Philippians 4:14-23 Study Guide: The SEcret of Contentment

Community Group Study Guide — The Secret of Contentment 

Philippians 4:10-23

Study Information:

God desires for us to be content (1 Tim 6:6-8). That is good news! Yet, we live in a world that drives us to be discontent. Our news sources drive us to outrage, marketers try to show you how much better your life would be with their product and of course a constant barrage of comparison on social media to deal with. Many of us have a handful of things in our lives that we think “if only…” If only we had a little bit more cash, paid off debt, a kinder spouse, a career without a dead end…, if only we had gone back to school earlier, had fewer kids, moved out of state, stayed in CA… the list really could go on and on because we desire contentment and yet we find it so elusive. 

Paul ended the book of Philippians with one of the most powerful passages on contentment in the Bible. Remember Paul’s setting, he was imprisoned in Rome for preaching the gospel. Jealous Jewish religious leaders got him there, and along the way they had tried to take his life multiple times. Prisons in the ancient world were also unlike prisons today in that none of your basic needs were taken care of and you were dependent on the generosity of others for your food and clothing. Paul has lost his freedom and his prestige had taken a hit (Phil 1:15-17). And yet, Paul counted it all as loss for the sake of knowing Christ and God used this time to advance the word of God, even in those circumstances so much so that Paul could write “Not that I am speaking of being in need for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content (Phil 4:11).” How do we learn contentment and what is the supply for our contentment? 

Learning that the Strength of Christ is the foundation of our Contentment

Philippians 4:10-13

The secret to contentment is learning to understand and embrace our weakness and need in EVERY situation so that we rely on Christ. Paul learned this over the long haul of his life and it is something we too can learn. 

Notice the source of Paul’s joy in Philippians 4:10 was not the material goods given by the Philippians, instead it was their concern for him. It is important to note that we have deeper needs than material things (Philippians 4:14). We have a deeper need for friendship with others and a trust in God that serves as a foundation for our satisfaction. Contentment is also needed in times of need and times when we have plenty. Paul wrote that he learned how to be content in every circumstance whether that was being brought low or abounding, plenty and hunger, abundance and need. Many of us know of our need to be content when we are lacking, but how many of us have learned how to be content when we’re in a season of abundance? Seasons of abundance can be a unique spiritual challenge. During those times it is tempting to abound and have much and forget that God is the one who supplies for our need. Likewise, it is tempting to give into the sin of greed and desire more. Yet, when we have learned to be content we realize that we actually have all that we need with Christ. Paul learned contentment as he experienced all the highs and lows and from that experience he knew that God was the same God in every circumstance. 

This background changes how many of us read the most famous verse in Philippians, Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” This is a coffee mug verse that can be found tattoo’d on athletes and as descriptions on our social media profiles. Many people read this verse and come away with the idea that it means we can do hard things for God or pursue our dreams with God as a resource. If you read this verse isolated from its context it is possible to get that understanding, however 

 However, when this verse is isolated and taken out of its original context it actually gets used to mean the opposite of what Paul intended. Paul did not intend for us to use God as a means for our plans, or to give us the strength to do whatever it is that we want to do. Rather, Paul was encouraging the church that if we embrace our weakness and we have Christ we actually have the strength to get through the hard times of need and the times of abundance without losing our dependance on God. The strength he supplies is the strength to be content in times of abundance and times of need. 

God’s Supply for Our Needs

Philippians 4:14-23

God supplied for Paul’s need of friendship and material resources and he will supply for your need. We already discussed how Paul valued the friendship more than the stuff, and he demonstrated that as he thanked them for sharing in his trouble. This word “share” was a favorite of Paul’s in Philippians and showed up as “partner” in other verses in the book. The Philippians became a main supporter for Paul in terms of money and relationship. Paul thanked them for their previous help in Thessalonica and he thanked them in the book of 2 Corinthians for their financial support in that town as well (Phil 4:15-16, 2 Cor 11:9). Wherever Paul went there were the Philippians! Paul’s confident trust was that as the Philippians demonstrated generosity in relationship and money that God would continue to supply every need for the Philippians according to the riches of Christ Jesus. 

We learn a few things about generosity and contentment from these verses. First, our generosity is worship. Paul described their gift with the language of Old Testament worship as he called it a fragrant offering, sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God (Phil 4:18). Generosity to the church or to personal needs of others is a way to worship and honor God. Second, God supplies for the needs of others through people. God could make food appear like he did with manna in the wilderness and he could create money out of nothing. Yet the normative way God supplies for someone’s need is through people (Phil 4:18). We should regularly and joyfully give to the needs of others through the church and in our personal relationships and as we prosper we should give more so that the needs of others can be met. Finally, Generosity is one of the best ways we can learn and build contentment in our lives. It is not an accident that Paul ended this section on contentment and the letter to the Philippians (with the theme of unity) with a focus on generosity. We often learn that Christ is sufficient for our satisfaction as we give away the things we’re tempted to find contentment in. Each act of generosity becomes an opportunity to remind ourselves that Christ supplies for our needs. 

Paul concluded the letter with a reminder of their relationships and the power of God. “Greet every saint in Christ Jesus… all the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. If God can bring people to a place of faith in Jesus from within Caesar’s guards, servants and family, he too can meet your needs. 

At your community group:

Take 15-20 minutes to share about how God has been at work in your life, prayer concerns and pray for one another.

How did God speak to you through the scripture and the sermon this week? 

Discussion Questions:

Read Philippians 4:10-23

How would you define contentment? What are some things you think you need to be content today?

Paul talked about learning the secret to contentment. What circumstances require the need to learn to be continent and what is the “secret?” 

What are some ways the Philippians entered into partnership with Paul? Look at Philippians 4:14-18. 

How does a practice of generosity help us to learn contentment? What ways can you grow in generosity over this next year?