REST IN YOUR SITUATION (PHILIPPIANS 4:11)

In this world there are many people that seem to get no satisfaction out of life. They seem to be unhappy, unfulfilled and unsatisfied. They walk around in a season of discontent. They lack fulfillment in their lives. But Paul in this verse says that in whatever situation he has found himself and learned how to be content. Contentment is not self-satisfaction which makes a person to settle for less than his or her best. Contentment is not self-sufficiency what the motivational speakers proclaim. They proclaim “You can do anything you want, just put your mind to it”. Contentment is different from self-sufficiency which is completely independent of all things and people.  “What is contentment?” According to Paul it is to take a realistic view of your situation and adjusting to it.  Webster defines contentment as: the state or quality of being satisfied not displeased. How many people, including yourself, feel that way? Satisfied, not displeased. Its power comes from relying on God – no matter what situation you find yourself in. 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. 

In this context Paul was in prison, unable to pursue his tent-making trade, and he was in a tight spot (“affliction” in Philippians 4:14-note literally means “pressure”). He wrote a number of letters during this time to various churches and individuals (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon), and he asks for prayer in those letters. But never once does he mention his financial needs. Rather, he asks for prayer for boldness and faithfulness in his witness. He trusted in and submitted to the sovereignty of God to provide for his needs. Sometimes God supplied abundantly, and so Paul had learned how to live in prosperity. But sometimes God withheld support, and so Paul had to learn to get along with humble means. At those times, he did not grumble or panic, but submitted to the sovereign hand of God, trusting that God knew what was best for him and that He always cared for His children. Paul learned to be content in all conditions. It didn’t come naturally to him, and it wasn’t an instantaneous transformation. It is a process, something that we learn from walking with God each day. Key to this process is to understand that everything, major and minor, is under God’s sovereignty. He uses all our circumstances to train us in godliness if we submit to Him and trust Him. Our attitude in trials and our deliberate submission to His sovereignty in the trial is crucial.

In his famous lecture on "Clocks and Watches," Dr. Joseph Parker related the following story: A little watch, delicately strung, was dissatisfied with its restricted sphere of influence in a lady's pocket. It envied the position of Big Ben, the great tower clock. One day as it passed with her ladyship over London's Westminster Bridge, the tiny watch exclaimed, "I wish I could go up there! I could then serve multitudes, instead of just one individual." "You shall have your opportunity, small watch," she said. The lecturer then dramatically described how the pocket timepiece was drawn up the side of the mammoth tower by a slender thread. When it reached the top, it was completely lost to view. In his dramatic way, Dr. Parker concluded his lecture by exclaiming, "Its elevation had become its annihilation!" (Daily Bread). If you are walking with God and you find yourself in a desperate situation, you can know that you are not there by chance. The sovereign God has put you there for your training in faith, that you might share His holiness. It may be a small crisis or a major, life-threatening crisis. Submit and trust the Sovereign God and you will know the contentment that comes from Him.

In all the situations he trusted and submitted himself to the sovereignty of God meet his needs. He was faithful to God when God supplied abundantly, and had learned how to live in prosperity. He also served God faithfully even in the times when God withheld support, and had learned to get along with humble means. When he was down he neither grumble nor panic instead he submitted to the sovereign hand of God and learned to rest in that situation.  Paul learned to be content in all situations because he knew that everything, major and minor, is under God’s sovereignty. Yes God is sovereign to use all our circumstances to train us in godliness only when we submit to Him and trust Him. He uses all our circumstances to train us in godliness if we submit to Him and trust Him. Our reaction in trials and our honest submission to His sovereignty in the trial is the criteria to measure our faith in Him.