Philippians 4:11-13
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Proverbs 14.30
“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”
It is described different ways: Calmness of spirit. Peace of mind. Serenity. Tranquility. Contentment. It is a condition of mind and heart when one trusts God and is deeply grateful and appreciative. Distractions are blocked out, anxiety is absent, fear is defeated, stress is eliminated … irrespective of the circumstances.
As the Proverb above says, that kind of tranquility of heart gives life to the flesh. The opposite — when we are jealous or envious or anxious or fearful — is a condition of mind and heart that is emotionally and physically debilitating.
The point is that although on opposite ends of the spectrum, peace and anxiety are both deeply felt. Not just emotionally, but also physically.
It is critical to understand that the peace that God gives is unrelated to circumstances; it is a goodness/fullness of life that is not touched by what happens on the outside. You can be in the midst of great trials, feel the pain/stress, and still have peace. The presence of contentment does not eliminate the pain and stress; rather, it mitigates it and puts it in perspective. Contentment helps you focus on who God is and what you need to do, not on how you feel.
Doing battle with cancer has given me the opportunity to experience the reality of peace in the midst of difficult circumstances. Despite the uncertainty of having a disease that is trying to kill me, and despite the very unpleasant side-effects of chemo, I have experienced a deep and profound peace that comes from knowing who God is and knowing who I am in relationship to him.
Cancer has the ability to corrupt and kill my body, but it cannot touch my heart, because my heart belongs to Jesus.
The word that is translated “content” in the Philippians passage above (I have learned in whatever situation to be content) is autarkes in the Greek, and it’s literal meaning is “self-sufficient, self-supporting, independent.” It is a powerful word. The Stoics understood autarkes to mean “the ability to be free from all want or needs,” and they elevated it to the chief of all virtues.
Obviously, and the scriptural context makes this clear, it is not referring to self-sufficiency apart from Christ; rather, it is referring to inner strength and sufficiency that has been learned and developed through doing the work of trusting Jesus through the circumstances of life.
It does not refer to independence from Christ; it refers to independence from external circumstances. Paul is saying that his contentment and inner peace have nothing to do with events and situations he is facing; his contentment comes from trusting Jesus.
Contentment did not come naturally to Paul, nor was it automatically given to him by the Lord. It was a process, something he had to learn from walking with God each day through the situations and challenges of life in a broken world. The same should be true for us. Key to the process is allowing God to use all of our circumstances to teach us about himself and train us in the mental and spiritual skills of the Christian faith.
This is part of what Paul means in 1 Timothy 4 when he says “train yourself in godliness.” The notion that the Lord somehow magically gives us peace and contentment whenever we ask for it is contrary to the process of spiritual transformation that is laid out in scripture. There are times when the Lord infuses his people with peace, but those are unique, special situations. They are the exception, not the rule.
An autarkes life is rare. It is uncommon. It is the life to which the Lord calls us.
Trust God, do the work, and be content.
