Don’t you wish that Jesus or Paul would pop out of the Bible and spend the day with you?  Wouldn’t you like it if you could tell them everything that is happening in your life and then they would tell you what to do?  Wouldn’t that be great?

Here is what I want you to know.  They did.  They didn’t pop out of the Bible but in scripture, they were stunningly clear on how to live out life.  Very practical.  Very helpful.  And very relevant to what we deal with today.

As proof, let’s walk through the most recent things we’ve learned from Paul said in Philippians.  He said, life is a journey of ups and downs.  Here is what you do.  Press on, focus on eternal things and don’t be distracted by this world.  When you feel anxious, because you will, don’t feel anxious, instead, pray to experience the peace of God.  As you press on, continue to think about things that are excellent.

Let’s continue to read.

10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.

18 At the moment I have all I need – and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

20 Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen. NLT Philippians 4:10-20

Paul says the most interesting thing.  Verse 11 he says, I have discovered the secret to being content.  Most people I know need to know Paul’s secret.  How many people do you know who are content?

Then in verse 13, he says I can do all things.

I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

What does that mean?  Let’s start with what it does not mean.  First, this isn’t a motivational speech meant to emotionally inspire you.  It’s deeper than that.  It’s not meant to be a T-Shirt slogan for a school’s sports team or pay-to-play team that says, ‘We can win the championship this year because God is with us.’

Secondly, it’s not about goal setting, accomplishment, or success.  It’s deeper than that.  It’s not about setting your goals and crushing your goals to find personal happiness.  It’s not about your strength or your abilities to build your kingdom.

Third, it’s not about having superhero statues like superman that enables you to be amazing all the time.  It’s deeper than that.  Its’s not about being faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings at a single bound.

What does it mean?  Paul is saying, I want to share a secret with you.  My secret to being content in life.  No matter what I walk through, I can be content because I see things from God’s point of view.  I have given my life to accomplish what God asked me to do.  Everything I once thought was valuable in this life, I dumped it.  Everything that made me look good to others, I dumped it.  I wanted a real relationship with God more than look good to others.  I wanted God to be the source of strength in my life.  And as I walk through this life of challenges, I turn to God, and He gives me strength to face and overcome everything.

Here is Paul’s secret to being content every day.  He sees life from God’s point of view.  He asks God what God wants.  And when he feels weak, he goes to God for the strength to do what He asked me to do.

Do you see it?  When Paul said I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength, it wasn’t about a motivational slogan.  It wasn’t about crushing his goals for his personal success.  It wasn’t about superhero statues or superman like power.  It was about seeing life from God’s point of view and asking God for the strength needed to walk through the day.

What Paul wrote was so deeply spiritual.  It was about seeing life through God’s point of view.  It was about asking God for strength.  In that, Paul was content.  He was able to walk through the day.

How do you see life?  Do you look at your life from God’s point of view?  That means you ask yourself, what does God want from me today?  Do you look at life from your point of view?  That means you enter each day asking, what do I want for me today?  Are you content?  Do you struggle to be content?  Does everything have to go your way for you to be content?  Does everyone have to do what you want them to do for you to be content?  As your circumstances change, does your contentment change?  Does God have to answer your prayers the way you want, for you to be content?  Have you discovered the secret Paul is sharing?  Do you reach out to God for His strength to walk through the day?

The World Happiness Report in 2012 showed that Americans were ranked 11th out of 149 countries.  I didn’t even know there was such a thing.  In 2022, Americans fell to 19th out of 149 countries.  Our happiness in America is falling. [source: Discover Magazine]

Americans are still happier than most but why are we falling in the world rankings?  Why is the wealthiest country struggling?  Why do Americans who enjoy so much comfort experience less and less contentment?  I want you to hear me clearly.  Because we have a God problem.  We are searching for happiness not Godliness.  And in our search for happiness, we can’t find contentment.  We demand more and more.  We consume more and more.  We expect more and more.  Our country is pursuing happiness not Godliness.  We have a God problem.

Scripture explains this kind of living like this.

It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time… frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness… all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants. MSG Galatians 5:20

Paul was able to be content.  Why?  He saw things from God’s point of view, and he when he felt weak, he relied on God’s strength to walk through every day.

We struggle to be content.  Why?  We see things from our point of view, and we rely on our strength to make us happy.

Do you see the difference?

Paul is content.  He sees things from God’s point of view.  He asks, God what is it that you want?  Then he asks God to empower him to do what God asked him to do.

We struggle to find contentment.  We tend to see things from our point of view.  We ask, how can I be happy today?  Then we ask God to help us find happiness.

Here is another question I want you to wrestle with today.

What if God asks you to do something that doesn’t lead to your happiness?  What if you see life through God’s viewpoint and He asks you to do something that will be hard?  This is where becoming a disciple of Christ gets real.  Let’s walk through seven questions.

Marriage.  Maybe your marriage is a challenge?  And what if God asks you to love and care for your spouse the way He loves you?  What if what God asks of you will be hard and it won’t make you happy in the moment?  Will you say, I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength?

Money.  What if you are supposed to live responsibly with money?   Have a budget.  Be money smart.  Instead of a new car, maybe open a Roth IRA?  What if what God asks of you will be hard and it won’t make you happy in the moment?  Will you say, I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength?

Education.  What if you don’t like school?  That’s fine but the reality is, education is what helps you advance in life.  What if what God asks of you will be hard and it won’t make you happy in the moment?  Will you say, I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength?

Sports.  What if you don’t start for the team?  Parents, what if your kid don’t start?  And God asked you to be positive, not gossip?  What do you say on the way home in front of your kids?  What do you say to the other parents?  Hear me, sports is about development not being the best instantly.  What if what God asks of you will be hard and it won’t make you happy in the moment?  Will you say, I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength?

Fear of failure.  I like the quote, ‘The greatest tragedy in life isn’t our sin, it’s the life we never live.’  Jesus came to die for your sins so that problem is resolved.  The bigger problem in life is not trying because of your fear of failure.  The way you learn, and grow, and build character, you do stuff and you might fail at it.  Truth is, you learn more in failure.  What if what God asks of you will be hard and it won’t make you happy in the moment?  Will you say, I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength?

Love, even if it hurts.  That’s when God shows Himself to others.  We aren’t supposed to just love those who can love us back.  What if what God asks of you will be hard and it won’t make you happy in the moment?  Will you say, I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength?

Forgive, even if it hurts.  That’s when God shows Himself to others.  You aren’t the judge, God is.  What if what God asks of you will be hard and it won’t make you happy in the moment?  Will you say, I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength?

Do you see what Paul meant?  I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.  It wasn’t about a motivational slogan.  It wasn’t about crushing his goals for his personal success.  It wasn’t about superhero statues or superman like power.  It was about seeing life from God’s point of view and asking, ‘What do you want me to do today?’  Then praying, ‘God give me the strength to do what you asked me to do.’

By the way, that way of living, it leads to being content.  It’s the secret to contentment.