The church in Philippi faced financial struggles themselves, with many of them living in extreme poverty, II Corinthians 8:1-2. They were pleased however to share what they had with Paul. They willingly sacrificed what little they had to ensure Paul’s needs were met. Epaphroditus had come to Paul, bearing gifts from the Philippian church.
This presents a great challenge for many of us today. Though many of us have faced tough economic times past year, when compared to the rest of the world, each of us are rich, but I understand the struggles many have faced. Believe me, I too have faced them, as many of you know. And, it is easy to lose our compassion for others and convince ourselves we just don’t have anything to give. Paul and the Philippian church had learned that contentment was not found in great wealth, but in obedience to Christ.I am aware, that much of what we will discuss here today, will fly in the face of all that Americans hold dear. In fact, the accumulation of wealth and possessions is almost a given in our country – that’s just what we do. That’s what life is all about. We are born, we go to school to learn general knowledge, many go on to college to learn specific knowledge that we can apply in a particular trade, we find a job — optimally in the trade we trained for— and we begin to make and accumulate money, so that we can buy cars, buy houses, buy clothes, buy jewelry, buy cell phones, buy video games, buy all sorts of stuff.
While that may be part of the typical American life, it is far from the expected biblical standard of a follower of Jesus Christ. Let me be clear, Scripture does not suggest that possessions are evil or that having many of them is necessarily evil, but that possessions should always remain possessions and never become possessors. As believers, we control our possessions for the glory of God. The true Christian understands the role of material possessions in this life as we prepare for the next life – our true, abundant, and eternal life.II Corinthians 11:23-29 says, and this is Paul writing: "Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one —I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak?"
Allow me to point out, Paul isn’t some well off, fortunate man who is telling the poor, unfortunate Philippians to be quiet and be happy with what they have. This is a man who knew from his own personal painful reality what it was like to be brought low. He knew first hand what it was to hunger. He knew by personal experience what is was to be humiliated. This isn’t some pie in the sky instruction. This is real talk from a real man who endured real problems.
Now why is it that Paul, who had tremendous apostolic authority in the churches, did not use his influence to put himself in a better financial position? It was not that he thought there was some intrinsic holiness in being poor, but rather the opposite. He knew the deceitfulness of desiring riches. His concentration was on ministry rather than materials because focusing on the material aspects of life would distract him from his calling.
Now let's look at the passage in I Timothy 6 that I mentioned earlier. Verses 6-10 says "But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
I'd like you to carefully pay attention to the how these statements are worded. To think that having money and being rich or wealthy is evil in and of itself is to miss to point. That’s not the point that Paul is making when he says "But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction."
The reason why we need to learn how to be satisfied with little is that it keeps us from coveting for more.
Beloved, we live in a blessed and prosperous nation. There is nothing wrong with wanting to make a good living for ourselves so that we can support God's work and provide for our families. In fact, we will discuss how to live a lot of wealth should God bless us with that in a moment. However, if we have an intense desire for money. If we crave it, if we love it, then our values are skewed and we have made money and material belongings idols.
To avoid this, we must practice being content with what we have. That doesn’t necessarily mean we don’t pursue more than we have. It means that if we don’t get what we’re pursuing, we remain satisfied, content with what God has given us. A content person knows how to have little, should God call him or her to a simple lifestyle. And this will be the majority experience for most of us. For most of us, the main application from this passage will be this: Even though you don’t have all the world offers, be content with what you have.
The Apostle Paul was likely never rich as we would define it. But there were times in his life when he had more than he needed. Not only does he state his ability to be content when facing hunger and need, but also when facing plenty and abundance.
Being content when you are doing without certain things is one thing. However, being content when you have plenty, possibly even everything you’ve ever wanted, is quite another. Here the tendency is not to want more, but to think you need nothing. If you’re not wealthy the struggle for contentment comes in lacking things; if you’re wealthy the struggle comes in misplacing your contentment.
The temptation is to think primarily two things. First, that you acquired your wealth with your own power and expertise. The second, is that because have your wealth you have no need of anything. We could summarize those two statements down to only two words: Pride and Self-sufficiency.
The prophet Jeremiah warned us of these dangers when he wrote in chapter 9:23-24: "Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord."
For the wealthy to boast about being wealthy is to reveal that your source of contentment is clearly misguided, and in the wrong place. And this kind of boasting, if left unchecked, inevitably leads to a denial of needing anything from anyone.
In fact, in Revelation chapter 3, Jesus rebuked the church at Laodicea for this. After rebuking the church for being lukewarm, in verse 17 he says: "Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked."
For those of us without a lot of money, we tend to think life is so much easier for those who have it. And, there is only some truth to that. From a worldly standpoint that is true. Wealthy people don’t have to worry about how they are going to pay their bills, feed their families, or supply their needs. However, there is a spiritual battle that the rich must contend with. Jesus said that only with much difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of God. Why is that? Because monetary and material possessions can easily keep you from seeing your need for forgiveness from our Savior.
We need only to turn to God's Word to understand the truth, Proverbs 22:2 teaches us "The rich and the poor have a common bond, The Lord is the maker of them all."
A content person understands true wealth. Proverbs 11:28 says; "Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf." If you want real wealth, follow after Christ. The treasures of heaven which all of His followers will inherit, far exceed any wealth this fallen world can offer. That’s why the psalmist declared in Psalm 119:14; "In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches."
I Timothy 6:17-19 says "Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed."
Here is something I want you keep with you and never forget: Everything you have, you have because Jesus Christ, a gift that God has given it to you. And everything you have was given to you so that you could use it for His glory. You will have a biblical view of money and possessions when your aim is to use it all for Him, either through primary or secondary means. An example of primary means would be the money and resources you give directly to the church. A use of secondary means would be your house. You don’t give your house away, but you use it as a place of habitation while you go about the business of serving Christ. All of your materials, in one way or another, are a means to an end.
The end is the glory of God.
May it be so...
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen