How we should Behave as Saints

and

Cultivating an attitude of Contentment


Author: Bruce W. Roeser

Updated:  1/23/23


Sometimes it’s tough being a saint.  Becoming saved doesn’t all-of-a-sudden improve our flesh any and it doesn’t solve our earthly problems.  Indeed, getting saved can, in many ways, make it seem like our life is harder.  We find ourselves in a situation where we live in a world that we are increasingly incompatible with.


There is an attitude that a saint should develop that will not only make his life easier in this increasingly corrupt world but will set him apart from the world and can provide opportunities to deliver the Gospel.  This is, I believe, a critically important attitude that, if not cultivated, can make a saint’s life miserable. (Not just saints but anyone)


The following section of Philippians gives us a glimpse of one key aspect of the true Saint of God.  The aspect that is in focus here is that of contentment.  Let's have a look at the section then take it apart bit-by-bit.  Keep in mind, however, that even a saved person can choose to ignore these instructions even though he has the power to use them.


Philippians 4:5-13: “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  9  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.  10  But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”


V5: “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.”


As Saints of the Most High we are to behave with a moderate style.  What does that mean? Simply this: we should be examples of stability.  People need to be able to look at us and see the stability that we have in the face of all the instability that is so prevalent around us. We are to be consistent in our behavior.  We should not be rash in our responses to people or situations, we need to be more thoughtful.  


This attribute of our behavior might be a gateway to being able to deliver the Gospel to someone.


Eph 4:29: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”


Corrupt Communication can be anything from using foul language (4-letter words) to lying to gossiping.  We’re all guilty of it.


V6-7: “Be careful for nothing” … I.E. don't worry.


This is a tough one to put into practice.  It is easy to get in a frame-of-mind where we’re obsessing about things we can do nothing about.


God is not, in this dispensation, going to fix your problems for you.  However, what he can fix is how we react to them.  A mature saint is in a frame-of-mind that always has the eternal picture in mind.  The trouble with worry is that it eats away at your mind and can have physical consequences.


It is important that we, as saints, keep our minds on the big picture.  What’s going on in this life is temporary.


Matt 6:27-34: “Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”


Matt 6:19-21: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”


Rom 4:5-7: “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”


Eph 1:1-14: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”


V8: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”


Paul makes a specific point here of directing the saints to keep their minds on GOOD stuff. Ever hear the phrase “GIGO”?  That's “Garbage In, Garbage Out”.  An old computer term: and just as relevant today as it ever has been. One of the key components of contentment is the state of your mind.


2Ti 1:7: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”


V9: “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”


Paul is stating that he is to be an example and we are to follow that example.   Note what he did not say here!  (WWJD!).  


1Ti 1:15-16:  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.


V10-13: “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”


Note:  Many sincere believers today take verse 13 out-of-context to mean they can literally do all things through Christ; meaning anything that they want to do, physically or otherwise. Be sure to understand the context here or you will get yourself in trouble!  The context here can be paraphrased (if you will) to say “I am strengthened by the knowledge that through Christ I can be content no matter what!”


Paul is making a clear point here that contentment is not to be based on the situation that you are presently living in.  It is not to be based on where you are as compared with someone else.   The following deals with being content with your situation.  Does this mess with anyone's present attitude?


1Ti 6:6-10: “But 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 raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”


2 Cor 12:7-10: “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”


Lack of Contentment causes a LOT of trouble!


Way back in the beginning (Genesis!) Satan brought the whole creation down by challenging Eve’s contentment!


Gen 3:6: And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.


What other kinds of things result from a lack of contentment?



Notes


How can we cultivate the attitude of contentment?



James 4:13: “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.”