Joy in Contentment
Study Passage: Philippians 4:10-13
Being content. It means being satisfied and believing we have enough. Not comparing our lives with others. Not wishing life could be different. Can you say you live a life of contentment? For most of us, I’m imagining the answer is flat out NO! But to find JOY in contentment, that’s upping the game even more! Today we’re going to study the words of the Apostle Paul, as he shows us by example what living a life of contentment can look like, while being JOYFUL and THANKFUL in the process.
DAY 1
Of anyone in history who had the right to be discontent with his life’s circumstances, it was the Apostle Paul. Imprisoned multiple times in his life. Shipwrecked on an island. Beaten. Mocked. Tormented. Yet, we read in today’s passage that he REJOICED. He was content in ALL circumstances. Joyful? Content in all circumstances? Not many people can say that. So before we begin today’s study, let’s understand Paul’s life and background. Shifting a little bit earlier in the book, let’s read Philippians 1:12-14. Where is Paul as he’s writing this letter?
DIGGING DEEPER (OPTIONAL): If you want to get really deep in knowing Paul, read Acts 22:1-23 and Acts 16:22-25 for a view into the life that Paul lead after he chose to follow Jesus. What reasons did Paul have to be discontent?
From riches to rags, at face value Paul’s life may seem backwards. He started his life under a well known Rabbi, learned the Jewish law and was well-educated. He climbed the “corporate ladder” of religious success becoming a Pharisee, which was one of the prestigious religious positions that carried out Jewish law. He was SO holy, that he persecuted early Christ-followers, even to the point of death because they were teaching something different from the law! Yet, when Paul met Christ on the road to Damascus, his life changed. While inwardly he was renewed in his identity through Christ and lived a life of freedom, joy and hope–outwardly he lived a life of hardship as he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ and was persecuted every step of the way. To most looking at Paul’s life, they would say it was difficult. Yet Paul, doesn’t focus on that in his letters. He found joy. Read the verses right above today’s passage, in Philippians 4:4-7. What do we learn about Paul and his ability to encourage and find joy in all circumstances?
DAY 2
Even in hardship, we are called to be thankful. Did you catch that in verse 6? Paul was sitting in jail! He’s not only encouraging other believers to by joyful, but to THANK God in their circumstances.
Quick history lesson: in the 50’s A.D., when Paul was writing this letter, it was common for people in jail to get their food and supplies from friends and family. If nothing was sent to them, it’s likely they would starve.
The church of Philippi was part of Paul’s support while in jail. Read Philippians 4:15-18. Knowing the historical context, and Paul’s circumstances, how do these verses provide deeper insight into the role the church of Philippi played in Paul’s life?
As much as we would love to say that being provided food was the reason for Paul’s joy (it would have been for many of us!) – it wasn’t. His basic needs were met by the church of Philippi, but that wouldn’t have brought him lasting, life-altering joy. Joy that would help him be content in all things. So what was it that gave him joy no matter his circumstances? Read 1 Timothy 6:6-12, which is a letter Paul wrote to his friend Timothy. What do we learn from Paul about contentment?
DIGGING DEEPER (OPTIONAL): If you want to dig deeper into contentment, let’s look at what Paul would have learned from the teachings of Jesus. Reading Luke 12:22-31, what did Jesus teach about being content?
DAY 3
Philippians 4:13 (NIV) says, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” When reading this verse alone, it seems as though it’s saying that God will bless anything we set out to do. The reality is when you read it in context with the verses around it, we see that God is the source of our joy, which is what gives us strength in all circumstances. Read Galatians 2:19-21 and Romans 15:13, two other letters from Paul. What do these verses tell us about God being the source of our joy, that helps cement the message Paul is telling us in Philippians?
In a world that is constantly bombarding us with images of other people’s lives that seem better, richer, smarter and more perfect, we can’t help but be drawn toward a life of discontentment. We build a fabricated idea that we need to do more, be more and it can leave us tired, hopeless and lacking joy. But what if we could find our identity in Christ instead. What if we didn’t care what other people thought, but instead only cared of one opinion. The only One’s opinion we should care about. How would that change the way we live? How could we apply what we’ve learned today? Reading Paul’s letter in Romans 12:2, what is Paul’s encouragement to us?
May you be encouraged today, friend. It’s possible to live a life of contentment. A life not worrying, comparing or having anxiety about the things surrounding us. Instead there is contentment and JOY found in Christ. Joy that is so overwhelmingly powerful that we won’t care what the world and others around us think. We won’t worry day to day. We will only care about our audience of One. The One who is worthy of it all and gives us a hope to cling to.
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit,”
Written by: Heather Erickson
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