So I wanted to give you gals some New Encouragement for these wintry months. And so welcome to our January Philippians Bible Study of chapter 4.
Why chapter 4? Mainly because it talks thoroughly on contentment. Are there other scriptures on the topic? Yes, however, I have always loved Philippians because it just was easy to read, and overall very encouraging. This study is primarily available through my Facebook Page which you can find here: MomLife Organizer on Facebook!
During the month of January, I will be posting my thoughts and findings of Philippians chapter 4 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays – on my Facebook page.
However, I will be posting a summary of sorts right here on the blog every TUESDAY this month. There will be differences, mostly being a few extra goodies that I can’t post right out in a FB post. Like this week I wanted to share William Barclay’s definition of Contentment. He is the author of The Secret of Contentment.
This 7-point definition is:
Point #1 Contentment is inward, rooted in the heart
Point #2 Contentment is gracious
Point #3 Contentment finds joy in what God brings
Point #4 Contentment as a Christian recognizes that every situation is providentially appointed by God
Point #5 We are lead to submit to the situations that come from God
Point #6 We learn in EVERY condition to be content (not just the ones we want to accept)
Point #7 When content we are acting in self-sufficiency as God is totally self-sufficient, we being content are not dependent on circumstances to be content.
With that in mind let’s look at chapter 4 verse 1:
Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
I knew a pastor that always reminded us that when we saw the word “Therefore” we needed to remember what therefore was there for. Punny but true. In this case, we have to go back to chapter 3 and in that last verse it says:
who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
This is a reminder for us. What’s important to think on during all of our mundane existence is all of this will pass away. We can endure – standfast – in what is before us because we know that it is temporary. Eventually, none of this will exist all except our reactions, faith, and spiritual accomplishments.
Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook so you can get all the nuggets of this study, plus tips, memes, videos of me sharing mom organization stuff.