Happiness In Lack or Abundance
Holy Happiness is a deep-down presence within; one of joy, peace and contentment. It is living with a true sense of blessedness. In this series I have written on the source of Holy Happiness, how to experience it, and looked at examples of some in the Bible who did.
In this session I want to look at circumstances which are polar opposites. And though both can impact our experience of Holy Happiness, neither should! They are: lack or abundance.
The Apostle Paul knew times of feast and times of famine. He knew what it was like to have plenty, or to be in desperate need. He experienced both…up and down…many times. In the area of lack or abundance, his life was like a yo-yo. Not a fun way to live. But he learned something, and he put this knowledge in a letter to the Christians at Philippi so they could learn from his experiences. And today, we can learn from it as well.
"I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last you have renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me, but lacked the opportunity [to show it]. I don't say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret [of being content] - whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me. Still, you did well by sharing with me in my hardship.
"And you, Philippians, know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. For even in Thessalonica you sent [gifts] for my need several times. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that is increasing to your account. But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided - a fragrant offering, a welcome sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Philippians 4:10-20)
The Christians in Philippi had shared with Paul in the past: “in the early days of the gospel” (vs. 15). They had shared with him “several times” (vs. 16). But apparently, they had gone through a time when they were unable to share or provide for his support and needs:
“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last you have renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me, but lacked the opportunity [to show it].” (vs. 10; emphasis added)
Now that they had renewed their support of Paul, this latest gift must have been a large one:
“But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided – a fragrant offering, a welcome sacrifice, pleasing to God.” (vs. 18)
We could spend time studying what this passage says about the Philippians and their giving and supporting the cause of the Gospel. Paul says they “did well by sharing” with him (vs. 14). And because they give: “fruit…is increasing to your account” (vs. 17b). There is a benefit they will receive because they supported his ministry.
Paul tells them their gift is “a fragrant offering, a welcome sacrifice, pleasing to God” (vs. 18b). And he promises them that God will reward them for supporting the ministry: “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (vs. 19).
Yes, there is a lot we could study and learn about from the Philippians and their support of Paul and the Gospel ministry. Important lessons. Perhaps they even experienced Holy Happiness as a result of helping Paul achieve so much for the Kingdom!
But the important part of this passage for our discussion right now is Paul’s statement about lack or abundance. Read it again:
“…I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret [of being content] – whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (vs. 11b-13)
Stop for a moment and think about your own life and experiences. It is easy to be happy, thankful and at peace with God and the world when you have more than enough! In fact, it’s easy to sort of ignore God during such times. Maybe we don’t mean to, but we sort of begin to feel everything is great, all things are going good, and our dependence on God wanes. So does our time with Him, in His word, and in our devotion and obedience to His will. It’s easy to live our lives without Him, when we have more than enough.
But how do you feel when you have nothing? How happy, thankful and at peace are you then? Most of us feel just the opposite. We feel fear, frustration and some even that God has turned away or forgotten them!
A new house, a new car, or a new TV…clothes on our backs and food in our bellies…really, these are trivial things in comparison to eternity. And yet, our satisfaction with life so easily is influenced by each, and so many more just like them.
Paul lived differently.
His life was not impacted emotionally by what he had or what he lacked. He was not so easily swayed to smile when his pockets were full; nor to curse and fret when they were empty. He didn’t ride this roller-coaster that has entrapped so many of us.
How was Paul able to live so differently? And, more importantly, can we?
Seems to me there are three vital truths in this passage that teach us how to have Holy Happiness whether we are in times of abundance or times of need. These three truths show us how Paul was able to live differently, and that we can indeed live that way too.
First, our goal…
I. Contentment no matter the circumstances
Paul said: “…I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” (vs. 11b; emphasis added). Holy Happiness means we are content; and that we are content no matter what the circumstances of our life are at the moment!
Sounds impossible; but Paul was able to do it. Others have, and so can you and me. Being content is a matter of submission.
Oh boy, there’s a word no one likes! But it is absolutely necessary if you are going to become content and therefore able to experience and live continually with Holy Happiness.
Submission does not mean being a door-mat. It does not mean being run over, abused, trampled on, or anything else like that. For, who are we being submissive to? Answer: God. And God does not mistreat His children. He loves you and ALWAYS does what is best and loving and that will best prepare us for an eternity in His presence.
So if we are experiencing abundance, God is blessing and we should thank Him and submit to His will. For example, when you have a lot your first question should be: What do you want me to do with all this, Lord? If He has blessed you with a time of abundance, submit and use that abundance as He directs.
The same is true when experiencing a time of lack or of need. Perhaps our own foolish decisions and mistakes have caused this time, so certainly we should submit and confess and ask God to forgive us and get us back on track. Submission is good!
But perhaps this time of need is God’s doing, or at the least, He is allowing it. Now, you can get mad at Him. But is that going to change anything? Is that going to make it all better? Obviously not.
But what if you approach the situation like Paul? Instead of getting sad or mad, submit to God. Ask Him what lesson you should be learning. Is it that He simply wants you to trust Him more? Are you going through a time of need so you will not depend upon yourself (your income, your job, etc.) but will come to depend and rely upon your Father in Heaven who loves you? If this is the reason for your time of need, then it is a good thing.
Are you going through a time of need because God is trying to increase your compassion for the needy? Maybe at some future point in your life you are going to have an incredible ministry to some who are in need. Maybe you will be a real encouragement to another Christian during their time of want. If any of this is true, then your time of need is a good thing. It is preparing you for a future opportunity that God knows is coming. So submit. Accept your time of need and look to Him for all things good in your life.
Whether experiencing abundance or need, the key is to submit to God and rest in His provision. This is what it means to be content. It does not mean we stop striving; but we strive in the ways and areas God directs. It does not mean we quit working; but we work as God leads. Contentment does not mean at all that we give up or quit. Just the opposite; we get busy, but we get busy doing what God tells us to do.
The first truth is that we should see to be content; no matter our circumstances. And though this seems hard, if not impossible, we can do this. But it requires us to know and understand the second truth from this passage.
Second, our struggle…
II. Contentment is learned
Paul said, “…for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” (vs. 11b; emphasis added). Being submissive to God and resting in Him is a learned response. It certainly isn’t our natural inclination, not for most of us! But it is necessary for Holy Happiness.
This tells me a couple of important things.
a. It’s okay for a young Christian to struggle with being totally submissive and content.
Contentment – resting in God – is a learned behavior. Therefore, a young or immature Christian will struggle with it. It will be hard, nigh unto impossible, for such a person to experience true and lasting contentment. They have not yet learned how.
And that’s okay…as long as they keep trying. The goal is to keep walking in submission to God each day, learning how to rely upon Him, depend on Him and trust Him totally. Progress is important. It fine to start out a baby, but you don’t want to remain one.
So if you find yourself struggling with being submissive to God, and/or accepting your current lot in life, keep at it. Don’t quit. Don’t give up. You are learning! And that is a good thing. Just be sure you are truly learning, and not continually repeating the same mistakes over and over. You do want to be maturing and developing.
b. It takes time.
Learning always takes time. And the harder the subject, the more time it takes to learn it. And learning to be submissive and content in all circumstances is one of the most difficult lessons to master. So…it is going to take time.
Don’t become impatient with yourself, or with another. Don’t beat yourself up, or unfairly criticize another. It takes years for a baby to grow to adulthood. It takes years for a Christian to mature in their walk with Christ. And for some, it takes even longer.
And that too is okay; as long as growth is occurring.
Contentment – resting in God – no matter the circumstances, is a learned behavior. And learning anything takes time. And this subject is particularly difficult. Fortunately, we have help!
The third truth from the passage gives us our source…
III. Contentment comes from God
Again, Paul says: “I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me” (vs. 13; emphasis added). Paul had a source; a secret supply…God.
After just stating that he had learned to be content no matter the circumstances, Paul says he is able to do so because of his relationship with God. It is God’s power and presence in him, that allows Paul to be submissive…to trust…to be content.
The sense of blessedness we desire, that we get to experience as Christians, comes from God. That which we fear or at least shy away from, being submissive to Him and His will, is the exact activity which provides that which we most desire – peace, and deep-seated contentment.
Holy Happiness – that deep sense of blessedness – is a gift from God to us, each of His children. And the more we learn to submit to Him, the more content in life we will be and the richer will be our experience of Holy Happiness!
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