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LEARN HOW TO BE CONTENT Introduction:
One of the most important things that we can do in life is learning to be contented.
Learning to be content is important because of the personal and public benefit of being contented.
Learning to be content benefit both our personal life and public life because of our influence or being witness.
Those people who do not live a contented life who always complaining, who always thinking and saying negatively will make themselves and affect other people to become miserable.
A discontented is a bad witness for Christ, ruin the testimony of a Christian, and that is one main concern.
I – SIGNIFICANCE OF A CONTENTED PERSON – v.11 Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."
Filipos 4:11 "Hindi sa nagsasalita ako dala ng pangangailangan, sapagkat aking natutunan ang masiyahan sa anumang kalagayang aking kinaroroonan." FILIPINO VERSION
When we say significance, we speak of the value of contentment.
Webster defines contentment = happy enough with what one has or is; not desiring something more or different; satisfied.
The world is highly interested for satisfaction, happy enough with what they have, not desiring for something more. So, if you could put a tag price on contentment and sell it, a person would end up being the richest person in the world. In other words, you are one of the richest persons on earth if you are a contented person today.
Contentment is a like a commodity that is very rare, but you can be a contented person.
However, being contented person does not come naturally. We are not born being a contented person. Being contented requires learning. We have to learn how to be contented.
Notice what Paul said in verse 11 “for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Like Paul had learned, we also have to learn how to be content as well. We will notice the secret Paul learned.
II – STATE OF A CONTENTED PERSON – v.11, 12 Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
Filipos 4:11 “Hindi sa nagsasalita ako dala ng pangangailangan, sapagkat aking natutunan ang masiyahan sa anumang kalagayang aking kinaroroonan.” FILIPINO VERSION
Notice the words of Paul, “whatsoever state I am”
What state was Paul in?
Different state that Paul was in:
A. State of Plenty - v.12b
Philippians 4:12b “and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full”
Filipos 4:12b "at marunong din akong magpakasagana; sa bawat bagay at sa lahat ng bagay ay natutunan ko ang lihim sa kabusugan." FILIPINO VERSION
Paul was saying that he knew how to be content when he had plenty. Having contentment when he had plenty is what most people have problem with.
A lot of people go from a humble spirit to a haughty spirit. They had changed their attitude and principle in life. They forgot where they come from, who they are before they got plenty of something.
B. State of Poverty - v.12a
Philippians 4:12a “I know both how to be abased….and to be hungry”
Filipos 4:12a “Marunong akong magpakababa….at maging sa kagutuman” FILIPINO VERSION
In verse 12a, Paul said “I know how to be abased”. Paul talks about being abased.
The word “abased” means to live humbly in stricken (may mabigat, nakakabahala, nakakabalisa) circumstances.
Philippians 4:12c “and to suffer need.”
Filipos 4:12c “at maging sa kasalatan.” FILIPINO VERSION
Paul continues as he say the last phrase in verse 12c “and to suffer need.” C. State of Problems - v.12b
Philippians 4:12b “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things”
Filipos 4:12b “at marunong din akong magpakasagana; sa bawat bagay at sa lahat ng bagay ay natutunan ko ang lihim sa kabusugan.” FILIPINO VERSION
Notice the word “everywhere”. Paul learned to be content everywhere.
When Paul said “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere” where was Paul?
Paul wrote this book of Philippians when he was in prison. Paul learned contentment even in jail.
D. State of Pain – II Corinthians 12:7
II Corinthians 12:7 “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh,”
II Corinthians 12:7 “lalo na dahil sa kalabisan ng mga pahayag. Kaya't upang ako'y huwag magyabang ng labis, binigyan ako ng isang tinik sa laman, isang sugo ni Satanas upang ako'y saktan, upang ako'y huwag magmalaki ng labis.” FILIPINO VERSION
The phrase “thorn in the flesh” speaks of Paul having a physical problem that was so painful.
This verse shows us that Paul learned how to be content in the midst of his physical suffering.
III – SIGN OF A CONTENTED PERSON – v.6
Philippians 4:6 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
Filipos 4:6 "Huwag kayong mabalisa sa anumang bagay; kundi sa lahat ng mga bagay, sa pamamagitan ng panalangin at pagsamo na may pagpapasalamat ay ipaalam ninyo ang inyong mga kahilingan sa Diyos." FILIPINO VERSION
Instead of being anxious for everything, we must thankful in everything.
There is always a sign of contentment in people who are truly contented.
When we say sign, we speaks of the gratitude of thanksgiving being manifested in a person who was contented.
I Thessalonians 5:18 “ In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” In order for you to know if you are contented, you can try to listen to the words that come out of your mouth. If the words that come out of your mouth is negative, it is a sign that you are not grateful person. And if the words that come out of your mouth are positive words, it is a good sign that you are a grateful person.
People who are not contented are ungrateful and complaining.
IV – SECRET OF A CONTENTED PERSON – v.6,8 A. Secret of Contentment in Prayer – v.6
1. Turning to the Lord
Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
Filipos 4:6 “Huwag kayong mabalisa sa anumang bagay; kundi sa lahat ng mga bagay, sa pamamagitan ng panalangin at pagsamo na may pagpapasalamat ay ipaalam ninyo ang inyong mga kahilingan sa Diyos.” FILIPINO VERSION
Notice the phrase “Be careful (worry or anxious) for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication.
The word “careful” means anxious (NASB, ESV). In greek “μεριμναΎ¶τε (merimnate), to be anxious or to be distracted.
Whatever it is that would cause us to worry or lead us to anxiety, would cause us not to be content, we need to learn to turn that over to the Lord in prayer.
Turning everything over to the Lord that means that you must release it unto God’s care.
I Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Turning over to the Lord, instead of being anxious is one secret of contentment.
2. Trusting the Lord
Not only Paul’s secret of contentment is found in turning over to the Lord in his prayer but also another Paul’s secret of contentment is found in trusting the Lord in his prayer.
We will never turn our problem over to the Lord, if we do not trust God to take care of our problems.
Two things that Paul was trusting God:
1. Trusting in God’s providential hand – v.11
Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
Filipos 4:11 “Hindi sa nagsasalita ako dala ng pangangailangan, sapagkat aking natutunan ang masiyahan sa anumang kalagayang aking kinaroroonan.” FILIPINO VERSION
Notice again in verse 11, Paul said “I have learned in whatsoever state I am, there with to be content.”
Paul believed that God was in charge of the arrangements in life for the children of God, so Paul learned to accept every circumstance in his life.
The places in life, the poverty in life, the plenty in life, and the problems in life are all arranged by God.
Believers in Christ believes that there are no accidents in a Christian’s life. God knows everything, God is in control and God arrange everything for our good, so there is no accidents for the children of God.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God,” NASB
2. Trusting in God’s powerful hand
We can only trust God, if we know that God is able to take care of your situation or of anything.
Luke 1:37 “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
Ephesians 3:20 “He is able to do exceedingly above all that we ask or think.”
B. The Secret of Contentment in Perception – v.8
Another Paul’s secret of contentment was in what Paul thought about.
Philippians 4:6- 7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Filipos 4:6-7 “Huwag kayong mabalisa sa anumang bagay; kundi sa lahat ng mga bagay, sa pamamagitan ng panalangin at pagsamo na may pagpapasalamat ay ipaalam ninyo ang inyong mga kahilingan sa Diyos. 7 At ang kapayapaan ng Diyos, na hindi maabot ng pag-iisip, ang mag-iingat ng inyong mga puso at mga pag-iisip kay Cristo Jesus.” FILIPINO VERSION
Not only through prayers to God give us peace of God which guarded our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus even though our problems did not changed in verses 6-7, but also we ourselves must guard our thoughts in verse 8, that is our perceptions.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Filipos 4:8 “Kahuli-hulihan, mga kapatid, anumang bagay na totoo, anumang bagay na kagalang-galang, anumang bagay na matuwid, anumang bagay na malinis, anumang bagay na kaibig-ibig, anumang bagay na kapuri-puri, kung mayroong anumang kagalingan, at kung may anumang nararapat papurihan, ay isipin ninyo ang mga bagay na ito.”
Paul guarded what he thought about. Satan wants to attack the mind and heart of a Christian to discouraged them. Paul did not allow Satan attack his mind and get him to think about the bad things, complaining, and think negatively in life.
We must discipline our thought life, if we want to have contentment in our life, even though it is a difficult task because of all the bad and negative things in life.
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