October 22, 2023

PHILIPPIANS: THE RIVER OF CONTENTMENT

October 22, 2023

Charles Billingsley

 

There are some things you cannot put a price tag on—and peace and contentment in your life are two of them. They may come at a cost, but nothing can substitute for their presence. There is only one place you will ever get true peace: it comes from the Father of peace, when you make Him your Savior. Nothing or no-one else will ever be able to fill that spiritual void in your heart. True contentment comes when you learn that NOT having more or being better than everyone you meet is fine—don’t make discontent your reality. Learning to be satisfied with yourself as God made you, with what He has given you, with the ministry God has called you to, and not envying those to whom God has given more, are all keys to contentment!!

Focal Passage: Philippians 4.

The Rock of Location: Contentment is not determined by where you are.

  • Read Gen. 2:8-9, 21-24. What did Adam and Eve lack in the Garden of Eden—were they in Paradise? Why did they want more? Did they find contentment?
  • Read Acts 16:22, 24-30. What happened to Paul and Silas? In verse 23, how many stripes would they have received? How did they respond once they were in prison? What was the final result from their witness? Were they content?
  • What was the difference between the two sets of people, and their reactions to where they were? Have you let your house, job, location or state determine your attitude?

The Rock of Stuff: Contentment is not determined by what you have.

  • Last week we quoted Rockefeller who said “enough” was “a little bit more.” That gap never closes. Can you be honest enough to tell an area where you fight this pressure?
  • Read II Sam. 12:1-4. Had David been content with his seven wives and innumerable concubines? Read 11:1. What was David’s main problem? (Why do we never hear of any of the blame being also placed on Bathsheba, “sunbathing” in the obvious view of the palace?) Why was David vulnerable in an area where he already had more than enough?
  • Read Mark 12:41-44. What was remarkable about what this widow had done? How would she feed herself the next day? Was she content, whether she had food or not?
  • Was either David or the widow content with what they had? Was the widow fretting because she was now broke? What would you have done in either circumstance? Read Prov. 30:7-9. What did Solomon write? How can this be our motto?

Rock of Comparison: Contentment is not determined by what you do.

  • Read I Sam. 1:4-7. Describe the situation between Hannah and Peninnah. Was having a child in the control of either Hannah or Elkanah? What was their only hope? Read Gen. 29:16-17. Which of Laban’s daughters do we prefer, just from reading the passage?
  • Read Luke 10:38-42. Are you a Mary or a Martha? What could Martha have done so that she, too, could have time learning from Jesus? Why is it we who are like Martha think there is only one way? What could Mary have done differently? How could this have been reconciled to the benefit of both? Were either happy, feeling the ire of the other?

CONTENTMENT IS A LEARNED BEHAVIOR:

  • Read Phil. 4:11 and II Cor. 11:24-28. Did Paul have any control over most of his attacks? What choices were available to Paul so far as his reactions?
  • Is contentment an internal reaction to external circumstances? If so, how do we identify those situations so that we can “learn contentment in those circumstances”? (Quote from Joni E. Tada).

CONTENTMENT HAS A SECRET FORMULA:

  • GRATITUDE: Read Phil. 4:6. Is gratitude a natural behavior or a learned action? If it is learned, is it ever too late to start? How can you discipline yourself to be thankful for God’s blessings, acts of kindness from others, etc.? Will it eventually show a change in your life?
  • What is one of the first steps for developing an attitude of gratitude?
  • JOY: Read verse 4. What is joy? Paul mentions being joyful sixteen times in this letter, therefore, he considers it to be an important part of his life. “Rejoice” is in the NKJV 238 times—so God also desires us to be full of joy. When do we feel joy?
  • How can we obtain it, and then keep it? If you went to sleep counting your blessings, rather than concentrating on how to solve your problems, would you sleep better?
  • PEACE: Read vv. 6-9. What is peace? In verse 7, how is peace described? In verse 9, what is the attribute of God mentioned? How do we get peace? How do we keep it?
  • Is there any peace that is available to us except through Christ Jesus? Why? Does the world bring you peace? Read verse 13, and verses 19-20. God’s word never lies.

Close:

Paul’s inspired writing on peace and contentment in this chapter gives us an unqualified diagram for our own life. In verse 1, Paul sends his love to these people who are so dear to him. You can hear the peace and joy in his writing as he “speaks” to them. In verses 2-3, he implores two women who are at odds to make peace and be content with each other. In verses 4-9, he tells the believers in the Philippian church how to have peace and contentment in their own lives as they live daily with the Holy Spirit indwelling them. He gives a list of good things to meditate on throughout their days, which will also bring gratitude, peace and contentment. Finally, he writes a passage telling of his own joy and gratitude for being able to serve them and the Lord Jesus, despite trials and attacks. Paul does not harbor bitterness that he spends his life traveling, has no wife or children, is not looked up to as he had been in the days when he was one of the Pharisees—he counts himself blessed that he can suffer for Christ.

Look at Paul’s life! It is filled with days of hunger, pain, and so much more. But the joy, peace, and lifetime of blessings from God make it all worthwhile. Can we say that?

 

Sandy Day

October 22, 2023

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