In Thanksgiving, We Find Contentment
Last week, we began the transition from Numbers to the topic of Thanksgiving by way of Numbers 11 in which the Lord tells Moses to select 70 elders to help administrate the Israelites. This week, we are continuing our look at the Thanksgiving season by focusing on Philippians chapter 4. By way of review from last week, I want to point out the chapter begins with Paul telling the Philippians to help two women who have labored side by side with Paul and his fellow workers to get along and agree. One way to be thankful, and demonstrate that thanks, is by getting along—figuring out our disagreements and making the relationship work.
But, this can be a tall ask for some people. Now, we could blame this tall order on pride, sin, or some intellectual failure, but it also may be a simple matter of discontentment. Things are not as we would like them to be. For the vast majority of human history, people understood life was not fair, and the only people who always had things like they want them were kings and queens. In our modern age, however, we find ourselves with a level of wealth and comfort that has brought us to a bizarre state in which we believe life should not be difficult ever. If something is difficult or uncomfortable, then it must be wrong.
Not only is this attitude counter to the Bible, it is counter to God’s design in nature and everyday life. We grow more during the times of struggle than we ever do during easy times. People, animals, and plants all have one thing in common—in struggle, they find strength. Psychologists have actually coined the phrase “comfort curse” to describe the stagnation and decline that occurs from living too comfortable a life.
Of course, if we live each day as miserable as the next, that isn’t healthy either. So, how can we live in such a way that embraces struggle as it comes, but also enjoy the life God has given us? The secret is contentment and peace which begins with Thanksgiving.
A thankful heart brings contentment and peace.
The Path to Contentment requires Thanksgiving | Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice always! That fancy Greek word is pantote, and it means "always", "all times”. Rejoice all the time. Paul says it twice in case you missed it. He is saying, "Yes, I do mean always." We can rejoice in good times and bad, because we know Christ is on the throne, and He is working out His plan in our lives.
Verse 5 tells us to let our ‘reasonableness,’ or some translations will have 'gentleness', be known to everyone. That particular word is a catch-all term that includes gentleness, patience, fairness, and mildness. It is a patient response to a trying situation. How can we have this attitude? Because “the Lord is at hand.” We do not have to be anxious about anything, because the Lord is at hand. The proper response to trying times, and in easier times, is patient endurance and contentment in the Lord's work. What should we do? "In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
We rejoice in the Lord by living in a constant state of prayer and thanksgiving.
Sometimes when Christians are taught to pray, they are taught to offer thanks and then offer requests. This is fine, however, I should note that Paul is not separating the two here. The supplication, our petitions and requests, are coupled with the thanksgiving. We thank God for what has been provided and for what will be provided. We expect God to provide for our requests, because Jesus said that whatever we pray for will be provided. We make these requests with thanksgiving, because it is in the attitude of thanks that we realize how much God has already provided.
And in these times of prayer saturated with thanksgiving, we will find peace. “And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” If you want peace in your life, give thanks to God.
If we want peace in our church, peace in our hearts, peace in our country, we have to give thanks to God. It is not by coincidence that the rise of commercialism, and the entitlement attitudes of today, have also included an increase in societal disruptions and wars. Selfish ambition leads to conflict and sin.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
James 3:16
Peace follows thankfulness; ingratitude will breed discontent.
A Thankful Heart requires a Thankful Brain | Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8-9
Philippians 4:8 is a beautiful reminder of how to focus your mind. Notice Paul does not give a definitive list, but it encompasses that wonderful word ‘whatever’. What should we think about? What should we focus our attention on? The ESV uses ‘think’. This same Greek word is translated ‘count’, ‘to number’, or ‘regard’. It is a fixation of the mind.
We are to fixate our minds on the goodness of God and His handiwork.
Part of rejoicing in the Lord, and part of the thanksgiving attitude, is to focus our minds on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable. “Count your blessings; Name them one by one” is not just a great hymn. It is exactly what Paul means.
We don’t have to go far to realize the consequences of the opposite. Our minds are constantly bombarded by the false, the dishonorable, the unjust, the impure, and the like. And what has this constant attention to the horrible things in life gotten us? Depression and anxiety is at an all time high. Loneliness and distrust permeates our culture. For a country that is blessed beyond historical measure, we sure seem to have trouble finding peace.
The problem is not a lack of blessing. The problem is, as a culture, we have traded meaning and purpose for a dopamine fix. Ecclesiastes is a neglected book of the Bible, and that is to our detriment. The wisdom of Ecclesiastes reminds us the pursuit of things apart from God, even ‘good’ things, will always be a fool’s errand.
A Thankful Heart comes from Christ | Philippians 4:10-13
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for 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.
Philippians 4:10-13
Paul is thankful the Philippians’ concern over his state. You may recall Paul is writing to the church from his jail cell in Rome. They are worried about his state and what will become of him. Paul told them in chapter 1 that his imprisonment has worked out well for the Gospel. No need to worry about Paul. He is excited to be able to share the love of Christ and salvation through faith to his incarcerators and fellow prisoners!
But important for today’s message is Paul has found how to be content in whatever situation he faces. He is at peace whether he is brought low or in abundance.
Peace is not found in circumstances. Peace is found in Christ.
Verse 13 is widely used to encourage people to attempt great things, start a business, or get more touchdowns. That is all well and good, but these miss Paul’s point. The secret to enduring abundance or hunger is Christ. Christ is sufficient. And once more, He is faithful to care for His people.
Two Truths to Hold in Balance
Before we close, I want to address an elephant in the modern church. For many Christians today, we talk an awful lot of peace and following Jesus, and yet we still seem to struggle quite a bit with actually being peaceful. I believe our hearts are infected with the same discontentment as our culture around us, simply because we fail to keep two doctrines in balance.
Truth #1 : God wants to bless you.
There is a prevailing teaching in America that focuses on the fact that God wants to bless you. Before we dismiss all white-toothed, slick-haired preachers as charlatans, we should remember that God does in fact bless His people. Salvation is an act of blessing, so it is not that far-fetched to say God wants to bless His people. Later in Philippians, Paul writes,
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
The Old and New Testament is filled with verses that promise God’s blessings for His people, if they will only follow the direction He gives them. It is not wrong to ask for blessings. It is wrong to treat God like a cosmic vending machine that just requires us punching the right buttons to get what we want.
Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Psalm 34:10b
The Lord does not save you and ensure your eternity, only to abandon you on earth. He is a good, good Father. Never doubt His willingness to bless His children. But we must also not forget the second truth.
Truth #2 : Abundance can be a dangerous thing.
The second doctrine is just as important. Many are willing to accept God is ready to bless them, but few are willing to acknowledge the danger of abundance. Paul tells Timothy,
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
1 Timothy 6:6-10
In the pursuit of material blessing, it can be easy to fall into the trap of selfishness and greed. Be sure to hear that correctly. It is not the riches that are the problem. Shiny things and pieces of paper are simply objects. There is no good or evil in them. They are just there. But, when our hearts turn toward the pursuit of shiny things, and not the pursuit of the Kingdom of God, then the shiny things become idols.
To counter this trap of abundance, we can keep Jesus’ words in the forefront of our minds:
It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Acts 20:35
Stewarding our blessings and material wealth well includes giving well. This week, as you consider contentment, you may also consider the Parable of the Talents. Jesus gives this parable in the context of teaching about the end of all things. It is certainly not about how to invest your money. It is about investing your life, and I’ll give you the teaching now: Use the talents and blessings God has given you now while you have them for the Kingdom of God. Keeping them for yourself will only bring judgement.
As we close, I want to leave you with a wise prayer.
Proverbs 30:7-9 is a prayer that I believe we should all pray more often:
Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
Proverbs 30:7-9
If you are unable to pray this with sincerity, then look to Jesus. Turn away from the pursuit of things and abundance. This pursuit has only brought you problems. Turn to Jesus who provides perfect peace and contentment.