Quote: “The measure of a man is not how much it takes to make him happy, but how little.”
Scripture verse: But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need, I can do all things through Christ who stengthens me. Phillipians 4:10-13 NKJV
Gratitude: Paul expresses his gratitude for the gifts which the Philippians had sent to him. He knew they always thought of him, but did not have the opportunity to show it until recently. Gratitude is a very important quality for the content Christian. Gratitude and grateful come from the same root word, and we also get grace from the same root.
Contentment: Paul wants to assure them that he is not in a state of want. He is not dissatisfied with his circumstances. Why? Because he has learned the secret of contentment. Paul had learned to be content in whatever state he found himself. Paul uses one of the great words of Greek ethics here. The word is “AUTARKES” for contentment.
“Autarkes”: The Greek word Paul uses meant “entirely self sufficient”. To the Greeks “autarkeia” or “self sufficiency” implied being completely self sufficient. This was the highest goal of the stoic ethics system. It meant a state of mind in which a man was absolutely independent of all things and all people. They hoped to reach that state of mind through the elimination of all desire. The Stoics believed that contentment did not consist in possessing much, but in wanting little. “If you want to make a man happy add not to his possessions, but take away his desires.” Went the quote.
Socrates: When asked, “Who is the wealthiest man?” Socrates replied, “”He who is content with least.” This affirmed the stoic belief that the only way to contentment was to abolish all desire until a man had come to the state in life where nothing and no one were essential to his well being.
Paul: So why did Paul choose this word in his reply to the Phillipians? Paul had learned how to be abased and how to abound. For the Stoics this was a human achievement brought about by great personal strength and self-will. The stoic’s desire was to be completely self-sufficient. But Paul is here teaching how to be God-sufficient. While the Stoic would say, “I learned to be content by a deliberate act of my own will.” Paul is teaching that he can find contentment and do this “all things” through Christ who infuses him with His will. Stoicism, of course, failed because it is rooted in human will which we know is weak and sinful. Christianity can succeed because it is rooted in the Divine. Paul could do all things, whether good or bad, because he could do it in the strength that Christ provided for him. And we can do “all things” also as we learn to trust in the sufficiency that can only be found in Christ.
All Things: Sometimes we read this verse as though we can do “all things” through Christ. Like maybe we could grow wings and fly or become invisible. I think this is a misreading of the text. We should read it; I can do all things “through Christ”. In other words we can do everything we are called to do through Christ because He infuses us with His strength. The strength to endure anything. The strength to either abound or suffer need. We are self sufficient in Christ because He is our all in all. The emphasis is on “in Christ” and not “all things”.
“Now Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” 1 Timothy 6:6-8
“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
