GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT
"Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." Philippians 4:11.
Content is easily said when we lack nothing. The Western world is abundantly blessed by God. We have everything we need to live comfortably. We should be content.
Even if we must live from paycheck to paycheck, at least we have a job! Many in our world do not have the luxury of an income. But beyond even that, our poorest surroundings far exceed in wealth that of our brothers and sisters in third world countries. When quoting Philippians 4:11, it should be easy for us to mean it. We should be VERY content!
However, we're surrounded by stuff---gadgets, new inventions, gimmicks and advertising that tell us all that stuff is supposed to make life even easier or more glamorous than what it already is...we want them, we are intrigued by them, we buy them and end up being possessed by them. That preoccupation with something more only breeds more discontentment and desire to have more or something better or different.
When Paul wrote the letter of Philippians from a prison cell to his constituency in Asia Minor, he penned the Greek word autarkes, that is translated content as found in Philippians 4:11. It means:
--a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed
--sufficiency of the necessities of life
--a mind contented with its lot, contentment
The meaning of the word autarkes is distinctive. The Holy Spirit through Paul chose that word purposefully. It speaks a message that we must hear and strive to attain, for it is the essence of living in and for Jesus.
According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance quoted by BlueLetterBible.com, autarkes means:
--sufficient for one's self, strong enough or possessing enough to need no aid or support
--independent of external circumstances
--contented with one's lot, with one's means, though the slenderest
You see, the meaning of the Greek word, autarkes, is contentment without support or aid. Our dependence at all times is to be on God alone for His grace and strength in all circumstances. We carry our hurts and griefs quietly and pour out our hearts to Jesus alone. We find His grace is our sufficiency. That is the road to becoming and being godly. That is what godliness looks like. That is contentment.
So then, let's look at another passage written by Paul to his protege, Timothy:
"But godliness actually is a means of great gain when acompanied by contentment." I Timothy 6:6.
Paul used the same Greek word autarkes for contentment and paired it with godliness. Another check of Strong's indicates that godliness is the Greek word eusebeia, which means:
--reverence, respect
--piety towards God, godliness
So, let's delve farther into the meaning of godliness as Paul addressed Timothy. What does it truly mean to be godly? What is hidden in that word? Why did he pair it with autarkes?
God is the first smaller word within the larger 'godliness.' God is All in All. He is the Creator, Provider, Sustainer and so much more without end. It is He who not only created us for His pleasure, but then went to the depths of suffering so that sinners may be changed to His likeness. God's ultimate desire is that we be with Him forever. He is to be our All in All for every provision of life now and forever.
"-li" is the next, two-letter contraction of the word "like." The word "Godliness" should read "Godlikeness" So then, how do we become like God? Our example is Jesus Himself.
He said that we must die to ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. In Roman days, a cross meant sure death for the victim. Hanging on a cross was a thorough and complete death. Jesus meant that when we take up our cross, we take it to the Mount of Crucifixion, let God drive the nails through our hands and feet and die to our own desires and will-fulness. We surrender who we are to God and to His purpose. We give up control and let Him rule, a death more and more completed the rest of our lives.
So, Paul said godliness is great gain. It is why Jesus died--so He could restore us to fellowship with the Trinity like Adam and Eve had before they sinned. For that to happen in us demands willingness and determination on our part. Paul gave commands, such as Let the peace of God rule your hearts," "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no allowance for the flesh," "Put on the whole armor of God..." These are actions we must submit to God to do in us daily as we closely follow Jesus.
However, Paul also attached a condition to his statement. Godliness is great gain WHEN we are always contented in our situation. Think of the accounting Paul gave of his personal situations:
"Are they servants of Christ?---I speak as if insane---I more so, in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers in the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches."
That incredible list of unthinkable burdens was an essential part of Paul's servanthood to Jesus Christ. Yet, he was content. He didn't run to the counsel at Jerusalem to complain about the hardships of mission work. He didn't call a trip short and go home because the Jews beat and left him for dead. He didn't weep and cry before the church at Antioch until they took up a huge offering to underwrite time off so Paul could recuperte somewhere. He was content with his station in life and what came his way in the process. Undoubtedly, Paul felt to his core that what he suffered could not be compared with what Jesus had suffered to redeem him!
That brings us to where we are: TODAY. Have we given any thought to our stand for Jesus if and when we're faced with persecution in the future? Do we presently wilt when someone scoffs at us for being a believer? Do we hesitate to speak up for Jesus so we don't offend them? Or, try this one on for size: Do we ever go the second mile or deny ourself so that someone can hear the Gospel of salvation from sin?
Modern psychology says we all need at least one close friend in whom we can confide. To not have such a friend is considered abnormal. Yet, Paul needed no other person or support to be content with his state in life at any given moment. He did not need someone he could call on his smart phone or log onto in Facebook or X. Without putting it into words, he needed only Jesus in whom he could confide. Jesus was enough. While friendship is wonderful and having a close human friend or two is a rich reward for being with people, it is not God's prescription for developing godliness. As we rely more and more on seeking God's face and His fellowship, places and things that once captivated our attention will lose their magnetism, while being with Him will become our ultimate goal and satisfaction.
To sum the argument, contentment means we are willing to let God be God. Oh, and not just willing, but pleased to have God be God in our lives completely. So often, we want God to act in a certain way. We pray and tell Him what to do, and how, when and where to do it. Then, when our request isn't answered the way we expected, we're disappointed and say that God didn't answer our prayer! We don't like to own the fact that we must have asked amiss rather than praying according to His will.
At other times we get in a hurry to see something happen and tell God to hurry! "By tomorrow" or "next week." Worse yet, if we don't get that job promotion or someone outbids us on a house, we consider God our adversary because we didn't get what we wanted or don't live where we opted to have our home. When the doors close in our face, we blame God! That does not reflect crucifixion of self. That is not contentment.
No, true godliness, godlikeness, says just as Jesus did, "Not My will, but Yours be done." A.W.Tozer put it this way: "Much of our difficulty as seeking Christians stems from our unwillingness to take God as He is and adjust our lives accordingly." (The Pursuit of God, chapter seven.)
Paul ended up in a prision cell, but rejoiced in it! He found God to be more precious than any circumstance. The only reason he even wrote about the sufferings he endured was to set the record straight about criticisms leveled at him.
Godliness with contentment is great gain. When we come to the place in our walk with Jesus that we ask the Holy Spirit to clothe us with Jesus, meaning we die to ourselves, we have begun the journey into godliness.
It is not a quick trip. It is the pilgrimage of a lifetime. We never arrive completely, but we can strive moment by moment to exalt Jesus by our lives, just as John the Baptist said it: "He must increase, but I must decrease." Amen!