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Morning Thoughts |
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Philippians 4:11, "Not that I
speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am,
therewith to be content." This morning, one of man's biggest downfalls is lack of contentment about anything. Wallowing in the sin and depravity of our fallen nature should not be something to be content about, but our present status in life should not be the source of continual griping and grumbling. Too many times, the games of comparison arise in which we look at others and despise what we have been given instead of being grateful for what we have. Even though use of comparisons is rarely the method that produces the most telling answers in our lives, let us be fair by way of comparison. Consider our status today with those that lived 100 years ago. What about 1000 years ago? How does it compare? The creature comforts of today far surpass the comforts of 100 years ago, and most certainly they are above and beyond in comparison to 1000 years ago. Looking spiritually at our forefathers in the faith, what opportunity did many of them have to worship freely and with the liberty that we have today? What hardships have we had today in fear of losing our lives in the service to God as they had? Indeed, they had zero to no liberty of worship, and we have had zero fear of losing our lives in the service to God. When looking at those around us, we can always be assured to find, to our minds, those that: 1. are doing better than we are, 2. are doing worse than we are. We find those doing better when we want something more than what we have, and finding them suits the aim of being dissatisfied with our present state. We find those doing worse than we are when we want justification to ourselves that, "I am not so bad after all." Both mindsets are erroneous, for they feed the self-aggrandizement of our sinful flesh. What was Paul's circumstance penning the book of Philippians? One of the most joyful and upbeat books of the New Testament, if not the most upbeat epistle, was penned while he was imprisoned for preaching the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was imprisoned for doing nothing more than what the Lord had called him to do. His present natural circumstance was that of great distress and tribulation. Yet, Paul is able to conclude this epistle in grand fashion in declaring what Christ had done for him and enabled him to do by his Spirit. Paul understood firsthand what it was like to hunger, and he knew what it was like to be full. He understood exaltation and abasement, by experience. Yet, Paul declared two things in our verse that should strike a death dart to our many and varied parties of self-pity. The first thing he mentions is that he is not speaking in respect to want. While the churches had provided naturally for him, and he had laboured with his hands to minister to his necessities, Paul affirms that he has never been in true want: not having enough food, clothing, and other natural necessities. If we believe that God can clothe the lilies of the field and feed the ravens of the sky, why should it be thought a hard thing for Him to feed and clothe us as well? He enabled the raven with the ability to fly and search for food, and He has enabled us to work to eat. The second thing Paul affirms is that contentment is irrespective of circumstance. Many times, we believe contentment to be tied to circumstance. One might say, "If I just had such-and-such, I would be content." Truth be told, if we had such-and-such, we would desire even more than that. Contentment comes from the understanding and gratitude that the Lord has blessed us, continues to bless us, and we pray will yet bless us in the future. Paul climaxes this grand thought of contentment with the familiar passage, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (verse 13) While that is not our main thought, it bears mentioning that contentment can only truly come through the help of Christ that gives the strength for our daily walk. Transitioning to the spiritual frame momentarily, Paul has laboured before this to show what he used to think about himself and what he thinks now. (Philippians 3) Before, he considered himself blameless as touching the righteousness in the law, and a Pharisee of Pharisees. Truly, nobody's natural resume could top Paul's by his own declaration. If anyone thinks they had it good, Paul said his was better. Yet, after God's marvellous grace touched him, all that was nothing and less than nothing in Paul's mind. After that, the knowledge of Christ and the power of His resurrection was all that Paul yearned for. He desired to know nothing save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Paul was content to not have his own perceived righteousness, which is by the law. Rather, he was content in the knowledge that true righteousness comes from the imputed righteousness of Christ, and true justification comes from His resurrection. Theologically, Paul was content with that state, and without the finished work of Christ, there will be no true contentment in the mind of one of God's dear children. Later in chapter three, Paul describes something else he was content with. After forgetting those things that are behind, his desire was to press toward the mark of Jesus Christ. Many times, people inquire what is to be done if Christ has finished the work at Calvary. Simply put, the goal is to strive to walk as He walked in bringing honour and glory to the most holy and matchless name of the One true and Living God. Contentment in doctrinal things leads to contentment in practical walk. If my walk was what drew me up to heaven's pure world, I would never be content that my actions were satisfactory. There would always be doubts and disputations in my own mind, "Is this enough? Would God accept this? Have I done all these things in the right way or the right spirit?" But, contentment with His work leads to contentment, by love, in our work. Even though I have never preached a "perfect" sermon that I was truly satisfied with everything I said, or did not say, or how I said it, I try to be content when God's sheep say, "That was a real blessing from the Lord. Thank God for that, as it was just what I needed." Being content to walk after godliness means that we must also be content with His church. Paul did not seek to change the precepts of Christ, but rather, he tried to labour in those very things that Christ taught and gave to him. He instructs us to follow after the things that he has given, as men like Timothy would take those same things and pass them on, and so on and so forth. (II Timothy 2:2) In the reference of utility, the church today operates and functions just as she did in Paul's day. By perpetual existence and faithful passing down to the next generation, the church of our Lord Jesus Christ stands today where she has always stood since her inception. May we be content with that. So many aspects of our lives are those that we would like to change. Certainly we should labour to change and remedy our own shortcomings and failures to serve Him as we should. But naturally, what reason is there to be discontented if we have our natural necessities? Spiritually, what reason is there to be discontented if we are standing for the same things that Christ and His apostles did? Whether abased or exalted, our contentment should be abounding. One final thought is this: I have often heard people say, "Well, I didn't get anything out of church today." The tone is one of great dissatisfaction, and my first thought is why we are not thankful to have a church to go to? Should our efforts not be edifying to us in the least but glorifying to Him in the greatest, our efforts have not been in vain. If we faithfully and diligently seek Him, He has promised to reward us, but even if there was no felt blessing poured out, the honour and magnifying of His name makes the effort worthwhile. May we learn contentment in our churches, homes, families, marriages, friendships, occupations, and many different states. My case has never been naturally as hard as Paul's, and he learned contentment. May we do likewise. 
In Hope, |