Finding Contentment and Generosity in Christ

I Rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me indeed you were concerned but you had no opportunity to show it I'm not saying this because I am in need for 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. [00:00:27]

I've learned the secret of being content in any and every situation whether wellfed or hungry whether living in plenty or in want I can do all things through him who gives me strength yet it was good for you to share in my troubles moreover as your Philippians know in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel. [00:00:51]

Not that I desire your gifts what I desire is that more be credited to your account I have received full payment and have more than enough I am amply supplied now that I have received from aphodius gifts you sent they are fragrant offerings and acceptable sacrifices pleasing to God and my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. [00:01:25]

I thank my God every time I remember you this is my prayer that your love may abound more and more so that you may be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God Christ will be exalted in my body whether by life or by death for to me to live is Christ and to die is gained. [00:05:07]

Whatever happens conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ in your relationships with one another have the same mindset as Christ Jesus who being in the very nature of God did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own Advantage rather he made himself nothing taking the nature of a servant. [00:05:35]

I know what it is to be in need and we know from from Paul's life that he certainly was in need at times and I know what it is to have plenty I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation whether wellfed or hungry whether living in plenty or in want so now Paul is saying not only is this something that he has learned. [00:11:52]

But it's almost as if it's a secret he says he has learned the secret to being content wouldn't we want to know this secret as well secret of being content in every situation in the Greco Roman World in which Paul and the early church lived it was quite a a common outlook for people to find to try to find contentment. [00:12:36]

And the uh General opinion and teaching of the day was that people could find contentment if they could find it within themselves to be self-sufficient that meant some Financial Independence it meant intellectual Independence etc etc to rid yourself of the need to rely on other people for blessings for Prosperity but to find that contentment within yourself. [00:12:56]

Your own achievement your own ability your your own resources now some of you might be thinking well it's not much different today Greg is it people of every generation and place want to feel contentment with their life where they're at what they have what they don't have to have that peace and so many are trying to find it. [00:13:29]

By simply gathering enough resources enough skills enough experience enough finances around themselves that they are self-sufficient but are you ready to hear Paul's secret that he he has learned verse 13 here it is I can do all this through him who gives me strength Paul doesn't think anything about what he owns. [00:13:56]

He doesn't think anything about his own strength his own wisdom his own resources his own achievements we've seen that earlier in this letter when he talked about his his religious achievements as a faithful Jew instead he says I am strong enough for anything because of him who gives me strength I can do all this through through him who gives me strength. [00:14:32]

So instead of self-sufficiency Paul has learned that the secret to contentment is Christ sufficiency Christ is Enough his grace his strength his victory are enough for Paul you could have everything or you could have nothing it makes no difference because in any situation if you have Jesus Christ you have enough you have it all. [00:15:01]