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PHILIPPIANS 4:10-23
Lesson #07
FINANCIAL SUFFICIENCY

 

• Memory verse: Philippians 4:13
• “Contentment” means = to be satisfied, full and having enough.
  • Contentment is mentioned seven times in the Bible, six times in relationship to money. Therefore, there is a correlation between contentment and having a Biblical view of ownership and money. Usually if we do not have enough money, we become depressed and our joy flees.
  • With the lottery and the TV shows “who wants to be a millionaire” and “greed”, the world promotes greed as a desirable characteristic. This attitude is opposite from what the Bible teaches.

• Read Phil 4:10-19 The All-sufficiency of Christ
  • Christ is all sufficient. He has more than enough to supply whatever we need.
    • While we know this mentally, there are times when it seems we do not have enough. “The month is longer than my paycheck.”
    • Then, what is wrong with my faith when I don’t seem to have enough?
      • Phil 4:19 says that my God shall supply all my desires according to his riches in glory? Right?
      • Wrong…it does not say “desires”, it says “needs”.
  • The believer’s proper perspective:
    • Sometimes we don’t seem to have enough because we have a wrong perspective of our “needs”.
    • Sometimes we don’t seem to have enough because we have a wrong perspective of ownership.
      • We often think that what we work for is ours. We have earned it. According to the Bible we don’t “own” anything:
        • Read 1Chr 29:11,12
      • We are only stewards of what the Lord allows us to have.
        • Read Mat 25:14-15
      • If we are faithful in the little that He gives us, He will be able to trust us with more.
  • What caused Paul to rejoice? (10)

• What was unique about the Philippian church? (15-16)

• What principles do you find in Phil 4:17-19 about giving?

• Why would God supply all the needs of the Philippian Christians?(19)
  • We often quote this scripture out of context. The context is that because the Philippian church gave money to Paul’s ministry, then God would supply all their needs. They were faithful to the little that God gave them, therefore, Paul says God will give them more.

• Summary:
  • The Biblical concept of ownership:
    • Everything

    in this world is owned by God:

    • My house, my money, my possessions, my children, my life, everything.
    • If everything belongs to God, He can remove whatever He desires at any time. It is His to do with whatever He wants.
      • This attitude helps us to maintain our joy even when circumstances remove whatever we have.
    • Anything that comes my way is a blessing from God. It is not earned by me. It comes by grace. God does not “owe” me a living.
    • As long as God has placed this blessing in my hands, I am responsible to use it wisely for his glory.
    • Using something wisely includes giving.
    • Our lack of financial and material contentment in life is a direct indication that we are not satisfied with what God has provided in our lives. Therefore, we should use financial need in our lives as a prompting by God to examine our attitudes and actions.
  • To be in extreme and continual debt is a form of discontent with what God provides. This means we must repent and ask God for forgiveness.
    • To live under a burden of heavy, constant financial need means we need to examine:
    • Our attitudes toward ownership
    • Our attitudes and actions toward giving
    • Our attitudes and actions toward working
  • The biblical concept of giving:
    • In the Old Testament, God said the people were to give 1/10 of all that God gave them.
    • Some New Testament Christians say that tithing was part of the Mosaic Law and Christ fulfilled the Law. Therefore, because of grace I don’t have to tithe according to the law.
      • The Mosaic Law began with Moses in the book of Exodus. However, before that, Abraham tithed in the book of Genesis (Gen 14:20). He was not under the Mosaic Law at that time. Therefore, tithing is a basic principle established by God of being a good steward of what God gives us.
    • Tithing should be done freely with joy. Use it as a means to express your love to God and to your brothers and sisters in Christ.
    • In reality, like all of the Old Testament Law of Moses, tithing is the first step to giving to God. It is like kindergarten. The mature believer should go beyond tithing. (Gal 3:24)
    • When we are financially and materially discontent, here is our attitude:
      • Our idolatry is claiming that we have earned by our efforts those things that we already have.
      • Our pride is refusing to acknowledge that God is our true provider.
      • Our ungrateful hearts are failing to thank God for his provision.
      • Our arrogance is complaining that we deserve more.
      • Our blaspheming spirit is questioning God’s wisdom regarding the way that He distributes His wealth.
      • Our physical lust is refusing to focus on eternal values.
      • Our hardened hearts are accusing God of not properly loving and caring for us.
    • Read 1Tim 6:6-10 Finances in brief:
      • It is not money that is the root of all evil, but the love of money that is the danger. Even a poor man can fall into this evil trap. You don’t have to be rich to love money.

• Summary:
  • Read Mat 6:33
    • Proper Biblical priorities have an effect on your material welfare.
    • Read Pro 30:8-9
      • This concept of ownership was the attitude that Paul learned. (11-12) He had the correct attitude toward ownership and giving.

• Secret #9 in living a contented life is:
  • To understand and put into practice Biblical ownership principles

• Read Phil 4:20-23 Giving and receiving glory
  • Paul has learned these 9 secrets of contentment:
    • Nurture a thankful heart
    • Develop a sense of life purpose
    • Cultivate an attitude of humility
    • Joyfully obey
    • Maintain an eternal perspective
    • Live in harmony with others
    • Pray about everything
    • Practice mental discipline
    • Understand and put into practice Biblical ownership principles
  • Secret #10 for living a contented life:
    • Give glory and receive grace
  • The purpose of learning these secrets of contentment is:
    • To glorify God in your life. (20)
    • To receive grace from God (23)
      • Grace is:

 

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• Book summary:
  • We have discussed through the book of Philippians the things Paul learned so as to be content. Learning these things is not easy. It is hard work because we need to be constantly analyzing our attitudes and actions. That is why Paul said in Phil 4:13 that he could do all things through Christ who strengthens him.

• We have learned that:
  • Chapter 1 = We can have joy if we live for him
  • Chapter 2 = We can have joy if we think like him
  • Chapter 3 = We can have joy if we work for him
  • Chapter 4 = We can have joy if we trust in him
• Then we can have joy in any location, with anyone, in any circumstances.

The End
God bless you!