Pr Joshua Yong

Philippians 4:11 – “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

Singapore is often regarded as a shopper’s paradise. The Great Singapore Sale is a month-long event held every year where shops would offer attractive discounts and bargains. One interesting phenomenon that we can also observe in Singapore is that there will be a sale every month whenever the day of the month corresponds with its respective month (e.g. 1.1, 2.2, 3.3).  

The goal of e-commerce platforms, shops and retailers in offering these sales is really to get shoppers to spend and buy more. Have you heard of the slogan, “the more you spend, the more you save?” This slogan may take different forms, but the basic impression it gives shoppers is that by spending more, you will enjoy greater savings.

While there is nothing wrong when one takes advantage of sales to buy what one really needs on discount, the problem arises when covetousness is stirred up within our hearts and we convince ourselves that our “wants” are our “needs”.

How can we guard ourselves against covetousness? We can by remaining contented in the Lord. In Philippians 4, Apostle Paul expressed his thankfulness for the care which the Philippian Christians showed him. Though the Christians lacked the opportunity to express greater care, Paul was still thankful. Paul clarified that his expression of thankfulness was not because he had any particular need but that he has learned to be contented in whatever state he was in.

1.   The Nature of Contentment

The word ‘content’ literally means “self-sufficient”. This does not mean that we are sufficient in ourselves. It means that as Christians we do not look to material or external things for our sufficiency. Contentment is to be in a state of restfulness and of sufficiency because we find our sufficiency in Christ.

The world may have its own definitions of contentment. But these are not the contentment of the Bible. Some may think that a minimalist lifestyle equals contentment. A minimalist lifestyle is a concept where the focus is on living with as little possessions as possible, on cutting back on spending and on removing clutter from one’s life. But a minimalistic lifestyle is not contentment. Just because a person does not possess many things and cuts down on spending does not mean that he is contented. His heart can be filled with envy, greed and dissatisfaction.

True Christian contentment is a state of the heart. It is the quiet frame of rest where a Christian delights in the Lord; he is fully satisfied in the presence of God; he rests in the knowledge that God is his Shepherd and that in the Lord, he has no want or lack.

2.   The Time of Contentment

Paul wrote that he learned to be content “in whatsoever state I am”. When our contentment and sufficiency is in the Lord, then the circumstances around us cannot affect us. No matter what the condition may be, whether it in time of loss, or of prosperity, we can remain content in the Lord.

Paul further explains this in verse 12 – “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” This means that in times of want, or abundance, he remains contented in the Lord. Whether he is full or hungry, he is content. The circumstances may change, but his sufficiency in Christ does not.

When his contentment is in the Lord, then external circumstances cannot rob him of his rest. Everything around him can be taken from him – whether it is his health, job, relationships, or possessions, no one can take Christ away from him. Therefore, if his sufficiency is in Christ, he rests content in whatsoever state he is in.

3.   The Cultivating of Contentment

Paul described contentment as something that must be learned. The word “learned” here describes not only the acquiring of knowledge through instruction, it also includes the cultivating of the character through experience and practice. Contentment is not something that comes automatically. It is something that has to be cultivated.

The world will neither teach us contentment nor help us to be contented. Our schools and our workplaces will not teach us contentment. We are living in a very materialistic world. The people of this world are constantly pursuing after the possession of more and more things. As Christians living in a non-Christian world, we are confronted with this kind of materialism. This is why we must consciously guard ourselves against greed and coveteousness; we must be deliberate in learning contentment.

We do not learn contentment by comparing with those who may be in a poorer state than us. Sometimes we hear people expressing how they ought to be contented because there are others who are in a worse state than they are. This is a wrong understanding of contentment – the implication is that contentment is measured in terms of less or more material things. Comparing ourselves with others is never the basis of contentment. 

How can we learn contentment? It is by knowing that our God is our sustainer and provider. When we think of God as our sufficiency it also means we acknowledge that God is the one who strengthens, sustains and keeps us. Paul said in Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Have you learned to trust in your God as your sustainer and provider? When you find your sufficiency in Christ, and when you submit yourself to Christ who keeps and sustains you, then you will experience contentment.