Philippians: Portrait of a Mature Christian
Part 8
28th June 2014
This is our last look at the example Paul gives us of Christian maturity, as demonstrated in his letter to the church in Philippi. Paul wrote these words:
Philippians 4v10-14
I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been
concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being
content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.
It seems that Paul had had a difficult time in prison. He probably didn't have enough food. He had to wait some time before his friends sent him what he needed, but he didn't get bitter or resentful. He didn't accuse them of neglecting him. He rejoic[ed] greatly in the Lord when they did finally send him something. He didn't complain about how long it took them to help him. Instead, he assured them that he understood that they'd had no opportunity to do so before.
(I wonder if he was right. Was he making a charitable assumption that they would have helped him as soon as they could, giving them "the benefit of the doubt"?)
Paul says that his rejoicing wasn't because his needs were being met, but because his friends were proving true. That was far more important to him. He says "it was good of you to share in my troubles".
Paul says "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances". Oh that you and I could learn to be like that! What a difference would come over the church and its mission if every Christian learned not to complain! Imagine what our meetings and our witness would be like if we were all content in all circumstances!
Perhaps contentment is the ultimate hallmark of Christian maturity.
Paul says he's content, "whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want". Some Christians manifest discontentment if the coffee's a bit cold, or the sermon's a bit long, or they don't like one of the worship songs, or one of the children is making a bit of noise. Paul was content when he was hungry and in a Roman prison.
We need to mature, don't we? We need to grow up.
Paul understood that the most important thing any of us can do is serve God by getting the gospel out to as many people as possible. He knew that that would mean imprisonment, hunger, beatings, tiredness, loneliness, danger and temptation (2 Corinthians 11v23-29). But he was content. He understood that these hardships are part of the Christian life. As he told his friend Timothy:
2 Timothy 3v10-13
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,
persecutions, sufferings � what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the
persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
Paul understood that that's just the way it is, if you'reserious about being a Christian. He was content because he accepted it, and because he knew that the privilege of being a child of God, and a servant of God, is worth any sacrifice.