The Secret to Contentment

Philippians4:4-13
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. These are some of the most remarkable words in the Bible! Here is a persecuted Christian, sitting in a dark prison cell, not knowing from one minute to the next whether he would be facing torture or even death--and he is the one writing to other Christians—telling them to rejoice no matter what their circumstance. Absolutely remarkable!

We know about ourselves how difficult this is to do—to rejoice always. Certainly we rejoice when things seem right in our world--when there is good news: the birth of child or a promotion at work or a financial windfall.

But to rejoice always: in a hospital bed—at the graveside of a loved one—when we’ve lost our job—these are the times when things don’t seem right in our world and we struggle to rejoice. And yet we have the Spirit inspired words—and example-- of the Apostle Paul—that shows the way to be content in every circumstance of life and rejoice always. Paul wrote: Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.

English translators are all over the map when they attempt to translate the Greek word that our text translates as “reasonableness”. Some say gentleness. Others say moderation. Another says “forebearing spirit” which is better—but still not quite right.

Forrest Gump, that great southern grammarian, is actually the best when he tells those who ask about his condition that he is “just fine and dandy, thank you very much.” That’s the spirit of what Paul means here. No matter what your situation—no matter how difficult or painful—rejoice in the Lord and tell everyone who asks how you are doing that things are just “fine and dandy”, thank you very much!

Now we know what the word means---but what we still don’t know is how is this possible that we can rejoice and give thanks and be content and think things are “fine and dandy” even in hardships! Paul explained how: The Lord is at hand. In your joys and in your sorrows—in your successes and in your failures—the Lord is near.

What Good News this is that Jesus is our Immanuel—God with us! He’s not removed from our lives. He’s not “up there” in the sky somewhere. He’s not disinterested in what we are going through or detached from our lives. He’s with us.

And because he is right beside us in every moment and circumstance of life—we can go to him in prayer—laying our requests before him—knowing that he listens and cares and can help us no matter how great our need. Paul wrote:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Prayer is God’s cure for anxiety. The Greek word that is translated in our text as “anxiety” means to have a divided mind. When we’re anxious we say that our mind is going a mile a minute or I’ve got a thousand different things on my mind. That’s the opposite of contentment!

But Paul says: rejoice in the Lord—know that he is near—recognize that things with you really are fine and dandy—and rather than letting your mind run in a thousand different directions—talk to the Lord in prayer and let him know your need.

Now, there is a little secret to prayer that Paul lets us in on that we often times forget: that our prayers and petitions and requests are to be made with thanksgiving. In other words, not only are we invited to go to God in prayer, asking for what we need—but we are to remember and give thanks for what we already have.

Thanksgiving is just exactly the attitude adjustment we need when we are discontent with our circumstances and discouraged about life. Being thankful forces us to really look at our lives in a new way—not just from the perspective of what we lack-- but from the perspective of everything that God has already given us.

When we do that—when we recognize that the Lord is with us—when we realize that in the big scheme of things, everything really is fine and dandy—when we take our needs to the Lord, Paul promises that:

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

This is really the key to understanding everything that Paul is talking about today. Rejoicing while imprisoned—thinking that things are fine and dandy no matter what—giving thanks in every circumstance of life—this kind of faith and life is ONLY possible when the FOCUS of our joy and contentment IS NOT on our current circumstances-- but on our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ has forgiven your sins and reconciled you to God. He has promised to be with you in every moment of life and to take you to heaven when this life is over. There is nothing in this world that can rob you of your salvation. This Good News is true NO MATTER what else is happening in your life because it flows from the reconciling work of Jesus Christ. This Good News transforms our mental outlook on life. Paul wrote:

Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Before I became a pastor I had a job where I was out in pick-up most of the day, checking on projects and workers and customers. I always had the radio turned to country music. Eight—ten—twelve hours a day of “Your cheating heart” and “I’m so lonesome I could cry” and “He stopped loving her today.” And for the longest time I couldn’t figure out why I was depressed and then it dawned on me: most of my waking hours I fed my mind with had a steady diet of adultery and drinking and loneliness. And when I turned that music off—it was like a dark cloud was lifted off of me.

A steady mental diet of crime shows and the medical dramas and detective novels and violent video games are not good for us. They negatively shape how we view the world. But when we go outside into the beauty of God’s creation and when we enjoy our families and relax with friends--when we read good books and watch wholesome programs on television we have good things to think about.

The things we feed our mind with have a dramatic effect upon our view of life. You can imagine how it was for the Apostle Paul—sitting in a prison cell—everything had been stripped away and he was literally left with his thoughts. And what is his counsel? Fill your minds with good memories! Think about God’s gifts! Call to mind the beautiful and true and lasting. And he wants us to follow his example. He wrote:

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things…

Lutherans do not pray to the saints—but they do have a role to play in our lives of faith! We are called upon to follow their example and learn from their lives of faith.

Several weeks ago we heard how the imprisonment of Paul actually served to advance the Gospel—not only because he had a chance to witness to people who he never would have met otherwise—but the Gospel was advanced because his fellow Christians (when they saw how God cared for him and provided for him even in prison) were strengthened in their own life of faith by his example.

Now Paul may seem a little far removed from our lives but the examples of the saints can still have a profound impact on our life of faith, teaching us how we are to live.

I’ve heard the ladies talk about Jeanette Rice and how she overcame so many hardships in life and never lost her firm faith and gentle spirit. Most of us know Dolores Barnett and the hardships she went through and yet I don’t think I’ve ever met a more joyful person.

Mature Christians have a perspective we need because they have seen with their own eyes how God is able to provide for and protect his people and as we put into practice their example—we will experience and know the same: that the God of peace will be with us.

When it comes to living a joyful, contented Christian life we Christians matter to one another—in the example of our lives-- and the help we give and receive from one another. Paul wrote:

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.

A number of years ago I read—and have shared with the adult bible class--an essay by the Lutheran ethicist, Gilbert Meilander, entitled: “I Want to be a Burden to My Loved Ones.” Now I know that this seems counter-intuitive--but Meilander makes the point that to be a burden to others means that there are others who care about us—that we are loved—and in fact, the Bible says that we are to bear one another’s so as to fulfill the law of Christ.

Paul’s fellow Christians lovingly came to his aid and they were better Christians for it because they got to show the love of Christ in a real way. Paul received their aid and was a better Christian for it because he learned humility and thankfulness. We can learn the same. To know that we are part of a community where we are cared for- and where we can care for others- lifts us out of the pathetic little pity parties we throw for ourselves and focuses our care and concern on others.

The happiest, most contented people in the world are those who know the joy of being cared for—and caring for others—following the example of Jesus Christ who laid down his life as a sacrifice for us and strengthens us to do the same for others. Paul wrote:

I am not speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Four hundred years ago a hymn writer asked a question: “What is the world to me with all its vaunted pleasures?” And sad to say that much too often our answer is: a great deal. But then he goes on to the right answer—the only answer that leads to contentment in every circumstance: “What is the world to me with all its vaunted pleasures? When You and You alone, Lord Jesus are my treasure! You only dearest, Lord, My soul’s delight shall be; You are my peace, my rest. What is the world to me!”

Paul experienced the lows and highs of life—times of plenty and times of want—but what did not change was the strength of Christ’s love for him.

So it is for us. The secret to contentment and joy and peace- is a life with Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. He is with us every moment of life—in good times and bad. He listens to and answers our prayers. He calms our troubled hearts. He forgives our sins and reconciles us to God- and he has prepared a place for us in heaven.

Knowing Jesus we understand how to rejoice always—count our lives fine and dandy—and be content no matter what life holds. Amen.