Learning to be content
Philippians 4:10-12 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Paul’s thanks to the Philippians:
When Paul expresses his thanks to the Philippians, he does so in such a way that shows his appreciation for the gift, but also his dependence upon God and not the gifts. He tells them in such a way that he was not sitting waiting for their support or wandering why they had not sent anything prior to it. He wants them to know how grateful he is but also that his happiness is not dependent upon it.
Paul said that he learned to be content – independent of circumstance, or conditions or surroundings; having sufficiency in oneself. Paul had arrived at a state of being independent of circumstances and everything that was happening to and around him (Acts 16:25; 1 Tim. 6:6). Jesus gave similar instructions, Take no thought . ...
Paul was not saying he was indifferent to circumstances or that he was just putting up with or tolerating them. Neither was he simply resigned to “that’s just the way things will; be” mentality. Paul was not going to be mastered by them; his life, happiness and joy were not going to be determined by them. His life was not dependent upon all or most things going right for him – he was in prison at the time he wrote this epistle.
Paul’s victory:
Paul said he knew how to be abased and abound, to be full and hungry, to abound and suffer need. He is free of the control of these things, events in life. He is free of the control that these exercise upon many people’s lives. So many determine whether they are going to be happy, have a good day and etc, by the way circumstances and all occur to them. Just as a number of people experienced during World War II during the blackouts and many became very upset and distraught when they had to stay at home and not go to their theatres, parties and etc. – they were very discontent. Today many would be very restless or upset if they had to do without their entertainment and other electronic toys they use every day.
This was not a natural thing for Paul – he had to learn it and he learned it by experience (2 Cor 12:9, 10). Paul also probably learned some of the following:
1. Conditions are always changing; therefore I must not depend upon them.
2. What matters supremely and vitally is my soul and my relationship with God – that is first.
3. God is concerned about me as my Father and will allow nothing to happen to me apart from Him.
4. God’s will and ways are a great mystery, but I know that whatever His will permits is a necessity for me.
5. Every situation in life is an unfolding of some manifestation of His goodness. It is my business to look for this particular manifestation of His goodness and kindness and be prepared for surprises and blessings because His ways are not my ways, neither His thoughts my thoughts. Paul learned through the thorn in the flesh that when he is weak then he is strong.
6. I must regard circumstances and conditions, not in and of themselves, but as part of God’s dealings with me in the work of perfecting His holiness in my life and soul and bringing me to the place of blessing.
7. Whatever my conditions may be at the present, they are only temporary, they are only passing and they can never rob me of the joy and the glory that ultimately await me with Christ.
Paul had learned to find pleasure and satisfaction in Christ and always in Christ. He learned to depend upon Christ and in order to do that he had to know Him (Phil 3:10). Paul wants us to come to the same place in our walk with Christ – there may come a time when all niceties of life will be gone and all we have will be Christ.
Paul also was probably looking to Jesus as His example, for it says that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith and He endured the cross despising the shame looking forward to the hope beyond His suffering.