The Serenity Prayer and Contentment
(Philippians 4:10-13)
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference (cont.).
1) Contentment is a matter of trust.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV), "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."
a) If we really trust God – if we really believe He loves us and has our best interests in mind – when things fall apart around us, things don't have to fall apart inside us.
b) Contentment is trusting God even when things seem out of control.
2) Discontentment erodes relationships.
a) Discontentment usually translates into a burning desire to change the people around us.
i) The only person you are responsible for changing is yourself.
Galatians 5:15 (NKJV), "But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
3) (Philippians 4:10-13) Paul's perspective on the process of contentment.
[10-13] But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
4) I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: The word "learned" implies a process. Paul grew in his spiritual life.
a) I have learned: Paul had to learn contentment; it isn't natural to mankind.
b) First, real contentment hinges on what's happening inside us, not around us.
i) We are all tempted to believe the lie that our contentment – or our happiness for that matter – hinges on our ability to control what is going on around us.
ii) The first two things we lose are our peace and joy. But peace and joy are to components of the Fruit of the Spirit.
iii) If we lose our peace and joy in bad circumstances then we are literally practicing the fruit of circumstances and not of the Spirit.
iv) We must acknowledge that we are looking to what we cannot control to provide us with contentment.
c) Second, contentment is need, not want, oriented. God will provide all our needs and He is going to take very good care of us. God is a perfect heavenly Father:
(1) God knows what you need.
(2) God knows what you don't need.
(3) God knows what you want.
(4) God knows what you can handle.
(5) But, He is committed to doing what's best for you.
d) Discontentment, on the other hand, is really a lack of faith in God's love and concern for us. To express discontent is to suggest that God has lost control, or that He doesn't care.
5) Overcoming discontentment requires mental discipline. The following five suggestions will help:
a) Memorize and meditate on Philippians 4:10-13.
b) When feelings discontentment creep in, refuse to blame your circumstances; take responsibility for your feelings.
c) Admit to the Lord that you have allowed your contentment to become too attached to your circumstances.
d) Distinguish between what you need and what you want.
e) Thank Him for meeting your needs.
6) Discontentment always causes three things to happen.
a) First, discontentment erodes relationships.
i) We have a desire to change the people around us.
ii) We try to change people to act the way we think they should act…and then we'll be fine. Right?
iii) Instead of loving them, we manipulate them to do what we want and the relationship get damaged.
iv) The only one you can change is yourself.
b) Second, discontentment clouds the decision-making process.
i) Discontented people want change-and they want it now!
ii) Marketers rely on this. They want you discontented with your current product.
iii) If you are discontent with your job or marriage or where you live, then you just make a quick and foolish decision.
c) Third, discontentment distorts our view of God.
i) Discontented people attempt to control God.
ii) Worship, prayer, Bible study, and church attendance become a means to get God to change whatever we think needs changing.
7) Contentment is a daily struggle. It is something that we learn as we adhere to the "non-negotiables:"
(1) Daily Bible Reading
(2) Daily Prayer
(3) Daily Service to others
(4) Daily fellowship
8) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me: This refers to Paul's ability to be content in all things. To achieve this contentment, he needed the strength of Jesus Christ.
a) To paraphrase, "I can endure any circumstance without losing my peace and my joy because of the strength I gain through my relationship with Jesus."
i) Unfortunately, many people take this verse out of context and use it to reinforce a "triumphalist" or "super-Christian" mentality, instead of seeing that the strength of Jesus in Paul's life was evident in his ability to be content when he did suffer need.
John 15:5 (NKJV), "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."
9) We can "do nothing" of real eternal value without Jesus.
a) As the sap is flowing in the vine, so too the Spirit is flowing in the Christian and that is what enables the fruit to grow.
b) If Christ followers can do nothing without Him, then so too can Christ haters do nothing against Christ.
