The Secret of Contentment

Scripture: Philippians 4:10-13 

I recently celebrated another birthday. The older I get, the more I realize that birthdays are gifts in themselves. They are also a time for remembrance, reflection, and assessment. It’s good to remember the past and the occasions that have brought special joy to life. It’s also good to reflect on life’s accomplish-ments.  And in reviewing our past and reflecting on what we have accomplished, we are reminded not only of our blessings, but also the challenges of present reality. I think that’s what motivated the Apostle Paul to write to the Christians at Philippi. He wanted to share his story, his experiences, his faith journey, his life challenges, and what leads to contentment. So he reviewed his past, and his accomplishments for the Lord, and shared a valuable lesson that we all need to learn as we age: the secret of contentment.  No matter where we are in life’s journey, or our age in years, or what we may be facing, until we discover the secret to contentment, fulfillment in life will escape us. Perhaps that’s what the season of Lent is about. For it, too, is a time for remembrance, reflection, and assessment. To do so is to grow to a deeper level of faith.

In his letter to the Christians in Philippi written from his prison cell, Paul shared “the secret to contentment.”  He had learned an important lesson that many miss in life. This is how he expressed it: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” What a bold claim, especially given his circumstances at the time he wrote it. After only a few years of ministry and service for Christ, he was falsely arrested and sent to a Roman prison. Though confined to a cell, he was concerned about the churches he started and aware that they needed his immediate attention and leadership. After all, they were new Christians, babes in the faith, in need of guidance from one who was more mature in the newly formed Christian faith. And so Paul took control of his circumstances and wrote words of encouragement and instructions from his prison cell to several of the churches he had started. These writings are known as the “Prison Epistles” and include Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon.

Notice these words Paul wrote: “I have learned the secret.” The word learned implies a process.  As Paul grew older in his spiritual life, he discovered the truth about content-ment. He referred to it as a “secret” because the truth he discovered is a truth that eludes so many believers. It is a truth we long for and yet often miss. Who among us doesn’t desire contentment in life, especially in our later years?

Paul went on to write that he had learned the secret of being content not just in past accomplishments. He didn’t boast of his accomplishments, or his work as an apostle to the Gentiles. Nor did he brag about the sermons he preached, the diversity of the lives of the people he touched with Christ’s message, or the churches he had started even though he was the greatest missionary for Christ of all time. Rather he had become content with his present situation: a humble servant of Christ imprisoned for sharing the gospel.

So what lessons does Paul offer us for gaining contentment in our lives? Let me share several insights that may help us in our Lenten journey.

Paul reminded us that to experience contentment, we must first begin by refusing to blame our circumstances, or the people who impact our lives for our lack of contentment.  We live in a time when it seems to be popular to cast blame when things are not going well. We often criticize others without taking responsibility. As long as we blame others for what’s going on around us, we will never understand what is happening within us. When circumstances rob us of our inner peace and joy, we must take responsibility to overcome what pulls us down and not let those circumstances prevent us from seeking contentment. It’s only when we begin to look for contentment though faith, that we find what we need to deal with adversity. For Paul, contentment wasn’t about getting God to change his circumstances, but finding strength and endurance though faith to face whatever life’s circumstances brought his way.

   

Paul suggested that real contentment involves what’s happening inside us, not around us.  We are tempted to believe that our contentment (or happiness) depends on our ability to control what is going on around us. So we spend a great deal of time and energy trying to control our environment and the people in it. We can’t always control things that happen, but we can control our response to what happens. For Paul, what was happening to him didn’t overwhelm what was happening in him. He was able to control his response and in so doing, he became content. His contentment was internal – faith-formed -- and he never lost the joy that comes from living for the Lord. In that relationship he found strength to deal with all circumstances and in so doing, found contentment.

Paul suggested that contentment comes from knowing that God knows what we need based on what is best for us. God is not committed to providing us with our every wish and heart’s desire for what we think will bring happiness, but rather to providing what we need to bring true happiness and contentment n life. The secret of contentment, then, includes distinguishing between what we need and what we want. It means rejoicing over God’s promise to meet our needs.

Paul’s secret of contentment is based on obedience to God’s desires and trusting God with all things. If we really trust God – if we really believe God loves us and has our best interests in mind – when things fall apart around us, they don’t have to fall apart inside of us. Contentment is trusting God even when things seem out of control. Paul trusted God completely. When things fell apart around him, he kept trusting in God. That’s what led him to affirm: “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.” To paraphrase, “I can endure any circumstance without losing my peace and joy because of the strength I gain through my relationship with Jesus.”  As the hymn suggests, trusting and obeying God are acts of faith that result in a deeper relationship with God through Jesus Christ and therefore bring contentment.

A little more than a decade ago, I was in my fourth year as the Richmond District Superintendent, and not far from the anticipated age of retirement. I was in my final appointment as a clergy member of the Virginia Conference.  In December 2000, a month prior to my 62^nd birthday, I was visiting with one of the district pastors who asked me a profound question. “What more do you want to accomplish before you retire?” That question became an assessment impetus which led to a soul-searching experience and that of seeking God’s new direction for my life. I consequently made the decision to retire from the appointment process and begin a new chapter of ministry. I was led to venture in faith and trust God with my future. Once I announced my plans to retire and requested the retired status, God’s plan for me became clear. I experienced contentment not only with my decision, but for whatever the future would hold, even amid the uncertainties. I was led to form a new ministry of equipping leadership for more effective ministry through coaching and workshops. The lesson I learned even after almost 40 years of ministry was this: Contentment comes from trusting God not only with our present, but with our future, and when we do, God will provide what is needed, no matter the circumstances

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I am enjoying reading a book that stimulates my thinking and feeds my soul and I recommend it to you. The book is titled “Pilgrimage into the Last Third of Life,” co-authored by Jane Thibault and Richard Morgan. The writers are at two different places on the spectrum of aging: one in her 60’s, the other in his 80’s.  Their writings about their life experiences offer insights about attaining contentment. One of the many important thoughts shared in their book that I found helpful was this: As we age and mature in the faith, we discover that we become a “Christ-gift” for others. What that means, they suggest is “that in all circumstances our lives will remain meaningful to us and be of use to others.” (p.82)  They suggest that even though increased in years when we are no longer defined by our employment, profession, or status in society, and little may be expected from us, “we might consider the act of being a ‘Christ-gift’ to the world as our work, our calling, our vocation for this time of life in whatever condition we find ourselves.” We never become too old to allow Christ to be revealed through our lives.

Indeed, contentment comes from cultivating our relationship with God, trusting God, obedience, and faithfulness.  Contentment comes from doing the things that reflect God’s will and purposes for our lives. We can be content knowing that God enables us to deal with all the challenges life brings, and provides us with strength to be faithful. 

Such are the marks of discipleship lived by Christ. When our lives reflect Christ at work in us, we will discover the secret to contentment. And, we, too, will be able to affirm with the Apostle Paul: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” May that be your experience as we journey through Lent and beyond.  

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This sermon was preached for the worship service at the Cedarfield United Methodist Retirement Home in Richmond on February 24, 2013.