The Freedom of Contentment – 2 (10th)

Philippians 4:10–13

Paul, in Philippians 4, shows us a deep sense of peace and satisfaction that doesn’t depend on life’s ups and downs. This deep peace, which many people try to find through help and advice, is not a nice-to-have, but something God tells us to aim for in the tenth commandment, “Thou shalt not covet”. This means we’re called to love God so much that we find peace in every situation, a secret we can learn by dealing with both plenty and lack.

1. True peace is a secret

We all want to feel peaceful, but it’s hard to find because it’s hidden beneath what we want and chase after. The strange thing about our happiness and sense of being complete is that they also make us long for something we can’t have. The deep truth is that what we really want is God’s love, to serve Him, and to please Him, a truth we often find out through time and heartbreak.

2. False peace is shown up by plenty and want

We often think we’ll be happy if we can just achieve certain things or make our dreams come true. But real peace can handle both plenty and lack, showing up the common lie that being happy depends on having stuff or achieving things. It’s important to find purpose and meaning that don’t depend on stuff, because if our peace is based on things, it can lead to feeling empty and hopeless.

3. True peace is learned

Finding the secret to true peace involves realizing that wanting what others have is like worshipping idols, finding our value in Jesus instead of stuff, and enjoying good things without making them the center of our life or avoiding them completely. It’s important to connect with God to meet our deep inner needs and stop wanting what others have. We can find peace and the strength to control our desires by keeping a clear conscience, following God’s way, and understanding that our goodness comes from Jesus.