Contentment in every circumstance not found in human emotions but in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:10-14

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“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.” Philippians 4:10

A popular cliche in America is “It’s the thought that counts”, which means a person has good intentions in their heart towards someone but is not able to do good things for the person they are thinking about. This is how Paul saw the Church of the Philippians, as they had Paul fondly in their hearts but lacked any opportunity to do for him what their heart was telling them to do.  “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.” Philippians 4:11-14

When Paul praised the Church of the Philippians for having in their heart to do good for him, it wasn’t because Paul wanted to increase in worldly goods, it’s because he saw the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of the Philippians with compassion and goodwill towards others. In this world, the followers of Jesus Christ may never have the opportunity to do good as in times past, but to always keep the Holy Spirit alive within our mind, soul, and spirit is what’s important.

Paul learned how to be content in whatever circumstance he was in, which comes through a humble spirit. Can you imagine how pride and ego tell us we deserve a lot more in life than what this world is giving us? Thinking we deserve more than what we have in this world leads to a lot of anger, bitterness, frustration, hostility, vengeance, and violence. We have to have the wisdom to know what we can change and what we can’t. The humility of Paul is what enabled him to be content in every circumstance. From birth to his conversion in his early 30’s, Paul was a Roman citizen, a Hebrew of Hebrews, and Pharisee of Pharisees.

When Paul came to Jesus Christ, the pride and ego of this world left him, and he was abased and humiliated, but still was content in whatever circumstance he was in. It was not the content, happiness, and joy of human emotions, but his contentment was rooted in the Holy Spirit. That is why our Lord Jesus puts human nature in subjection to Him.

Paul had no contentment in the flesh at all but found contentment in his spirit and mind through the Spirit of Christ. Paul is quoted as written below,

“…three times Roman officials had me beaten with clubs. Once people tried to stone me to death; three times I was shipwrecked, and I drifted on the sea for a night and a day. Because I’ve traveled a lot, I’ve faced dangers from raging rivers, from robbers, from my own people, and from other people. I’ve faced dangers in the city, in the open country, on the sea, and from believers who turned out to be false friends. Because I’ve had to work so hard, I’ve often gone without sleep, been hungry and thirsty, and gone without food and without proper clothes during cold weather. Besides these external matters, I have the daily pressure of my anxiety about all the churches. When anyone is weak, I’m weak too. When anyone is caught in a trap, I’m also harmed. If I must brag, I will brag about the things that show how weak I am. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is praised forever, knows that I’m not lying. The governor under King Aretas put guards around the city of Damascus to catch me. So I was let down in a basket through an opening in the wall and escaped from him. 2 Corinthians 11:25-33

Our Lord Jesus Christ lived as a homeless person “Jesus told him, “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to sleep.” Matthew 8:20. Jesus was from Nazareth, a city with an infamous reputation, “Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the man whom Moses wrote about in his teachings and whom the prophets wrote about. He is Jesus, son of Joseph, from the city of Nazareth. Nathanael said to Philip, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” John 1:45-46 Jesus was obedient to God even to the point of death, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:8

“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11