul tells us in Philippians 4:20:

To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

That kind of statement is so common in the Scriptures as to become almost trite.  Yet it points out the most important issue in all of our lives, in all of history, throughout the whole universe—the glory of God.

God’s glory is the most important thing to God, and it should be the most important thing to us.

Here Paul is saying that the Philippians’ lives—their ability to trust in God rather than the flesh, to put others’ needs ahead of their own, and to give to his needs—these things bring glory to God.

But what do we mean by glory?

The Hebrew word for glory is kavod.  It means something that is weighty, heavy, substantial.

Physically it can be used to describe someone who is heavy, like Eli in 1 Samuel 4:18.

Figuratively it can be used to describe Abraham being “wealthy” in livestock and in silver and gold in Genesis 13:2.

Eventually it came to refer to someone’s honor or recognition, that they were an important person.  Warriors, princes and judges were society’s “heavyweights.”  Of course, the biggest heavyweight is God Almighty.

“No one is more substantial than He is.  No one has more influence.  No one has a higher position or a weightier reputation.  No one is more deserving of honor, recognition and praise.  However weightless he may seem in the postmodern church, God himself is heavy” (Philip Ryken).

In the last part of that quote Ryken is pointing out a problem in our current culture.  Although God is objectively the most important, most substantial Being in the universe, we are treating him as weightless, unimportant and trivial.

God just isn’t tipping the scales the way He used to.

In his book God in the Wasteland: The Reality of Truth in a Land of Fading Dreams, David Wells describes this curious condition he calls “the weightlessness of God.”  He writes:

“It is one of the defining marks of our time that God is now weightless.  I do not mean by this that he is ethereal but rather that he has become unimportant.  He rests upon the world so inconsequentially as not to be noticeable.  He has lost his saliency for human life.  Those who assure the pollsters of their belief in God’s existence may nonetheless consider him less interesting than television, his commands less authoritative than their appetites for affluence and influence, his judgment no more awe-inspiring than the evening news, and his truth less compelling than the advertisers’ sweet fog of flattery and lies.  That is weightlessness.  It is a condition we have assigned him after having nudged him out to the periphery of our secularized life.… Weightlessness tells us nothing about God but everything about ourselves, about our condition, about our psychological disposition to exclude God from our reality.”

What Wells is saying is that God is still objectively all-glorious and extremely substantial, we just don’t think so.  We don’t live that way.

And it is this weightlessness of God—or more accurately, our own tendency to minimize Him in our thoughts and affections—that more than anything else explains the failings and weaknesses of the evangelical church. 

Philip Ryken says,

“It is because God is so unimportant to us that our worship is so irreverent, our fellowship so loveless, our witness so timid, and our theology so shallow.  We have become children of the lightweight God.” (Discovering God, pp. 15-16).

Because we don’t take God seriously we are not urgent about repenting and pursuing God, it is why we don’t turn off the television to read our Bibles or turn off our phones to pray.  It is why we don’t fast.

Again, this current minimizing of God says nothing about God.  He is as all-glorious and highly exalted as He ever was.  But it impoverishes our lives.

What do we mean by “the glory of God”?  What are we talking about?

God’s glory is so far beyond our ability to comprehend that it is somewhat difficult to put into words.  It is not so much an attribute or perfection of God, but the sum of all His perfections.  It is the—sometimes visible—display of all His beauties and perfections—His blazing holiness, justice, righteousness, kindness, mercy and truth—all of these and more.

Sam Storms defines glory…

As the beauty of God unveiled.  Glory is the resplendent radiance of His power and His personality.  Glory is all of God that makes God God, and shows Him to be worthy of our praise and our boasting and our trust and our hope and our confidence and our joy.

God’s glory is vitally important to Him.  And well it should be.  For God to not be vitally concerned about His own glory would be idolatry—putting another more important god before Himself.  Sam Storms writes:

What is the pre-eminent passion in God’s heart?  What is God’s greatest pleasure?  How does the happiness of God manifest itself?  In what does God take supreme delight?  I want to suggest that the pre-eminent passion in God’s heart is his own glory.  God is at the center of his own affections.  The supreme love of God’s life is God.  God is pre-eminently committed to the fame of his name.  God is himself the end for which God created the world.  Better, still, God’s immediate goal in all he does is his own glory.

God relentlessly and unceasingly creates, rules, orders, directs, speaks, judges, saves, destroys and delivers in order to make known who He is and to secure from the whole of the universe the praise, honor and glory of which He and He alone is ultimately and infinitely worthy.  According to the Westminster Confession of Faith, ‘The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.’  At the heart of the Christian world-view is the fact that ‘-The chief end of God is to glorify God and to enjoy himself forever.’

So glorifying God is to be our great purpose as well.  Glorifying God is what it’s all about.  It is the supreme purpose of God and should be our primary purpose as well.

God is glorious in what He does—in the works of creation, redemption and return.  Psalm 19:1 tells us that “the heavens declare the glory of God,” God receives glory in Israel’s redemption from Egypt in Exodus 15 and our redemption from sin in Ephesians 1.  Three times in Ephesians 1, as Paul is declaring the vast spiritual blessings we have in Christ—our election, justification, redemption, adoption—Paul breaks out in praise saying…

“to the praise of his glorious grace” (Eph. 1:6)

“might be for the praise of His glory” (Eph 1:12)

“to the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:14)

And Jesus will return in glory, according to Matthew 25:31.

But God is glorious in who He is in and of Himself.  Even if God had never created, He would still be all glorious.  Even if He had never saved anyone, He would be all glorious.

We try to make ourselves look glorious, but our glory fades.  God’s glory never does.  He is by nature glorious.

How do we glorify God?

God, throughout history, makes His glory known through His acts of creation, redemption, providence and return.  Jesus’ disciples could occasionally see the glory of Jesus as He lived among them.

Of course, we all wish we could see the glory of God like Isaiah did in the temple.

We CAN see God’s glory in creation, if we just look.

God wants us to observe, and be changed by His glory, thus reflecting that glory.  In 2 Corinthians 3:18 Paul tells the Corinthians:

18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

As we “see” Christ through the mirror of God’s Word, as we “behold the glory of the Lord” we are changed.  We become more and more like Him and reflect His glory.

And realize, we don’t objectively make God more or less glorious by our actions.  He remains all glorious no matter how we live. 

C. S. Lewis said: “A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling “darkness” on the walls of his cell.”

But we can live in a way that makes others see God’s glory.

This is why the New Testament again and again calls us to do all to the glory of God.

Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Let your light so shine among men that they may see your good deeds and give glory to your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

God’s glory is manifest in creation simply by creation doing the job God created it to do.  Likewise, we manifest God’s glory when we do what we are called to do—be salt and light in this world.

John Piper gives a helpful illustration:

Now, here’s a little bit of ambiguity in the word glorify or magnify.  Let’s take magnify.  

Telescopes magnify and microscopes magnify.  If you think of your magnifying of God as doing what a microscope does, you’re a blasphemer.  If you think of your magnifying God doing what a telescope does, you’re a worshiper.

How does a microscope magnify?  It takes a teeny little thing and makes it look bigger than he is, than it is.  Okay, you going to do that for God?  I don’t think so.  Teeny little God and you’re going to make him look bigger than he is.  No way.  Don’t magnify God like a microscope.

What does a telescope do?  A telescope takes something that looks teeny, like a star.  Teeny little prick in the sky.  Bigger than our solar system.  And it makes it look like it really is.  That’s what a telescope does.  That’s what you do. Right?  That’s what our lives are for.

In most the people you relate to God is small.  Zero almost.  Little teeny God.  Pull him out of your pocket when you need him every now and then.  He’s a very small factor in their life.

What are you here for?  You are to live in a way, talk in a way, feel in a way, act in a way toward them so that God gets bigger and bigger in their lives.  You make him look good.

Philip Ryken explains further that we are like the mirrors inside the telescope:

“A person who glorifies God is like one of the mirrors in a powerful telescope.  When an astronomer looks through his telescope, he is not trying to see the mirrors inside.  Yet actually that is what he is looking at—not stars, but mirrors.  By their reflections, those mirrors enable him to see the bright stars of the heavens.  In the same way, the followers of Christ reflect the glory of God.  We have no glory of our own.  Whatever glory we have is a reflection of God’s glory.” (Ryken, 24).

“Glorifying” means feeling and thinking and acting in ways that reflect his greatness, that make much of God, that give evidence of the supreme greatness of all his attributes and the all-satisfying beauty of his manifold perfections. (John Piper)

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied with him,” says Piper.  In other words, He is most glorified in me when Jesus Christ is my greatest treasure and greatest pleasure, when nothing means more to me than him.

Sam Storms says…

Pleasure is the measure of our treasure.  How do you measure or assess the value of something you cherish?  How do you determine the worth of a prize?  Is it not by the depth of pleasure you derive from it?  Is it not by the intensity and quality of your delight in what it is?  Is it not by how excited and enthralled and thrilled you are in the manifold display of its attributes, characteristics, and properties?  In other words, your satisfaction in what the treasure is and what the treasure does for you is the standard or gauge by which its glory (worth and value) is revealed.  Hence, your pleasure is the measure of the treasure.  Or again, the treasure, which is God, is most glorified in and by you when your pleasure in Him is maximal and optimal.

What are some ways we glorify God?

I like to define worship as “treasuring Christ above all things, trusting Him in all things and thanking Him for all things.”  In those ways I show His extreme value to me.

Our worship can glorify God, but sometimes it doesn’t.  Did you know that?  There are plenty of cases in the Old Testament where God told His people, “Stop worshipping me.”  God was deeply offended by the way they worshipped him.  So not all worship is created equal.

We worship Him by ascribing glory to Him for what He has done from pure and holy hearts.

We can also glorify Him by trusting Him.  Anytime we are going through lack or difficulty or pain, we can admit to God that we need Him, that we are powerless, ignorant and incapable and we need His strength, wisdom and authority.

We are saved when we admit that we cannot be good enough for God, that we have no spiritual capital to commend ourselves to God, and that salvation is depended wholly upon Him.

We glorify God by confessing our sins.  When we acknowledge that we have transgressed His laws (thus declaring them good and Him right), we glorify Him.

We also glorify God by our good works, when they are done in His strength and for His glory.  We can serve for our own glory and in our own strength.  That doesn’t glorify God.

In John 15:8 Jesus says,

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Of course, we can also glorify God by telling others about Him.  This is true not only in witnessing, but also in parenting.

“The great battle of parenting is not the battle of behavior; it’s the battle for what kind of awe will rule children’s hearts” says Paul David Tripp in his little book Awe: Why It Matters for Everything We Think, Say, and Do.  Listen to David in Psalm 78:

4 We will not hide them from their children [God’s ancient deeds], but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. 

Make much of God—in your own heart, in your own home, and to the world.

Last week we noted that in this final portion of the book of Philippians Paul is writing a “thank you” letter to the Philippian church.  Why?  Because they noticed that Paul was in need and they provided another gift to meet his need.

In short, they had been concerned for his needs, contented with what they possessed and consistent in their giving.  These characteristics should mark our giving as well.

This week we pick up in verse 17:

17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

In these verses Paul speaks about some motives for giving.

First, giving helps those in need.

Giving to missionaries enables them to more effectively spread the good news.  Paul had said back in v. 15 that they had been partners in the gospel ministry.

This should be our primary motivation when giving—promoting gospel ministry.

Frankly, there are those on TV who are raising money primarily to enable them to live lavish lifestyles.  Don’t give to them; give to those who are involved in gospel ministry.

The famous British preacher, C. H. Spurgeon, once received a request from a wealthy man to come to their town and help them raise funds for a new church building.  He told Spurgeon he could stay in his country home there.  Spurgeon wrote back and told him to sell the home and give the money to the project.

Give to those who emphasize ministry, not money.  Paul’s focus was on preaching the gospel, not on his need for money.  While he genuinely appreciated the gift from the Philippians, he was more excited about what it signified about their heart for God, that it represented fruit accruing in their account in heaven (4:17). 

When we give to missions, we meet real financial needs that enables their ministries and encourages them.  Your giving makes a difference.  It may not seem like much, but added with the gifts of others, a great deal can be accomplished.

Remember that this was a partnership (Philippians 1:3-5).  Paul considered that although he was doing the work, they were just as much a part of the team as if they were really there working alongside him.  Their gifts are what made full-time ministry possible.

This is why Paul encourages churches to support their preachers.

To Timothy Paul wrote:

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. (1 Timothy 6:17)

And so there was no confusion about what Paul meant by “worthy of double honor” the next verse puts together two sayings from the Old Testament and from Jesus to show that he meant that they should be paid.

18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

Likewise, Paul says in Galatians 6:6…

6 One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.

Again, that is most likely referring to financial remuneration that allows the teacher plenty of time to study and minister the word, instead of having to work to pay for his needs.

So look for faithful servants or ministries who are focused on the furtherance of the gospel and give faithfully to them.

Whatever the Philippians gave to Paul must have been generous.  In v. 18 Paul piles us three words to express just how overwhelmed he was with their gift.  He received “full payment” so that he had abundance (“and more”) and was completely filled up (“well supplied”).

This reminds me that although the tithe might be a good starting point for your giving, God never intended for us to be limited by that set amount, but to give generously, even sacrificially, as God has enriched us.

So giving benefits those in need, but it also benefits us.  It brings reward to the giver.

Paul wasn’t trying to manipulate the Philippians’ generosity for his own sake, but indicates that it is for their sake.

“Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit” (v. 17).

Let me just clarify for a moment here that heaven is not something we gain by giving.  We aren’t forgiven because we are financially sacrificial.  We are not talking about being justified by our works, or made acceptable by God by something we do.

However, throughout the New Testament we have this teaching that there is more for us in heaven than merely being present there and forgiven of our sins.  We can win reward and have a “rich entrance” (2 Peter 1:11) into heaven.

Although cast in commercial language, this is obviously talking about spiritual credit.

When you give to the Lord’s work, you are giving to God and making an eternal investment.

And Paul had support for this from Jesus, who told the rich young ruler, “Go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21). Jesus, in fact, composed a proverb to help his followers remember this: “‘Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven’” (Matthew 6:19, 20).

The truth is, the only money that we will see again is that which we give away. And that money will return with compounded interest!

You and I have open accounts in heaven.  If we are smart, we will “lay up treasures for ourselves in heaven.”

This reflects one of the most important principles regarding giving in the Scriptures: that we are never the poorer for having given.  God will never be our debtor, and as my father used to say, “we can never out-give God.”

Many of us have earthly investments.  We know that when we can put away a little extra into these investments we will likely reap better returns in the future.  That is fairly certain.

Heavenly investments are similar, but much better.  First of all, we know that our eternal rewards are certain.  No plunge in the stock market can take away our heavenly reward.  Also, the investment rate is much, much better.

The present participle “increases” signifies continuing multiplication that creates compound spiritual interest credited to our account.

Jesus said,

give, and it will be given to you.  Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.  For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. (Luke 6:38)

When you invest in God’s work, there is no risk and you get the highest possible return on your investment, guaranteed by the very Word of God!

One man has written on his tombstone: “What I spent, I lost; what I saved, I left; what I gave, I have.”  We can’t take anything with us, but we can send it on ahead.

This is why Jim Eliot so famously said:

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

Every time we get a paycheck we can decide whether to use it for materially beneficial ways for ourselves and our families, or rather for spiritually beneficial ways as we give it away to others.

Have you been laying up treasure in heaven?  You can invest in your eternal future by giving to the Lord’s work here and now.

Should we give in order to enrich our eternal future?  Yes!  But that is not the only, and not even the primary reason.  Ultimately, we give because…

It brings pleasure to God.

Paul moves from accounting imagery to that of sacrifice.  There is a spiritual dimension to giving that he does not want the Philippians to miss.

Paul says that the Philippians’ gift serves as a “fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God” (v. 18).

Sounds a little like Romans 12:1, doesn’t it?  There we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.  Here the Philippians offer their resources.

The language Paul uses here is the language of sacrifice, reminding us that giving is itself an act of worship.  Sweet-savor (“fragrant”) offerings in Israel were sacrifices made in worship, not so much to atone for sin.

In other words, if all we did this week was go to church and take up an offering, we could still say that we worshipped.  Giving is an act of worship.

Giving is not just a financial transaction, but an act of worship—an act of defiance against the god Mammon and the kingdom of darkness.

By the way, the language here is also similar to Ephesians 5:2, but it is applied to Christ giving himself for us.

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

His self-giving and our giving of our money is an act of worship.

An “acceptable sacrifice” is a sacrifice that is prescribed by God and when done in the manner he commands becomes acceptable to Him.

In the case of the Philippians whose hearts were committed to Christ and to their apostle, and whose gift was generous by any measure, their sacrificial offer was very pleasing (euareston) to God.  It was given to Paul, but it was as if it had been offered directly to God.

Ralph Wilson notes:

The idea of a sacrifice that is pleasing to God has an ancient history that goes back to the tabernacle in the wilderness (Exodus 28:38; Leviticus 1:3; 7:18; 22:19-20; Proverbs 21:3; Jeremiah 6:20).  “Pleasing to God” is another rich sacrificial theme.  The purpose of sacrifice is not selfish — to remove our sin — but Godward, to please God and express our love to him (Hebrews 13:16).

Fourth, it reflects trust in God’s provision.

The promise, for givers like this, is that God will “supply every need” (4:19).

The first half of this grand promise is closely linked with and echoes the preceding context. Just as the Philippians had kept Paul “well supplied” (v. 18), so now God will most certainly “supply every need” of theirs. 

We all want our needs met.  We also usually want our wants met as well.  God doesn’t promise to meet all our wants, but he does promise to supply every need.

What we fail to recognize is that the best way to meet our own needs is to become givers…to give things away.  Then, we don’t have to scramble and manipulate our way to have our needs met.  God Himself becomes the One who guarantees that our needs are met.  That is the best guarantee and comfort we could have.

How many needs do you think you have?  A study done by a sociologist in 1890 identified 16 basic needs that were necessary for life.  A similar study done 100 years later yielded quite different results!  By 1990 our basic needs had multiplied to 98!

Do we really have more needs today?  Or have we simply elevated more of our wants and greeds to that level?

Kent Hughes says…

“Every need” compasses the breathtaking range of everything that is vital to living for Christ.

God is committed to supply every need, even ones we are ignorant or unaware of.

2 Peter 1:3 tells us that “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,” everything we need for life and godliness.  Ephesians 1:3 tells us that God “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places…”  Nothing else is needed.  We are “complete in Christ” (Colossians 2:10).

Sometimes, however, it may not seem like God is meeting our relational, emotional or financial needs.  But maybe that it because God is working to meet deeper needs in our lives so that he allows us to go through times of “want” so that we can learn to trust God on deeper levels, to recognize how much we need him and are not strong in ourselves, and how to sympathize with others who go through want.

Paul promised the generous, “And my God will supply every need of yours” (v. 19).  This was intensely personal for Paul.  His God, who had repeatedly displayed his power in every conceivable circumstance, would supply the Philippians’ needs—just as he had done for Paul through them!

Paul had a relationship with “my God” that we need to have in order to benefit from this promise.  It is not a promise to everyone, but to those who have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

And how does God do this?  How does He meet our needs?

The answer is equally expansive—“according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (v. 19b).  As Gordon Fee explains, “The Philippians’ generosity toward Paul, expressed lavishly at the beginning of verse 18, is exceeded beyond all imagination by the lavish ‘wealth’ of the eternal God, who dwells ‘in glory’ full of ‘riches’ made available ‘in Christ Jesus.’”

God’s “riches” are inherent in his being as the Creator and the God of the universe.  So his riches include and infinitely exceed the aggregate wealth of the universe.  God’s incalculable wealth together with the ineffable splendor of his glory form the treasury and the dazzling context from which he lavishes his children “according to his riches.”

Unlike us, God is never a stingy giver.  He has no reason to be.  Giving away everything doesn’t diminish God a bit.  He always gives from a perspective of abundance, not scarcity.  He can afford to give away anything and everything and delights to do so.

Notice that we do not receive help “out of his glorious riches,” but “according to his glorious riches.”

The difference is this:  If, for example Bill Gates were to write you a check for 1 million dollars, he would be giving out of his riches.  But if he were to hand you a signed blank check, allowing you to write in however much you needed, he would be giving to you according to, or in accordance with, his riches.

But God does far more because his riches are infinite and cannot be diminished by the endless zeroes of a celestial blank check. 

The fact that his riches are “in glory” sets up the ultimate locus “in Christ Jesus,” which describes in whom and how the riches that come from God’s glory are given to His people.  Paul began this letter by addressing it “To all the saints in Christ Jesus” (1:1) and concluded “in Christ Jesus” (4:19).  For Christians, every need is met in Christ.  He is our beginning and our end.  All things come to us in him and through him, and according to v. 20, for him, for His glory.

The Scriptures tell us that if we sow sparingly, we’ll reap sparingly, but if we sow liberally, we will reap liberally (2 Corinthians 9:6).  We can’t outgive God; nor can we ever bankrupt his account.

Over the last few weeks we’ve been examining Philippians 4:10-13 and how Paul shares the secret of being contented, no matter what the circumstances.  But Paul doesn’t want them to imagine for a moment that he is not thankful for their financial support.

Although totally content even in want and need, Paul begins v. 14 with the word “yet” or “nevertheless” because he doesn’t want the Philippians to think that, after all, Paul really didn’t have any financial needs and that their gift to him was a mistake, or unnecessary.  In fact, he will say that they had done something “good,” something “beautiful.”

Verses 14-19 are a thank-you note from Paul about their recent gift, and in it he shows us several characteristics of a great mission-giving church.  I hope you are part of a mission-supporting church, because we are blessed to be a blessing to others.

Generosity is singularly beautiful and, when remembered, will prompt a genial smile.  This is what the latest example of the storied generosity of the Philippian church prompted in the imprisoned Paul in faraway Rome, as we saw in the last study: “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me” (4:10).  And the apostle’s smile still lingered as he said, “Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble” (v. 14).

So here is Paul’s thank-you letter to the Philippians:

14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

One characteristic of commendable missions giving is concern for the other person.  Notice back in v. 10 that Paul had said,

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.

This concern speaks to the emotional and mental attachment they had to Paul, one that was always willing to seek out information about his welfare and then respond in a tangible way to meet his needs.

The word “concern” shows that their giving was from the heart.  It wasn’t a requirement, or a sense of duty, that motivated them, but hearts moved by Paul’s needs.

Remember how Paul says in 2 Corinthians that our giving should not arise out of a grudging sense of compulsion, but rather out of a cheerful heart, one that is truly glad to give, because after all, “God loves a cheerful giver.”

Great giving comes from the heart.  It doesn’t look at the bank account first to see if it is feasible to give, but begins with a desire to give.

But that concern wasn’t still born as just a desire, or as tears and prayers, but turned into tangible aid.  They didn’t just say, “be warmed and be filled” but showed their concern “in deed.”

Someone has said that there are three kinds of givers: the flint, the sponge, and the honeycomb.  To get anything out of the flint, you have to hammer away at it, and what you receive is only chips and sparks.  To get water out of a sponge you must squeeze it; the more pressure you use, the more you receive.  But the honeycomb overflows with its own sweetness.

Which kind of giver are you?  Is your heart attuned to the needs of others, looking for opportunities to give aid?

Paul viewed the Philippians’ generosity as evidence of their partnership or fellowship with him in the gospel ministry.

Recall that Paul began this letter to the Philippian church celebrating their partnership: “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (1:3-5).

The word he used for “partnership” is the word koinonia , from the koinon word group, and means “fellowship” or “partnership” or “active participation.”  And then he drew from the same word group two verses later in 1:7 where he said, “You are all partakers with me of grace.”

Now, notably, here at the end of the letter he dipped into the koinon word group again as he declared, “Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble” (v. 14, italics added) or more exactly, “Yet you did good to become partners in my affliction.”

Note also that in the following sentence Paul said, “no church entered into partnership [or fellowship] with me in giving and receiving, except you only” (v. 15).  Therefore, Paul wanted his readers to understand that giving to support his ministry was taking up fellowship with him as a partner in his present tribulations.

Though the Philippians were not in prison with Paul, they participated in his afflictions by their sympathy and monetary sacrifice.  And as they thus participated in his afflictions, they were doing so amidst the context of their own sufferings in Philippi (cf. 1:29, 30).

Paul is saying to the Philippians: “You did good.  Your gifts reveals your partnership in my ministry.”

A second characteristic of great givers is contentment with what you have.  Of course, that was exemplified by Paul as the receiver of the gift, but it is also necessary in the heart of a giver.  As long as a person is trapped by the need for more, the need to possess for the purpose of security or prestige, they will be unable to freely give.

It is difficult for us to develop a habit of giving when our discontent drives us to spend our money to match what others have or give us a sense of security for the future.

The Macedonians showed that they had a contented spirit because they gave out of their “extreme poverty” (2 Corinthians 8:2).  Listen to this amazing example:

1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints–5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

Despite a “severe test of affliction” and “extreme poverty” they begged to take part in helping out saints who were in the midst of a famine.  As a result, they “overflowed in a wealth of generosity.”

Contentment is the key.  If you are content, you can give out of your poverty, or out of your plenty.  If you are not content, you will be able to do neither.

It’s not the amount of money in the bank account that determines a giver, but rather the amount of love in our hearts (concern) and trust in God’s care (contentment) that determines whether or not we will give.

Perhaps you’ve heard the story about the guy who went to church with his family.  As they were driving home, he began to complain about everything.  “The music was too loud, the sermon was too long, the announcements were unclear, the building was too cold, and the people were unfriendly…” and on and on he went.  Finally, when his took a breath, his observant son said, “Dad, you’ve got to admit, it wasn’t a bad show for just a dollar.”

Did you realize that only 2.6% of the average household income is given either to the church or other religious organizations?  However, during the Great Depression, 3.2% of the average household income was given to charities.  And although we are 450% richer today after taxes and inflation, than those during the Depression, the percentage of household income given to charities has decreased.

Being rich doesn’t drive giving, concern and contentment do.

Another characteristic of great mission giving is consistency.

“And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.  Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again” (vv. 15, 16).

Paul taught that it is proper for a man who labors in the gospel to receive his support from the gospel (1 Cor. 9:1-18; 1 Tim. 5:17-18).  But for the sake of avoiding the charge that he was preaching for the money, Paul chose not to receive support from a new church where he was ministering while he was there.  Instead, he supported himself by making tents.  But if the funds came from another church outside the area, he would stop making tents and devote himself full time to the work of the ministry (compare Acts 18:1-11, 2 Cor. 11:7-12).

Paul never seemed to make his needs known, even as prayer requests, but trusted in the sovereign God to provide.  When funds ran low, he would go back to work until God met the need.

Paul mentions in v. 15 that the Philippians had not only recently sent him a gift through Epaphroditus, but that after he had left Philippi (in Acts 16) and traveled to Thessalonica (Acts 17), during that two weeks that he had been ministering there, they had sent gifts more than once.  (Notice Paul says “once and again” at the end of v. 16.)

This kind, beautiful act was something no other church had done.

When Paul left Philippi and traveled ninety-five miles down the Egnatian Way to Thessalonica, the poverty-stricken Philippians repeatedly sent representatives to Thessalonica with gifts to meet his needs.  And when Paul left Macedonia, they remained the only church to support him.

Even when Paul went to wealthy Corinth (from whose proud people Paul would accept no money), it was the Philippians of Macedonia who helped him, as Paul explained to the Corinthians: “And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need” (2 Corinthians 11:9). 

Many Christians are good at receiving.  Paul and his team had planted churches, supporting themselves through tent repairs and these new believers would benefit through all eternity because of Paul’s ministry.  Yet only the church at Philippi stepped up to give so that others could benefit from Paul’s ministry.

The Philippians had started giving early—a good principle—it is important to start now to give and to teach your children to give.

A preacher asked farmer, “If you had 100 cows, would you give 50 of them to the Lord?”

“Yes.”

“If you had 1,000 chickens, would you give 500?”

“Yes.”

“If you had 2 hogs would you give one?”

“Not fair, Preacher, you know I have 2 hogs.”

It is easy to imagine what we would give if we had more money.  But God asks us to start giving now, out of what we have.  And God calls us to be sacrificial in our giving.

As some anonymous person said:

It’s not what you do with the million if fortune should ere be your lot, but what are you doing at present with the dollar and quarter you got.

The Philippians had continued to give whenever they had news of a need from Paul.  They had given to Paul because this new “opportunity” to give had arisen.  Good giving churches, and Christians, scan the horizon looking for opportunities to give.  They are consistent because they are consistently praying for and looking for opportunities to give.

So Paul is telling them how much he treasures their giving.  Given the opportunity, he is confident that the Philippians would have given even more often.

Sure, it is great to send that first gift.  But it is the second and third and the fortieth and the hundredth gifts that are really appreciated.

The first gift is easy…and we get excited about that.  We usually do it because we know where that money is going to come from.  We do it because we have a little extra this month.  But after we’ve given for awhile, the excitement wears off and the money dries up and we’re tempted to write and say we can’t give anymore.

Missionaries face this all the time—individuals, or churches, can’t continue to support them.  It isn’t easy on them…and they are very thankful when people can be faithful and consistent in giving.

Before we move on in our text, let’s just contrast these good-giving practices with some typical excuses to put missions giving on the back burner.

For example…

“That’s their problem”—sometimes we act as if the problems of our Christian brothers and sisters, and churches are the other side of the world, are not our problems and should be of no concern for us.

But good missions-minded churches count others’ pains as their own pains and are concerned about their needs.

We are blessed to be a blessing to others.

Or we might say, “We’ve giving as much as other churches are.”  In other words, let’s not increase our giving.

But the fact that other churches were contributing little to nothing to Paul’s needs did not matter to the Philippians and did not stop them from giving time and time again.  If the Philippians had been giving “like everybody else,” then Paul would have received nothing.

The question is not “What are other churches doing?” but “What is God calling me (or us) to do?”

Someone might object “We pushed missions last year.”  But the Philippians gave more than once, they gave consistently, whenever they discovered an opportunity.  Missions minded churches treat missions as a priority, not a novelty.

Finally, one might say, “That’s part of the budget we get no benefit from.”  Money given to the general budget funds ministries and pays bills so we can stay open and meet each week.  When money goes overseas, we get no direct benefit.

But we shouldn’t focus on seating capacity nearly as much as sending capacity.

In reality, we do benefit from giving our money away to ministries that don’t benefit us.  In fact, we receive greater reward in heaven.

The money we give away is really the only money we really keep.  It is credited to our eternal accounts.

One more thing about this passage.

Do you remember your mother telling you how important it is to write thank you notes to people who give something to you (like for graduation) or who do something for you?

Well, that is what Paul is doing here.  He is thanking them for giving.

John Brug says…

“We know that God loves a cheerful giver, but I believe we also need to stress that God loves a cheerful receiver.  Cheerful receivers make giving and receiving a joy.  It is especially important that the called workers of the church learn to be gracious, cheerful receivers.  This is not necessarily an easy task.  The art of being a gracious, cheerful, thankful receiver may be even more difficult than being a cheerful giver.  If we learn to accept the compliments and the special personal gifts which we receive in a gracious, cheerful manner, we will help make giving and receiving a joy for ourselves and for our people.”

This gift itself may not have been very much, but Paul takes special care to thank them for it.

So, we’ve been talking about learning the secret to contentment these last few weeks.

First, to delight in the Lord and in his present provision.  No matter how large or small, rejoice in what he has given you now.

Second, free yourself from an obsession with pleasant circumstances.  Just because you rejoice in your present circumstances doesn’t mean that they have to be on the pleasant side.

Third, remind yourself of the sufficiency that you have in Christ.  He lives in you to strengthen you so that you can be content no matter what the circumstance.

Finally, Paul tells us another step on the road to contentment.

Paul expresses this in Philippians 4:14-17…

14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.

The fourth steps on the road to learning contentment is…

4. Preoccupy yourself with the welfare of others.

Another key to learning contentment is to think about others more than yourself.  Back in chapter 2 Paul had laid out this principle when he said, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Then he identified Timothy as a good example of that disposition when he said

20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

All throughout the epistle to the Philippians Paul has been telling them that their joy, their contentment, their unity and their capacity for gospel ministry depends upon their ability to be others-focused instead of self-focused.

Paul expresses this here in vv. 14-19, which we will examine in more detail in the coming weeks.  I just want you to see here how Paul advocates this others-focused mindset as a way to become more content with life.

In verse 14 Paul expresses again his appreciation for their gift.  In doing so they have “shared in my trouble.”  As one person said, “He had joy in their concern, not in their cash.” And in vv. 14-16 he commends them as being the only church to do so.

Verse 17 is the key.  There Paul says “Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.”  His ultimate desire is not to have his needs met, but for the gain that came to the Philippians in giving.

“Whenever you minister to me, you gain,” Paul says.  That is what brought Paul the most joy—not because his needs had been met, but because of the reward they received from giving.  Using an accounting term here (“credit”) he is saying their interest in him actually accrued to their own heavenly bank account.

Paul trying believed what Jesus had said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

D. A. Carson says, “Paul is more delighted with the blessings they will experience…than with the help that has come his way.”

Imagine being in prison and receiving a gift from someone outside—a family member, a good friend, or even a stranger—and being able to focus on how much that gift to you goes to benefit them!  That doesn’t happen naturally.  It only happens through practice.

Paul was genuinely and consistently preoccupied with the welfare of others.  His focus was not on himself.  That is why he flourished in his life.  That kept him from depression, anxiety and bitterness.  That enabled him to have joy, contentment and to be productive for Christ.

This is such a key to learning contentment.  Don’t miss this.

So much of the time when a person is depressed, they need to turn their thoughts away from themselves and the problems they have, and focus on how they can minister to the needs of others.

So much of our discontentment flows out of a preoccupation with my own needs, desires and welfare, especially in comparison to the blessings of others or in view of the difficult circumstances I am now facing.

The Veggie Tales “lesson in thankfulness” tells the story of Madame Blueberry, a very depressed blueberry who resides in a tree house.  She is not content with anything she owns: her dishes are chipped, the knives are too dull, the spoons are too small.  Madame Blueberry sings a mournful ditty about her neighbors, all of whom have more wonderful things than she.

She sings to her butlers, Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato: “I’m so blue, blue, blue, blue.  I’m so blue I don’t know what to do.  My friends all have nice things.  I’ve seen them myself.  In fact, I keep pictures up there on my shelf!”

Framed pictures of her neighbors’ belongings line her shelf.  There are pictures of one neighbor’s Crock-Pot, one neighbor’s flatware, and another neighbor’s ceramic jars with all kinds of sauces.  Although her two-story tree house appears attractive and well furnished, Madame Blueberry is hopelessly dissatisfied.

One day a new megastore called Stuff-Mart moves across the street.  The sign glitters like a beacon of hope to Madame Blueberry.  She has only just see the sign when three “helpful representatives” from Stuff-Mart show up at her door to confirm her suspicions that her stuff is outdated and that she needs some more.

These dapper sales-vegetables tell her about Stuff Mart’s remarkable line of stuff: refrigerators that store extra mashed potatoes, giant air compressors that blow fruit flies off your dresser, and solar turkey choppers.  They sing, “Happiness waits at the Stuff-Mart.  All you need is lots of stuff.”

No wonder she was “so blue she didn’t know what to do.”

How different was Paul’s attitude.  He was able to experience deep joy and contentment because he took his eyes off himself, off others (as far as comparison) and onto Jesus Christ.  Then he could turn his eyes onto others with a heart for their good and their blessing.

So forget about yourself, at least for awhile, and focus on others.

As long as we are preoccupied with ourselves, we will never learn to be content.  So turn your eyes first on Jesus, then upon others.  Seek the good of others and rejoice in their blessings.  You will find your heart growing more and more content.

So get out and help somebody else.  If you are depressed, anxious, discouraged, I guarantee you that if you get up and help someone else, you too will be helped.  If you encourage them, you will be encouraged.

Jesus was like this, when he was on the cross he said several things, struggling to get His breath just to breathe.  But in three of the seven sayings His focus was upon others.

If I had been hanging on the cross, struggling to breathe, I probably wouldn’t have said anything, much less taking care of the needs of others.

But there on the cross Jesus said:

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” — Luke 23:34

“Today you will be with me in Paradise.” — Luke 23:43

“Woman, behold your Son.” — John 19:26

Jesus offered forgiveness for His torturers, acceptance to a brand new Christian, and took care of his mother, while hanging there on the cross suffocating.

He was thinking of others, probably most of the time while He was hanging on the cross.  He was in excruciating pain, but He thought of others.

In an article entitled “Lay Aside the Weight of Self-Preoccupation,” Jon Bloom suggests these three steps in overcoming of self-focus:

1. Deny yourself by getting your eyes off yourself.  But remember, Christian self-denial is hedonistic because you’re denying yourself of what robs life in order to gain real, lasting life.

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:24–25)

2. Look to Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) and all that God promises to be and do for you through him.  Only he will satisfy your soul (Psalm 63:1-3) and only he has the words of eternal life (John 6:68).

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:2)

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

3. Serve others.  Strike a blow at self-preoccupation by focusing on others’ needs and concerns.   Our Lord’s commands to love one another (John 13:34) and serve one another (John 13:14) have a double-edged benefit for us: they give us the blessing of giving and liberate us from the tyranny of self.

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3–4)

Worldly hedonists believe that narcissism [focusing on yourself] is the path to joy.  That is a horrible lie.  Christian  Hedonists know that narcissism is the death of joy, because only God is our “exceeding joy” (Psalm 43:4, Psalm 16:11).

So join me today, for the sake of God’s joy, our joy, and others’ joy, in laying aside the weight of self-preoccupation by denying ourselves lifelessness, looking to Jesus who is our life (John 14:6), and giving life to others by serving them.

Aside from Jesus, we sometimes see this played out in society.

Several years ago, Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University smacked her first home run in her college career with two runners on base in a playoff game against Central Washington University.  While rounding the bases, she missed first base. As she started back to tag it, she collapsed with a knee injury.  All she could do was crawl back to first, and if her teammates helped her, she would be called out.

Central Washington first baseman Mallory Holtman reportedly asked the umpire if she and her teammates could help Tucholsky.  The umpire said yes, so Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace put their arms under Tucholsky’s legs, and Tucholsky put her arms over their shoulders.  The three rounded the bases, stopping only to let Tucholsky touch each bag with her uninjured leg.

“The only thing I remember is that Mallory asked me which leg was the one that hurt,” Tucholsky said in a story from FOX Sports on MSN.  “I told her it was my right leg and she said, ‘OK, we’re going to drop you down gently and you need to touch it with your left leg.’”  Added Wallace: “We didn’t know that she was a senior or that this was her first home run. That makes the story more touching than it was.

We just wanted to help her.”  Holtman told FOX Sports that she and Wallace weren’t thinking about the playoff spot, and didn’t consider the gesture something special.

They may not remember the heroics they did to help their team win that season, but I doubt they will ever forget helping Sara Tucholsky.  And I’m sure it gives them great joy to reminisce on that act of self-forgetfulness and kindness.

There is a Chinese saying that goes: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap.  If you want happiness for a day, go fishing.  If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune.  If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”

I don’t know about the others, but it is scientifically proven that you receive more joy by helping others than by tending to your own needs.

An article in Time magazine reports:

“Through fMRI technology, we now know that giving activates the same parts of the brain that are stimulated by food and sex.  Experiments show evidence that altruism is hardwired in the brain, and it’s pleasurable.  Helping others may just be the secret to living a life that is not only happier but also healthier, wealthier, more productive, and meaningful” (https://time.com/collection/guide-to-happiness/4070299/secret-to-happiness/# )

It is what psychologists call “the helper’s high.”

Stephen Witmer points out a paradoxical truth that can liberate us for sacrificial service: the less we need others (whether it’s securing their praise or avoiding their censure), the more and better we will serve them.

He takes that from Colossians 3:23-25 and says this in an online article entitled “Love Them More, Need Them Less”:

Colossians 3:23 is the apostle Paul’s intriguing command to Christian slaves: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”  Not for men.  That’s intriguing, because just one verse earlier Paul instructs slaves, “obey in everything those who are your earthly masters” (Colossians 3:22).  Which is it, Paul?  How do these back-to-back commands fit together?

Somehow, even when we’re serving another person (Colossians 3:22), we’re not to be working for them (Colossians 3:23).  So, what does it mean to work for someone?  The context helps us here.  Verse 22 instructs slaves not to be motivated by a desire to please other people, but rather to fear the Lord.  Verses 24–25 remind slaves that their reward for service will come from the Lord, and that punishment for wrongdoing will also come from the Lord:

. . . knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. (Colossians 3:24–25)

It seems that to work for someone means to serve them in order to secure their praise or avoid their punishment.  Paul says we’re to serve others, but not because we hope for their reward or fear their wrath.  It’s the Lord we’re looking to as we serve them. (https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/love-them-more-need-them-less)

We serve others better when we realize that we are really working for our Lord.  We don’t have to be rewarded by them, because ultimately He will reward us.

So we learn content by getting our eyes off of ourselves, our own needs or struggles, and first putting them on Jesus Christ and rejoicing in what He has provided for me today, then by freeing ourselves from an obsession with pleasant circumstances, recognizing the blessing that comes from adversity, then we draw strength from our union with Christ to be content, and finally we focus on others—serving them and rejoicing in the reward they receive from helping us.

I hope you will learn the secret of being content this week.

Over the last few weeks we’ve been talking about contentment, which Jeremiah Burroughs defines as

“…that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every situation.”

Paul has taught them two steps on the path to contentment so far:

First, to delight in the Lord and in his present provision.  No matter how large or small, rejoice in what he has given you now.

Second, free yourself from an obsession with pleasant circumstances.  Just because you rejoice in your present circumstances doesn’t mean that they have to be on the pleasant side.

Paul says in our passage today

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.

We weren’t quite finished with the second point last week.

Contentment is not based on what is going on outside of me, but the focus I have inside me.

Unless we learn the secret of contentment we will remain a slave to our circumstances.

H. A. Ironside tells the story of how one Christian asked another Christian friend how he was getting along.  He answered, “Of, fairly well, under the circumstances.”  Ironside responded, “I am sorry you are under the circumstances.  The Lord would have us living above all circumstances where he can satisfy our hearts and meet our every need for time and eternity.”

That is the key—to live above the circumstances and focus our joy in Christ and Christ alone.  The gifts He gives us—spiritual blessings—are ours now and will never be taken away from us.

Even at its best this world cannot satisfy, as the book of Ecclesiastes reminds us over and over again.

A man once went to a minister for counseling. He was in the midst of a financial collapse. “I’ve lost everything,” he bemoaned.

“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that you’ve lost your faith.’

“No,” the man corrected him, “I haven’t lost my faith.”

“Well, then I’m sad to hear that you’ve lost your character.”

“I didn’t say that,” he corrected. “I still have my character.”

“I’m sorry to hear that you’ve lost your salvation.”

“That’s not what I said,” the man objected. “I haven’t lost my salvation.”

“You have your faith, your character, your salvation. Seems to me,” the minister observed, “that you’ve lost none of the things that really matter.”

We haven’t either.  You and I could pray like the Puritan.  He sat down to a meal of bread and water.  He bowed his head and declared, “All this and Jesus too!”

Can we honestly say?

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.

Contentment is learned.

Doug McKnight could say those words.  At the age of thirty-two he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.  Over the next sixteen years it would cost him his career, his mobility, and eventually his life.  Because of MS, he couldn’t feed himself or walk; he battled depression and fear.  But through it all, Doug never lost his sense of gratitude. Evidence of this was seen in his prayer list.

Friends in his congregation asked him to compile a list of requests so they could intercede for him.  His response included eighteen blessings for which to be grateful and six concerns for which to be prayerful.  His blessings outweighed his needs by three times.  Doug McKnight had learned to be content.

So had the leper on the island of Tobago.  A short-term missionary met her on a mission trip.  On the final day, he was leading worship in a leper colony.  He asked if anyone had a favorite song.  When he did, a woman turned around, and he saw the most disfigured face he’d ever seen.  She had no ears and no nose.  Her lips were gone.  But she raised a fingerless hand and asked, “Could we sing ‘Count Your Many Blessings’?”

The missionary started the song but couldn’t finish.  Someone later commented, “I suppose you’ll never be able to sing the song again.”  He answered, “No, I’ll sing it again.  Just never the same way.”

Those who can be content when they are “brought now,” when they experience “hunger” and “need” are a great testimony to us that we can learn to be content as well.

Such contentment is learned.  It isn’t natural.  We’re not born with it.  It is not a gift.  It is a skill that must be learned.

We have to learn that even at its best this world cannot satisfy us.  No one knew this better than John Bunyan, who was imprisoned for 12 of the first 13 years of his married life for preaching the gospel.  Listen to what John Bunyan said, “If we don’t have quiet in our minds, outward comfort will do no more for us than a golden slipper on a gouty foot.”

If you want to learn the secret of contentment, you must rise above your desire that outward circumstances bring joy, for it never delivers on its promise.

The billionaire J. D. Rockefeller was once asked how much money it would take to make him happy.  His answer: “Just a little more.”

Discontent says, “Never enough.”  Contentment says, “I have all I need in Jesus, everything else is just the cherry on top.”

We need to express our contentment especially in four essential areas.

First, we need to be content where we are.  We don’t need to have “destinitis,” thinking that “If I only could move there I would be happy.”  Acts 17:26 tells us that God determines when and where we live.

Second, we need to become content in what we do.  Instead of comparing ourselves to what others do and either the salary or the skills they have, we need to be content in the job or mission God has given us.  We can be content in any career IF we remember that the ultimate purpose of our life is to become like Jesus and make His glory known.

Third, we must express contentment in what we have, rather than being greedy for more.  Ecclesiastes tells us to just enjoy the simple things.  Don’t wear yourself out grasping for more.

Fourth, be content with who we’re with.  Instead of wishing you were married to someone else who is better looking or better behaved; instead of focusing on your spouse’s weaknesses, thank God for the spouse God has given to you.

Paul’s balanced sentence, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound” means that Paul knew how to share in Christ’s humiliation and how to share in his glorious riches (v. 12; cf. 4:19).  

In this life Paul had been repeatedly beaten to within an inch of his life, but he had also been caught up to the third heaven (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:24, 25; 12:1-6).  Paul also came to gladly boast, as he says, “of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities” (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10).

Having stated the larger principle, Paul elaborated on the extremes of his contentment: “In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need” (v. 12b.).  On the downside “hunger” and “need” echo the extremes of the hardship lists from Paul’s letters to the Corinthians.

• “To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. . . . We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.” (1 Corinthians 4:11-13)
• “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.  For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.  So death is at work in us, but life in you.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-12)
• “. . . but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger. . . .” (2 Corinthians 6:4, 5)
• “Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” (2 Corinthians 11:24-27)

Paul had learned to experience contentment in the extremes of deprivation from hunger to homelessness to being in rags to beatings to labor and exhaustion to intense humiliation.

On the upside “plenty” and “abundance” echo the apostle’s experience of those times that were the good times by comparison.  While we know much about his deprivations from the hardship lists, we know little about his experiences of abundance, but we can imagine what they were.

For example, in Philippi when the church was born, likely there were feasts in the home of his first convert, Lydia, a prosperous seller of purple, and perhaps also in the home of his other notable convert, the Philippian jailer.  Certainly there were times in Ephesus and Corinth when the sun shined brightly over the pleasures of friends and feasting amidst the beauty of God’s creation and especially the beauty of his people as they honored Paul for bringing them the gospel.  And during these times also Paul was content.

What is remarkable, of course, is that Paul knew the secret of being content in either extreme—whether hunger or a sumptuous Mediterranean repast.  Indeed, it may be more of an accomplishment to be content with plenty. As John Calvin explained:

He who knows how to use present abundance soberly and temperately with thanksgiving, prepared to part with everything whenever it may please the Lord, giving also a share to his brother according to his ability, and is also not puffed up, that man has learned to excel and to abound. This is an excellent and rare virtue, and much greater than the endurance of poverty.

Paul had come to know the secret of contentment over a period of time. His learning was part of his spiritual growth and sanctification. The question for us is, have we learned the secret?

Finally, Paul comes to a third step on the road to contentment:

3.  Remind yourself of the sufficiency that is yours in Christ.

As you seek to reach a level of contentment that is independent of your circumstances, whenever you feel like it is beyond your reach, then remind yourself that Christ will provide the necessary strength in the midst of your battle.

How was Paul able to be content in all circumstances?

Because Jesus Christ enabled him.

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Now, I have to say from the start—this verse has been ripped out of its context many times by athletes and students and anyone else who has tried to do something beyond their own strength or apart from their own preparation.

How many times has a student who didn’t prepare ask Jesus Christ to help him or her make a good grade?  After all, doesn’t it say “all things,” meaning anything I ask God’s help for I will get it?

“All things” is placed first for emphasis.  “ALL THINGS I can do…” Paul says.

But the “all things” is defined by the context as all kinds of circumstances, the heights and depths that Paul has just listed.  It means that I can be content whether I am “brought low,” with “hunger” and “need.”  Or whether I am “abounding” with “plenty” and “abundance.”

Thus what Paul says is that in whatever circumstances I find myself, in whatever extremes—whether experiencing abundance with the wealthy or fellowshipping with the poor or struggling to proclaim the gospel to people who don’t want to hear or enduring the wrath of the establishment or bringing peace to the church or languishing in prison—I can be content and “can do all things through him who strengthens me” (v. 13). 

By extension it has a secondary application to being able to live according to the will of God in daily life, no matter what the obstacles, NOT to become a millionaire or win the Super Bowl.

Paul is confident that he will be divinely strengthened to do anything and everything that God calls him to do.  Not only could Paul be content and confident in every circumstance, he could also be sure that he would be equipped with divine power to deal with it.

Paul says much the same thing in Colossians 1:28, 29 where he reveals that it is Christ who sustains his active ministry: “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”

Paul toils and struggles, straining with all his might, but it is the energy and power of Christ that strengthens him!

A better translation than “through Christ” is “in Christ.”  In other words, because of my union with Christ through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, His power works through me.

Although Paul says “I can do” he is not depending upon his own willpower and mighty efforts, but Christ working through him.

Christ is the one who continually empowers and strengthens the believer for all kinds of challenges.  He energizes him or her and enables them to be content in all kinds of circumstances.

Whatever comes Paul’s way, he has the strength to meet it.  If he is brought low, he is a man in Christ; if he abounds, he is a man in Christ.  In any and every circumstance he is a man in Christ.  As a man in Christ he can do all things.  As a man in Christ he is content regardless of the situation.

John MacArthur said, “Contentment comes to believers who rely on the sustaining grace of Christ, infused into believers when they have no strength of their own.”

That’s actually a good place to be—no strength of our own, because then we can draw from the strength of Christ.

Jeremiah Burroughs said, “A Christian finds satisfaction in every circumstance by getting strength from another, by going out of himself to Jesus Christ, by his faith acting upon Christ, and bringing the strength of Jesus Christ into his own soul, he is thereby enabled to bear whatever God lays on him, by the strength that he finds from Jesus Christ.… There is strength in Christ not only to sanctify and save us, but strength to support us under all our burdens and afflictions, and Christ expects that when we are under any burden, we should act our faith upon him to draw virtue and strength from him. (The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, 63)

If you want to be like Paul, having sweet contentment in any circumstance, there is hope.  But it’s not in you.  It comes from Jesus Christ.

Too often we forget about all the spiritual power and riches we have in Jesus Christ.

A few years ago in West Palm Beach a 71-year-old woman died in utter squalor.  She had been living in the seediest part of town.  She was known in that part of town as a beggar.  She would rummage through the Salvation Army bins trying to find something to wear, begging for food behind the restaurants.  At age 71 she died of malnutrition.

When officials got into her apartment they found two keys to safety deposit boxes in her name in Florida.  They went in and found in one of the boxes $200,00.00 in cash and several hundred thousand in certificates, deposits and bonds, etc.  In the other box was $600,000.00 dollars.  She was a millionaire living as a pauper.

I hope you don’t live that way.  You don’t have to.  But you need to look to Christ living in you, and live by the power He gives so that you can flourish as a Christian.

Steve Cole introduces his sermon on Philippians 4:10-13 with these words:

An airline pilot was flying over the Tennessee mountains and pointed out a lake to his copilot. “See that little lake?” he said.  “When I was a kid I used to sit in a rowboat down there, fishing.  Every time a plane would fly overhead, I’d look up and wish I was flying it.  Now I look down and wish I was in a rowboat, fishing.”

Contentment can be an elusive pursuit.  We go after what we think will make us happy only to find that it didn’t work; in fact, we were happier before we started the quest.  It’s like the story of two teardrops floating down the river of life.  One teardrop said to the other, “Who are you?”  “I’m a teardrop from a girl who loved a man and lost him.  Who are you?”  “I’m a teardrop from the girl who got him.”

Our discontent drives consumer debt, a high divorce rate, rioting, drug and alcohol abuse, the hook-up culture, changing sexual identity or preferences and many other societal ills.

Paul says in our passage today

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.

Last week we quoted Jeremiah Burrough’s definition of contentment:

“Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every situation.”

Contentment is not a state of life in which you are propped up by artificial protections.  It is not a security which assures that you will not be buffeted by ups and downs.  Contentment is that inner sense of self-sufficiency which says, “No matter what comes along, I have the capacity to meet it head-on because I have Jesus Christ.  Whether it be joy or sorrow, sickness or health, plenty or want, I will continue on.  I have all the resources I need in Christ.  I will carry on with an internal fullness of life.”

Last week we noted first that Paul delighted in the Lord because of the present provision of his need through the Philippians’ gift.  He acknowledged to himself and to them that this was God’s provision.

The second step in the path of contentment is:

2. Free yourself from your obsession with pleasant circumstances.

Maybe “obsession” is a little bit strong, but the typical American Christian at least struggles with being consumed about having things go their way in life.  We want things to go our way…in the worst way.  But you have to free yourself from this kind of obsession and learn to live above your circumstances.

Some people do live as if their life was all about having an abundance of possessions or having everything work out positively in their life.

Kent Hughes reminds us of Zacchaeus:

WHEN ZACCHAEUS, the miserly little kingpin of the Jericho tax franchise, strode off to his home for a lengthy conversation with Jesus, no one anticipated the change that would be announced from his own lips for all to hear: “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor.  And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold” (Luke 19:8).

For starters, he gave away 50 percent of everything he had to the poor. And from the remaining half of his fortune, he pledged to make restitution at four times the amount of what he had extorted.  In effect, Zacchaeus lived out Jesus’ command that had earlier caused the rich young ruler to depart from Jesus: “Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Luke 18:22).

Tiny Zacchaeus had become huge!  The compulsive drive to make money and keep it was gone.  He went to Jesus mastered by the passion to get; he left mastered by the passion to give.  He went in as the littlest man in Jericho; he left as the biggest man in town.

Something wonderful had happened inside that house with Jesus.  And Jesus made it forever clear for all to hear: “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham” (19:9).  Zacchaeus had been regenerated—saved!  And the immediate evidence of his new heart was his desire to give. His newfound generosity was prima facie evidence of his salvation.

Jesus told several parables about money as well.  In one of His parables he warned about those who thought their lives consisted of an abundance of possessions (Luke 12:15).

At the beginning of verse 11 Paul makes a disclaimer about his situation.  He said, “Not that I speak from want…”  He wants to make it clear to the Philippians that although he is glad that they have sent a gift as evidence of their renewed concern for him, he is not saying this from a position of discontented want, as if he lacked something essential.

The reason he can say that is “because I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”

Just reading Paul’s words exhibits a glorious freedom not to be controlled by the things of this world, but to be focused on things above and on Jesus Christ.

Notice Paul did NOT say, “not that I speak from want, because I’ve gotten everything I want.”

Certainly their gift had met a need, but even if the gift had never come Paul would still say, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance I am.”

Paul’s present condition—not lacking anything—flows out of his learning to rise above all circumstance and by content regardless of what those circumstances are.

Now notice that Paul said, “I have learned to be content.”  Contentment doesn’t come naturally, arising accidentally; nor does it come magically, in a special moment.

Gerald Hawthorne notes:

“It [the aorist tense of the Greek verb emathon, translated “learned”] implies that Paul’s whole experience, especially as a Christian, up to the present has been a sort of schooling from which he has not failed to master its lessons.”

Learning to be content is a lifelong process, something we learn each and every day as we walk with Jesus Christ.  It doesn’t come suddenly, in a flash, but over a lifetime of learning.

Now, that doesn’t mean we won’t experience contentment until we are very old.  But we will be learning more and more to be content throughout our lives.  That is why we need to start young.  It is so important to teach our children to be content.

Contentment is contrary to human nature since the Fall.  Just think about it: Adam and Eve had the perfect environment, and they were not content in it. They had perfect health, a perfect marriage, a perfect garden, and daily fellowship with God Himself, yet they soon believed the lie that God had not provided everything they needed for their present and future happiness.

If Adam and Eve were not content in the Garden of Eden, what hope is there for us, apart from the spiritual insight that comes from God? May we, with Paul, be able to say, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”

Contentment begins by learning the purpose of our existence.  The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks the question, “What is the chief end of man?” and the answer is, “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.”

Certainly, God is the greatest joy that meets the need of every human heart.

Not every heart seeks after Him, but He can meet the deepest needs of any human who turns to Him.  That is why Paul great desire was to “know Christ.”

Contentment also learns to distinguish between needs and wants.  There are few things in life that are really necessary.  In fact, God identified just two: food and clothing, and says in 1 Timothy 6:8 “But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”

Paul goes on to warn:

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

This is the danger of confusing wants for needs.

God has promised to provide for our needs; however, He has not assured us that we will get all our wants.  We have a tendency to spend our resources on wants and then worry about our needs. Jesus warned about such concern in Matthew 6:

31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Learning to be content is learning to trust God for your needs.

George Muller proved the sovereign faithfulness of God in the matter of finances.  He lived in 19th century Bristol, England, where he founded an orphanage.  He and his wife had taken literally Jesus’ command to give away all their possessions (Luke 14:33), so they had no personal resources.

Also, he was firmly committed to the principle of not making his financial needs known to anyone, except to God in prayer.  He was extremely careful not even to give hints about his own needs or the needs of the orphanage.  The children never knew about any financial difficulties, nor did they ever lack good food, clothes, or warmth.

But there were times when Muller’s faith was tried, when the Lord took them down to the wire before supplying the need.  On February 8, 1842, they had enough food in all the orphan houses for that day’s meals, but no money to buy the usual stock of bread or milk for the following morning, and two houses needed coal.  Muller noted in his journal that if God did not send help before nine the next morning, His name would be dishonored.

The next morning Muller walked to the orphanage early to see how God would meet their need, only to discover that the need had already been met.  A Christian businessman had walked about a half mile past the orphanages toward his place of work when the thought occurred to him that Muller’s children might be in need.  He decided not to retrace his steps then, but to drop off something that evening.  But he couldn’t go any further and felt constrained to go back.  He gave a gift that met their need for the next two days (George Muller: Delighted in God! by Roger Steer [Harold Shaw Publishers], pp. 115-116).  Muller knew many instances like that where God tried his faith.

In his journals, Müller recorded miracle-after-miracle of God’s provision and answered prayer:

One morning, all the plates and cups and bowls on the table were empty.  There was no food in the larder and no money to buy food.  The children were standing, waiting for their morning meal, when Müller said, “Children, you know we must be in time for school.”  Then lifting up his hands he prayed, “Dear Father, we thank Thee for what Thou art going to give us to eat.”

There was a knock at the door.  The baker stood there, and said, “Mr. Müller, I couldn’t sleep last night.  Somehow I felt you didn’t have bread for breakfast, and the Lord wanted me to send you some.  So I got up at 2 a.m. and baked some fresh bread, and have brought it.”

Mr. Müller thanked the baker, and no sooner had he left, when there was a second knock at the door.  It was the milkman.  He announced that his milk cart had broken down right in front of the orphanage, and he would like to give the children his cans of fresh milk so he could empty his wagon and repair it.

If you are walking with God and you find yourself in a desperate situation, you can know that you are not there by chance.  The sovereign God has put you there for your training in faith, that you might share His holiness.  It may be a small crisis or a major, life-threatening crisis.  Submit to and trust the Sovereign God and you will know the contentment that comes from Him.

Every Christian needs to learn to be content.  When Paul urged his readers to “rejoice in the Lord always” (v. 4), he was preaching what he practiced (vv. 5-8).  The apostle’s contentment and joy—even in prison—indicate his spiritual maturity, and it challenges us all.

Paul goes on to explain in verse 12, using a series of opposites to illustrate the variety of circumstances, using both ends of the spectrum when it comes to our physical needs.

On the one end he speaks of “brought low…hunger…need.”

On the other end of the spectrum he mentions “abound…plenty…abundance.”

Paul is reminding the Philippians that he was not talking in the abstract, but he had actually lived through these fluctuations of life.

About being “brought low” Adam Clarke comments:

“See here the state to which God permitted his chief apostle to be reduced! And see how powerfully the grace of Christ supported him under the whole!  How few of those who are called Christian ministers or Christian men have learned this important lesson!  When want or affliction comes, their complaints are loud and frequent; and they are soon at the end of their patience.”

And regarding “abounding,” Charles Spurgeon makes this statement:

“There are a great many men that know a little how to be abased, that do not know at all how to abound.  When they are put down into the pit with Joseph, they look up and see the starry promise, and they hope for an escape.  But when they are put on the top of a pinnacle, their heads grow dizzy, and they are ready to fall.”

Most of us would have to admit that we are only happy when most circumstances fall on the side of abundance and prosperity, when our circumstances line up with our desires…that’s when there is a spring in our step.

But I’m afraid few of us would declare that we are most happy when we are “brought low” and suffer “hunger” and “need.”

The reality is, we have made an idol out of comfort and convenience.  When our comfort is disrupted, complaining begins, shoving contentment out the door of our hearts.

But Paul is saying, “It really doesn’t matter what is taking place in my life…I can be at either end of the spectrum…things can go my way or not…in ANY and EVERY kind of circumstance I have learned to be content.”

Every time we go to Haiti I come away amazed that these people, who know so little of the world’s riches, are rich spiritually.  They are content and happy in what God has given them.

Do none of them complain?  I doubt it.  But it just shows that contentment has nothing to do with “having” things, as long as we “have” Jesus.  It depends not upon our external circumstances, but our inner heart disposition.

Historian Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., observes that our society is marked by “inextinguishable discontent.”  We have a yearning for more and a drive for what is new.

We want a better job with better pay and a better boss.  We want better relationships and a better car and a better backhand in tennis or a longer drive in golf.  

And, we have a propensity to live endlessly for the next thing – the next weekend, the next vacation, the next purchase, and the next experience.  We are never satisfied, never content, and envious of those who have what we have not attained or accumulated.

Walter Kerr, in his book titled The Decline of Pleasure, analyzed the discontentment of our age.  He pierced through the superficiality of much we do.  He noted that the very things that we do that should be pleasurable for us are void of joy.  Why?  Because they are being used as a means to an end.  We do not treat them as enjoyable in and of themselves.  He wrote, “We are all of us compelled to read for profit, party for contacts, lunch for contracts, bowl for unity, drive for mileage, gamble for charity, go out for the evening for the greater glory of municipality, and stay home for the weekend to rebuild the house.”

That sounds a lot like the book of Ecclesiastes, which will be our next study once we finish Philippians.

A 1944 newspaper article addressed the issue of what it was to be a wife in the U.S. during World War 2, and the article begins like this:  “Marna Wilkins thinks she needs a more considerable husband, more money, more domestic help, less nervous strain, less housework to do, fewer children, a kinder mother, more sympathetic friends, but what she really needs is a finer character.”

I don’t think you’d find a 2020 newspaper article to suggest that!

But most of us can relate to Marna Wilkins: we think we could do with more of this or less of that.  We’ve bought into the lie that our contentment is dependent upon our circumstances.  We’ve bought into the lie that in order to be content, I need more of A, B, or C and the immediate removal of X, Y and Z.

We think, “If I only had better…or only had more…or less” then I would be happy.

So many times we find ourselves in less than ideal circumstances and what really needs to change is not our circumstances, but our character, our attitude.

Paul tells us that we, like him, needs to learn to be content no matter what our circumstances may be.

In Philippians 4:10-13, a man who sits in prison because of corrupt officials awaiting possible execution over false charges tells us how to find contentment.  The answer lies buried in the midst of a thank-you note.

As a prisoner in Rome, possibly awaiting a death sentence, few things turning out as he had planned, he models contentment for us.

We will look at four steps on the path of contentment in Philippians 4.

Here in this passage, Paul is going to answer the question, “How can I cultivate contentment?  What steps can I take to insure that I am content, right here and right now, regardless of what God has provided for me in terms of my circumstances, my possessions, my relationships, my career, my future, or my health?”

Here is what Paul says…

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.

The first thing I want you to see is that contentment is a secret that can be learned.  Do you see it there in v. 12?  “I have learned the secret…”  It doesn’t come naturally, or magically, but in the very context of the ups and downs of life it can be learned.

Before we begin, let’s define our terms.

What is contentment?  In his classic book The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, Jeremiah Burroughs provided this definition:

“Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every situation.”

Contentment is not loud and complaining or grumbling, nor is it mere resignation or fatalism, it “submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every situation.”

Contentment is an act of faith, trusting our Father to take care of us as He promised He would.

John Stott wrote, “Contentment is the secret of inward peace.  It remembers the stark truth that we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it.  Life, in fact, is a pilgrimage from one moment of nakedness to another.  So we should travel light and live simply.  Our enemy is not possessions, but excess.  Our battle cry is not ‘Nothing!’ but ‘Enough!’  We’ve got enough.  Simplicity says, if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

For the Christian: Contentment knows that if we have Jesus we have enough.

This is what Asaph learned in Psalm 73.  At first, he envied the wicked.  They were rich, fat, healthy and had life easy.  Asaph was troubled by that, wondered what use it was to keep his life pure before God and almost voiced his defection from the faith.

But Asaph did something very important, and this was the turning point.  He went to the temple.  There he focused on truth, and on God.

God showed Asaph that the end for this wicked rich people would be terrible, while he would be with God in glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. 28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

Did you notice v. 25, “There is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.”

Corrie Ten Boom, the Dutch young lady who was taken to a Nazi prison camp because she and her family were hiding Jews, once said: “You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have.”

It is in our times of need and want that we if we remind ourselves that we still have Christ, that He then becomes all we really need.

And John MacArthur put it this way: “If you have everything but Jesus, you have nothing.  If you have nothing but Jesus, you have everything.”

When God gave us Jesus, He gave us not just His best, but also everything.  We are truly rich because we have Christ, our all in all.

When we have Jesus, we truly have everything.  Jesus is our wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification, our redemption and our success.  In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Now, we too can learn the secret of being content no matter what our circumstances are.

1. The first step is to delight yourself in the Lord and his present provision.

Look at verse 10.

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.

Paul is referring to a financial gift that Epaphroditus brought to Paul from the Philippians when he first arrived in Rome, a gift that really helped him.  They had heard of his need and sent a gift (cf. v. 18).

You “revived your concern for me” Paul says.  This is a word used of horticulture—of trees and flowers sprouting again in Spring, to grow anew.  That’s a good manifestation of this care and concern—the evidence that their concern had blossomed again.

They had provided a gift for Paul before, and now again they had renewed their concern.  It had been awhile, but they came through for Paul again.

Gerald Hawthorne writes: “Like a person rejoicing over the first signs of spring after a harsh winter, so Paul rejoiced to see again the signs of personal concern from Philippi after a long interval of silence.”

Then, almost as if Paul catches himself, realizing that they might take that last statement to mean that they hadn’t really cared for him during the long interval between gifts, he adds, “indeed you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.”

He understands why they hadn’t helped in the meantime.

It doesn’t say how or why they hadn’t helped.  Maybe it was their own poverty, maybe it was the lack of a message from Paul of his need, or possibly they didn’t even know where Paul was.  Whatever the reason, Paul is clear that he was not attaching blame to them, but something outside their control had prevented their giving.

Now, however, their concern is shown by their donation.

The apostle rejoiced in the generosity of the Philippians’ monetary gift because prisoners in the Roman system were dependent upon outside support for everything.  But Paul’s joy went far deeper because the gift was indicative of the distant Philippians’ continuing authenticity and spiritual health. 

Now catch this:  Even though Paul is here expressing his gratitude to the Philippians for their concern and their gifts, his ultimate joy was in the Lord.  “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me.”

In other words, Paul is saying, “Your gift gave me reason to rejoice in the Lord again, because ultimately I know it came from his hand.”

This was important for both Paul and the Philippians to realize.  Paul saw anything that happened to him to be cause for him rejoicing in the Lord.  Back in chapter 1 Paul, knowing that some were preaching the gospel for selfish reasons, said this:

18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

But Paul also wanted the Philippians themselves to realize that even though they had given the gift, they could only do that because of God’s blessing in their lives.  Both the giver and the receiver need to remember that God is behind it all.

Paul knew that God was in control, God knew his need, and God would supply or not supply as He saw fit.  Paul was subject to the Sovereign God in this most practical area of his financial support.  I don’t think Paul let his needs be known to others, as we will see later in this passage.  That God therefore had moved their hearts to give, reflected His goodness to Paul.

Again, like Asaph, we need to learn to find our contentment in Christ.  A contented heart is a thankful heart, rejoicing in whatever God gives because we know that it is God’s good will for us.

Even if everything else is taken from us, we still have Christ.  Whatever comes to us comes because of our Father’s good pleasure.

When I preached through Philippians in 2007 at Grace Bible Church, I had just returned from a mission trip to Belarus.  While traveling I had plenty opportunity to watch people who had missed flights (as I had) and how they reacted as they tried to get help to fix their problems.

They would speak animatedly and earnestly as they plead for help in getting a new flight, then they would get angry and make threats when they could not, and finally they would resign themselves to a new reality with sullenness.

That’s not contentment.

Contentment is not saying, “Oh well, I guess that will do Lord…if that is the best you can do.”

We find this attitude often in marriage.  “Okay, so my marriage can’t be great,” so she resigns herself to mediocrity.  That’s not contentment.  Contentment is joyfully submitting to God’s providential plan, knowing that God has my best in mind, even when that means disappointment and trials.

Being content with our circumstances doesn’t mean that we cannot work to change them, it just means that we carry a contented attitude with us while we work for change.

What we see here is Paul’s underlying confidence in the providence of God.  Providence is that theological word which refers to God’s active and continuous involvement in this world by which He brings His divine intentions to pass.  God is constantly at work bringing about the things that he had planned in eternity past.

We know from Romans 8:28 that God’s purpose in both the good and the bad things that happen to us is to “works all things together for our good.”  Our problem is that we want to define “our good” as health and wealth and care-free living.  In that passage, God defines “our good” as being “conformed to the image of His Son,” to become more like Jesus.

When the Philippians had been unable to send a gift to Paul, that was all part of God’s divine plan.  But when they revived their concern and sent a gift, that too was part of God’s sovereign plan.

The Philippian gift, pointed back to the Philippians’ concern, that ultimately point back further to God’s providence, His good plan.  And so, Paul rejoices in the Lord.

John MacArthur writes this:

“Paul’s gracious attitude reflectsHis patient confidence in God’s sovereign providence.  He was certain that God, in due time, would arrange his circumstances to meet his needs.  There was no panic on his part, no attempt to manipulate people, no taking matters into his own hands.  Paul was content because he knew that the times, seasons, and opportunities of life are controlled by the Sovereign God who works all things after the counsel of his will, thereby causing all things to work together for the good to those who love God….Those who seek to control their own lives will inevitably be frustrated.  A confident trust in God’s providence is foundational to contentment.”

Thus, if you want to learn the secret to contentment, you must begin by delighting yourself in the Lord and in His present provision for your life.  Don’t worry about tomorrow’s provision or amassing enough to meet future needs.  Rejoice in the Lord and His ability to provide for your needs today.

Don’t say to yourself, “What I really need in life is this or that, a better this or a better that.”  Instead, realize that in your present circumstances, right now—is exactly what God has orchestrated for you.  All of this has been orchestrated by God himself.

The battle cry of a discontented heart is, “I don’t deserve this; this ain’t fair.  I deserve something better.  I deserve for things to go smoothly, to go my way, to meet my needs.”

The contented heart realizes that all I really deserve is hell.  It delights in the fact that God has called me His child and lavished every spiritual blessing on him, so I submit to what God has provided me first right now, realizing that He does all things well.

David, in his psalm that is precious to so many, started out by saying,

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

I like the way the New Living Translation puts it:

The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

Truly, if you have Jesus as your shepherd, you can know that he will lead you to green pastures and still waters, providing what you need today and tomorrow and the next day.  So enjoy His blessings today, enjoy Him, and trust Him for tomorrow.