Christian Contentment, not for this world [12 September 2015]

Dear Brethren,

In the past week of election fever, we heard many complaints both by the politicians as well as men and women on the street. This is past now and the verdict is out but what about yourself on another plane? Are you disgruntled about your present calling and station in life? Are you complaining because you are single? Are you complaining because you are not able to find a job that you want? Are you complaining because you are suffering from an illness? Are you murmuring because when compared with your peers you fare worse in the temporal things of this life. Are you discouraged and murmuring because of the trials that come your way when you seek to bring the gospel to those around you and seek to live a godly life?

Christian Contentment

The Scriptures are certainly not silent about the subject of contentment. Perhaps the words of our Saviour, as spoken in the Sermon on the Mount would have immediately reverberated in your mind of neither seeking earthly riches (Matt 6:19) nor being anxious about life (Matt 6:25) but rather “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” and all the necessary things for this life shall be provided for you. In the life of the Apostle Paul we see such a life coming to the fore. This is found in the classical passage about Christian contentment as expressed by the Apostle Paul in Phil 4:10-13. In this passage, the Apostle Paul first declared that his rejoicing did not arise, from the meeting of his physical needs during his imprisonment in Rome, through the gifts that were brought to him by Epaphroditus (Phil 4:18). Rather he was contented irrespective of his situation in life (Phil 4:12). In fact, he said that he had learned “the secret” of contentment (Phil 4:13) as translated in other versions. The reader then would have not missed the meaning of contentment as he used the very word “self-sufficiency” [Gk: autarkeia], which is translated “content” in Phil 4:11; it is the same word that describes the virtue that underpins Stoicism. Stoicism, a school of Greek Philosophy founded in BC 300, held that “the wiseman should be free from passion unmoved by joy or grief” [Merriam-Webster Dictionary]. In other words the ideal Stoic is one who is a “self-contained superman, one who could rise above the challenges arising from all circumstances in independent -sufficiency and serenity”. Obviously, the Apostle Paul redefined the meaning of attaining “self-sufficiency” from one that is dependent on no one to one that is totally dependent on Christ as we see this expressed in the famous words found in verse 13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”. Furthermore, he emphasized that he had learned the “secret” of contentment, which underscored that the truth and experience of contentment, whether in riches or poverty, can only be had in Christ (Phil 4:12) in the way of sanctification.

Elements of Christian Contentment

From the above passages, we first note that contentment is to be learned through experiential acquaintance with Christ and, secondly, this is possible for all of us because we are in Christ. We can also learn more of what it means to be contented in 1 Tim 6:6, 8; 2 Cor 9:8 and Heb. 13:5, where thirdly, contentment and godliness come together in 1 Tim 6:6 which underscores the truth that the “self-sufficiency” here is not that of Stoicism but one that is found in Christ and manifested in a life of Godliness. Fourthly, the same verses also speak of not being anxious about the needs of this life as well as eschewing the seeking of riches or being covetous. Whereas 2 Cor 9:8 speaks of the provision that God would abundantly provide for us so that we are sufficient if we are a cheerful giver. Fifthly, this means that in the words of Kent Hughes, the “equation of generosity and salvation” should be manifested in our life as it is in the life of the Macedonian Christians, of which the Philippian Church is chief. This is found in 2 Cor 8:1-5 where the Apostle Paul exhorted the Corinthians to follow suit in Grace Giving (2 Cor 8:7) as with the Macedonians Christians who gave more then what they could afford for the cause of the Gospel. Lastly, we can learn that to be content, one needs to be confident in God in providing for us in all situations of our life as we see this dotted in the book of Philippians, culminating in the famous verse of Phil 4:19: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” In fact, contentment is posited on this confidence. When we are able to demonstrate it in our life, God is most glorified.

Not for this world

Finally, what is all this for, if it has not dawned on you yet? To be confident in God providing all things for us for what end? To be contented for what? Is it to live a good life with the riches that Singapore being the eighth richest country in the world could afford you? To live like the non-Christian live but with a dash of spirituality on Sunday? To spend like the non-Christian spends? No, no, no! It to allow us to be like the Apostle Paul, to spend and be spent for God in the context of our calling and station in life. It is to enable us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness through the propagation of the Gospel. It is to call us to live a life of abandonment for the gospel of Christ as set forth in the words of our Saviour: “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matt 16:4). Only the way of the cross leads home and there is no other way. Are you walking in this way? Let us examine our life this Lord's Day if we are moving forward in this manner or not. Amen.

First published in FERC Church Bulletin.