Philippians 04-11:13 Contentment – audio

Old - G E L N D J J R 1S 2S 1K 2K 1C 2C E N E J P P E S I J L E D H J A O J M N H Z H Z M
New - M M L J A R 1C 2C G E P C 1Th 2Th 1T 2T T P H J 1P 2P 1J 2J 3J J R - Topical - All - Archive

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Text: Philippians 4:11-13

Introduction

A. Illustrations on contentment:

1. “Lazy Fisherman” – Philip Parham tells the story of a rich industrialist who was disturbed to find a fisherman sitting lazily beside his boat.

“Why aren’t you out there fishing?” he asked.

“Because I’ve caught enough fish for today,” said the fisherman.

“Why don’t you catch more fish than you need?” the rich man asked.

“What would I do with them?”

“You could earn more money,” came the impatient reply, “and buy a better boat so you could go deeper and catch more fish. You could purchase nylon

nets, catch even more fish, and make more money. Soon you’d have a fleet of boats and be rich like me.”

The fisherman asked, “Then what would I do?”

“You could sit down and enjoy life,” said the industrialist.

“What do you think I’m doing now?” the fisherman replied.

2. Benjamin Franklin said, “Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.”

3. A typical supermarket in the US in 1976 stocked 9,000 articles; in 1994 it had grown to 30,000; in 2006 it is estimated to be 45,000.

B. Define contentment. The word does not mean that Christians should not continually seek to improve themselves. As someone said, “Be content with what you have, never with what you are.”

Body

I. PHILIPPIANS 4:11-12

A. Contentment is something to be learned, sought after and gained. It is not given automatically or miraculously to the Christian.

B. We can learn contentment by following the example of Paul.

1. He counted everything as loss in order to gain Christ – Philippians 3:7-8

2. He knew that all things work together for good to them who love God – Romans 8:28

3. He knew that there is nothing permanent here – 2 Corinthians 4:18

4. He knew that God is able to keep that which is committed unto Him – 2 Timothy 1:12

5. Paul was able to learn contentment because his heart was first and foremost focused on God.

C. Paul’s example of contentment is uplifting and serves as a wonderful example.

1. He knew how to be abased, to hunger, and to suffer need – 1 Corinthians 4:11- 13; 2 Corinthians 4:8-10; 11:21-28

a. At times he was without physical health – Galatians 4:13-15; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

b. Many times he was without freedom – Philippians 1:12-13

c. He was often without the admiration and approval of brethren – 2 Timothy 4:16-17

2. Also, he knew how to abound and to be full – Philippians 4:12, 15-18

a. For some, knowing how to abound is more difficult than being content in want.

b. With some, the more they get, the more they want – Ecclesiastes 5:10

c. It is not easy to go from poverty to plenty or from plenty to poverty.

d. Listen to Solomon – Proverbs 30:8-9

D. Christians, as Paul, must learn contentment through Christ – Philippians 4:13

1. We must rely on the Lord for all things; Hebrews will abundantly bless – Philippians 4:6, 7; Matthew 7:7

Conclusion

A. Let us be content with what we have.

B. And serve the Lord with a true heart.