Philippians is my favorite book in the entire bible! It is the one book I return to over and over again for encouragement and faith - no matter what is happening in my life. Why? Because Philippians is all about trusting God… No Matter What! Because I believe Philippians has the answer for just about any question you may have about the Christian life.
Paul writes Philippians while being chained 24/7 to a Roman guard in prison, not knowing if he is going to be executed or released. Not knowing if he is going to live or die! He has been in prison for two years, but before this, he had been physically beaten, run out of more than one town, illegally arrested, spent another two years in prison in Caesarea, shipwrecked, stranded on an island, bitten by a poisonous snake, suffering from some “thorn in the flesh”; and yet he writes in Philippians “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.” (4:11-13). Wow! Wow! Really?
How does he do that? What is it that Paul has learned that allows him to remain so joyful and trusting in the midst of such trying circumstances? Throughout Philippians I believe Paul is telling us what he has learned that allows him to find true contentment - no matter what! While he doesn’t tell us specifically what the secret is, (I sure wish he had – although I think God wants each of us to learn contentment for ourselves through our own circumstances-Eccl. 7:14), I do believe that Paul has summarized for us all that he has learned in chapter 1 verse 21 when he says, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
Paul has learned that it doesn’t really matter what happens to him, for he “wins” either way! Whether he lives or dies, he is going to be okay. Whether he stays chained up in prison or he’s let go, he is going to be okay; whether he has plenty or he has nothing, he is going to be okay. If he lives, he gets to live for Christ and his purposes – he has things to do, places to go, people to see – to continue to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to an unbelieving world. And Paul knows that God will provide all that he needs to do that (Phil. 4:19; 2 Peter 1:3-4).
But if he dies, he gets to be with Christ immediately! How great is that? He can’t lose – and neither can we. No matter what happens to us, we too get to live for Christ and his purposes. God has things for you to do, places for you to go, and people for you to see and He will provide what you need to continue to spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to an unbelieving world. When we really understand this - that no matter what happens we are going to be okay - we have found the secret to true contentment and to living a life of faith and trust in God. How does Paul live that and how do we live that?
In chapter one, Paul wastes no time in getting right into some of what he has learned that keeps him trusting God no matter what. In verses 3-11 of chapter 1 Paul gives us three things he has learned that have taught him contentment and faith.
First, we find joy and contentment when we focus on letting thanksgiving flow. Paul says in v. 3-5, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you…” Probably the least focused virtue in our lives and yet perhaps the most powerful virtue for learning joy and contentment is having a heart of gratitude, of giving thanks to God for all that he is and all that he has done for us. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that we are to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Paul is first and foremost focused on giving thanks to God - no matter what! How about you? Are you cultivating a heart of gratitude to God – no matter what?
Second, we find joy and contentment when we focus on letting God’s work show. Paul says in v. 6-7 “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ… for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.” Paul focuses the spotlight on the work that God is doing “in them, to them and through them.” Whether in prison or out of prison, God is working through Paul and the Philippians for the defense and confirmation of the gospel. God is doing the work; God will finish what he has started and no matter the circumstances God is going to accomplish his purposes. We have the unbelievable and exhilarating joy to be part of what God is doing (Eph. 2:10, 4:11-16).
Third, we find joy and contentment when we focus on letting love grow. Paul says in v. 8-11, “and it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more… filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” The ultimate apologetic is love. The ultimate purpose of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ is that people will come to love God and to love one another. This is Paul’s prayer and it ought to be ours as well. That we abound more and more in love for God and each other. This is the ultimate focus that brings joy and contentment. Love that is pure and real; “love that is patient and kind… that endures all things” (1 Cor. 13:4-7).
Have you found the secret to joy and contentment – no matter what? Here are three “first steps” to take toward trusting God - no matter what: focus on letting thanksgiving flow, focus on letting God’s work show, and focus on letting love grow.
Paul writes Philippians while being chained 24/7 to a Roman guard in prison, not knowing if he is going to be executed or released. Not knowing if he is going to live or die! He has been in prison for two years, but before this, he had been physically beaten, run out of more than one town, illegally arrested, spent another two years in prison in Caesarea, shipwrecked, stranded on an island, bitten by a poisonous snake, suffering from some “thorn in the flesh”; and yet he writes in Philippians “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.” (4:11-13). Wow! Wow! Really?
How does he do that? What is it that Paul has learned that allows him to remain so joyful and trusting in the midst of such trying circumstances? Throughout Philippians I believe Paul is telling us what he has learned that allows him to find true contentment - no matter what! While he doesn’t tell us specifically what the secret is, (I sure wish he had – although I think God wants each of us to learn contentment for ourselves through our own circumstances-Eccl. 7:14), I do believe that Paul has summarized for us all that he has learned in chapter 1 verse 21 when he says, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
Paul has learned that it doesn’t really matter what happens to him, for he “wins” either way! Whether he lives or dies, he is going to be okay. Whether he stays chained up in prison or he’s let go, he is going to be okay; whether he has plenty or he has nothing, he is going to be okay. If he lives, he gets to live for Christ and his purposes – he has things to do, places to go, people to see – to continue to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to an unbelieving world. And Paul knows that God will provide all that he needs to do that (Phil. 4:19; 2 Peter 1:3-4).
But if he dies, he gets to be with Christ immediately! How great is that? He can’t lose – and neither can we. No matter what happens to us, we too get to live for Christ and his purposes. God has things for you to do, places for you to go, and people for you to see and He will provide what you need to continue to spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to an unbelieving world. When we really understand this - that no matter what happens we are going to be okay - we have found the secret to true contentment and to living a life of faith and trust in God. How does Paul live that and how do we live that?
In chapter one, Paul wastes no time in getting right into some of what he has learned that keeps him trusting God no matter what. In verses 3-11 of chapter 1 Paul gives us three things he has learned that have taught him contentment and faith.
First, we find joy and contentment when we focus on letting thanksgiving flow. Paul says in v. 3-5, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you…” Probably the least focused virtue in our lives and yet perhaps the most powerful virtue for learning joy and contentment is having a heart of gratitude, of giving thanks to God for all that he is and all that he has done for us. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that we are to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Paul is first and foremost focused on giving thanks to God - no matter what! How about you? Are you cultivating a heart of gratitude to God – no matter what?
Second, we find joy and contentment when we focus on letting God’s work show. Paul says in v. 6-7 “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ… for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.” Paul focuses the spotlight on the work that God is doing “in them, to them and through them.” Whether in prison or out of prison, God is working through Paul and the Philippians for the defense and confirmation of the gospel. God is doing the work; God will finish what he has started and no matter the circumstances God is going to accomplish his purposes. We have the unbelievable and exhilarating joy to be part of what God is doing (Eph. 2:10, 4:11-16).
Third, we find joy and contentment when we focus on letting love grow. Paul says in v. 8-11, “and it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more… filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” The ultimate apologetic is love. The ultimate purpose of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ is that people will come to love God and to love one another. This is Paul’s prayer and it ought to be ours as well. That we abound more and more in love for God and each other. This is the ultimate focus that brings joy and contentment. Love that is pure and real; “love that is patient and kind… that endures all things” (1 Cor. 13:4-7).
Have you found the secret to joy and contentment – no matter what? Here are three “first steps” to take toward trusting God - no matter what: focus on letting thanksgiving flow, focus on letting God’s work show, and focus on letting love grow.
Posted in Brent Van Elswyk
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