Are You Content?
Read Philippians 4:5-13 then consider these circumstances for just a moment: Paul, the penman of the letter under consideration, is a prisoner of Rome, confined, and on trial for his life in a court where there are no more appeals. How would most people react to such a position? How would you react? Now listen to the apostle: “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 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” (Phi. 4:11-12).
In spite of his bleak station in life, Paul was content. But how? The Greek term translated content in verse 11 means, “self-sufficient.” But the term is used here by one who relied on God with all of his being. Perhaps the idea expressed by this prisoner of the Lord is that he had at his disposal everything he truly needed to see sufficiently to himself. These items at his disposal were not items of his own creation or might, but were gifts and blessings from a benevolent God and His faithful followers. Notice a few of the things that enabled Paul to be content, no matter the circumstances that surrounded him.
The Privilege of Prayer
In verse 5 and 6, Paul wrote of the nearness of God (“The Lord is at hand”) and accordingly called on his readers to lay aside their anxieties by approaching this near-by God in prayer. No doubt, the apostle engaged in this same practice and enjoyed contentment as a result.
The Freedom from Fear
When one continually involves himself in prayer, proclaiming his thankfulness to the Father for the great blessings He bestows and making his requests known unto God (as Paul instructs in verse 6), the result of such is peace (as is discussed in verse 7). Again, the apostle would have personally experienced this tranquility—this freedom from fear—and enjoyed the contentment it brings.
The Goodness of God
In verse 8, the inspired writer lists a number of things on which Christians should meditate. The list Paul provides is positive in nature and should remind readers that no matter how bad things might be or become, the blessings and gifts of God—the good things of life—far outweigh the light afflictions we might experience in this temporal realm. Even though the apostle found himself in a trying situation, the positive things abundantly available to him permitted Paul to experience contentment (and to also set forth a great example for others [vs. 9]).
The Care of Christians
One of the reasons Paul penned the Philippian epistle was to thank his brethren for their support of his work and for the gift they sent to him by Epaphroditus. While his contentment was not founded on mere material matters, their generous and Christ-like spirit surely contributed to Paul’s state of sufficiency (vs. 10).
The Strength of the Savior
After discussing and describing his sufficiency in verse 11 and 12, Paul powerfully proclaims, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” (vs. 13). How better to conclude his comments on contentment than by referencing and rejoicing in the supreme source of his present mindset?
On another occasion, Paul wrote of seeing the unseen (2 Cor. 4:16-18). The items listed by Paul in Philippians 4:5-13 are some of those “unseen” things. These items are spiritual and eternal in their makeup. When the Christian—no matter his present lot in life—looks “not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen,” he, like Paul, will be content.