PRÉCIS ON BEING CONTENT & SELF-SUFFICIENT: PAUL’S ROAD TO PEACE FOR THE PERILOUS DAYS AHEAD

SCRIPTURE. “I was made very happy in the Lord that now you have revived your interest in my welfare after so long a time; you were indeed thinking of me, but you had no opportunity to show it. Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am. I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance.

I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want. I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. But it was right and commendable and noble of you to contribute for my needs and to share my difficulties with me.” – PHILIPPIANS 4:10-14, AMPC

KEY TERM: “CONTENT.” ‘Autarkés’ [αὐτάρκης]: “Self-complacent, satisfied, independent [of any outside circumstance for being so].” NOTE: “The term ‘autarkés’ conveys the idea of being self-sufficient or content, having enough within oneself to be satisfied. In the New Testament, it is used to describe a state of contentment and sufficiency that is not dependent on external circumstances. This concept is closely tied to ‘The Christian Virtue of Contentment,’ where believers find their sufficiency in Christ rather than in material possessions or worldly status.”

QUOTATION. “You may think you find Peace in Christ when you have no outward troubles, but is Christ your Peace when the Assyrian comes into the land, when the enemy comes? … ‘Jesus Christ would be Peace to the soul when the Enemy comes into the city, and into your houses.’” ― JEREMIAH BURROUGHS, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, 1651; edited

COMMENTARY. “‘It is a good work to succour and help a good minister in trouble.’ The nature of true Christian sympathy, is not only to feel concern for our friends in their troubles, but to do what we can to help them. ‘The Apostle was often in bonds, imprisonments, and necessities; but in all, he learned to be content, to bring his mind to his condition, and make the best of it.’ Pride, unbelief, vain hankering after something we have not got, and fickle disrelish of present things, make men discontented even under favourable circumstances. Let us pray for patient submission and hope when we are abased; for humility and a heavenly mind when exalted. ‘It is a special grace to have an equal temper of mind always. And in a low state not to lose our comfort in God, nor distrust His Providence, nor take any wrong course for our own supply.’

‘In a prosperous condition not to be proud, or secure, or worldly. This is a harder lesson than the other; for the temptations of fulness and prosperity are more than those of affliction and want.’ The Apostle had no design to urge them to give more, but to encourage such kindness as will meet a glorious reward hereafter. Through Christ we have grace to do what is good, and through Him we must expect the reward; and as we have all things by Him, let us do all things for Him, and to His glory.” – MATTHEW HENRY, Exposition of the Old and New Testaments, 6 vols., 1708-1710; edited

DK’S TAKE. Let me state right up front that my joy and contentment is far too dependent on an otherwise godly desire: ‘A Sense of Order.’ This is normally defined in terms of enjoying good health, being able to pay the bills, loved by a number of folks around me, and of course the conviction that I have an important purpose in life and am successful at it.

But what happens when one or more of those good things in life are diminished or even completely removed, beloved, what then? Do we become the normally kind an affable George Bailey in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (1946) after a financial crisis, and wax terrified, angry and start yelling at the kids?

I too often do my friends, and therefore have a very long way to go toward real sainthood if you will. Which is why I so often am bewildered in God’s calling me as a Christian teacher. Sometimes I express the thought to Him: “Lord, are you aware of who you picked here, Sir? Cliff Kelly, you know, the one who …” (The rest is for His ears only!).

CODA. So, here’s the deal, best I can figure it and sum it up. ONE: We are all of us about to enter the most challenging time we Americans have ever known. TWO: If God coddles us now, we shall not be able to withstand the difficult challenges ahead. Three, therefore, we are in a temporary season of ‘Belt-and-Theology Tightening,’ beloved.

What this means is that the King is shoring up our loose ends on what we truly believe, our coming need to radically depend on Him for all our needs while doing our own part to be obedient. Underneath which, however, is the following passage that most of us have taken for granted most of our lives as our Real Hope and Peace.

PROMISE TO THE FAITHFUL. As the Great Apostle finally settles in his own heart and life: “And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” – PHILIPPIANS 4:19, AMPC

This is the very life-giving Word of the Lord to His Remnant Church in the very Last Days, beloved. Therefore: Rejoice in its certain fulfillment in the Times of Trouble just down the Road. He shall never abandon nor forsake us, not even for one moment!