The Secret of Self-Contentment

Phil 4:10-14

1. We are living in the most affluent country in the most prosperous age in human history. However, we are not satisfied and content with our life. Even though we live much longer than the past, we do everything to live longer and longer. Even though American economy is the strongest, we are worried with little recess and unemployment. Even though we eat far more and better than any people in the world, we still want to eat and drink more delicious and nutritional foods and drinks. Even though we take more and better medicine than any people in the world, we still want more medicine. Even though we have more fun and entertainment industry than any people in the world, we still want more fun and enjoyment.

2. As a pastor, sometimes I feel so sad when I find that many Christians confuse the Gospel and selfishness. Why do we believe in God? What is the salvation of Jesus? What is the purpose of the Holy Spirit who helps us? Is it to satisfy our endless sinful desires? Is it to make us live longer and healthy? Is it to make us rich and prosperous? What is the blessing of God? What happens when God blesses us?

3. Jesus Christ is the model and ideal for us. In what sense? From worldly perspective, his life was a great failure. Paul is a model Christian. In what sense? His life is full of difficulties. What is the salvation which Jesus gave to us by suffering and crucifixion, and for which Paul preached so clearly and strongly? Salvation is freedom from sin and selfish desires, and dedication for God and neighboring people. Therefore, self-contentment is essential to be saved and to be a good Christian. To declare that we are sufficient and therefore we don’t need any more selfish satisfaction. Whatever God gave us, we praise Him with joy and gratitude. Of course, there are differences of degree according to the growth of faith, but we may not justify the opposite way of salvation.

4. Paul was an ambitious and selfish man before he was saved. But, here he confesses a wonderfully different perspective on life: "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."(4.11-12) He confesses that he is fully satisfactory, sufficient, and happy, even in prison and in the face of death.

5. What was the secret of his self-contentment in any and every situation? His reveals his secret in v. 13: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Jesus Christ was the secret! He was the power to make him always satisfactory and happy! How is it so? Those answers may be found in the earlier chapters of this Epistle to the Philippians. First, he was able to be always happy because he received the eternal life from Christ and lived it out. In Chapter 1, Paul declares his victory over death: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body."(21-24) If death is the end of life, the worldly and selfish life is inevitable and therefore life is so pressed and dissatisfactory except momentary and deceptive feeling of satisfaction. However, when we live the eternal life, this life is not everything but the preparation for the eternal life. Our hope of the eternal life of happiness makes short suffering and difficulty endurable and even enjoyable, if it contributes for the eternal meaning of the Kingdom of God and our sanctification.

6. Second, he was able to be always happy because he learned humility from Christ. In Chapter 2, Paul reveals that he learned humility from Christ Jesus: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."(3-5) If we look at other humans, not God above, we always compare us with them. The superiority or inferiority complex makes us happy or unhappy, satisfactory or dissatisfactory. But, if we look at God above and Jesus Christ, we give up our foolishness of comparison and selfish desire to feel superior and proud. Even the Son of God was humble. When Paul learned the humility of Jesus and regarded others better than himself, he was able to be free from the sinful habit of comparison and self-centered judgment. It gave a wonderful peace and happiness which cannot be shaken by anything or anybody.

7. Third, he was able to be always happy because he changed his value system totally upside down when he discovered Jesus Christ and He became his ultimate value. In Chapter 3, Paul begins with his worldly pursuit before he met Jesus and introduces how he is changed: "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him."(7-9a) The change of value and life objective results in the change of everyday life. Some basic activities of life are common to everybody, but the differences come from one’s conviction and purpose of life. When it is from God, Jesus Christ, it is most noble and awesome. What else makes us happier than this? Anything or any situation we meet in the road to the life goal of Christ which is eternally valuable cannot make us unhappy but rather happy even in suffering and difficulty. We are weak, so sometimes we are sad. But the Holy Spirit is always with us to encourage, comfort and refresh us in this eternally meaningful race of our life. So, Paul encourages us to follow his example: "Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you."(17) It was not because he achieved all: "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things…. Only let us live up to what we have already attained."(13-16)