What is tattooed on your heart? What is your secret of contentment? Do you have one? In Philippians 4:11 Paul describes his own attitude: He has learned, in whatever state he is, to be content. Such contentment springs from complete readiness to accept whatever God gives. For Brad Meester, God gave him a career he never thought he would have, a beautiful wife and lovely children and much more. In Paul's case he is writing out of prison in Rome, so he is dealing with the reality of the lack of freedom he has, and the precarious position he is in. He is not being idealistic or presenting unrealistic counsels of perfection, or in denial of his unpleasant circumstances. The apostle makes no distinction between the necessary and the superfluous, but simply gives thanks for everything. He can accept both abundance and want as part of his life, and he gives thanks that he has received both as a gift, together with God's gracious forgiveness and enriching power. Can you do the same?

Paul's contentment rests in the fruit he sees of his proclamation of the gospel in the establishment of the church, and their consequent support of his ministry. He can be joyful despite the physical deprivations of prison and the emotional struggles of opposition from fellow believers. The Philippians had sent him aid, "again and again when I was in need." Their monetary gifts helped to alleviate his physical distress, and the presence of their representative who brought the gifts, Epaphroditus, was undoubtedly an emotional comfort. But Paul made it clear that he did not depend on either to be content.

The secret of Paul's contentment was: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13) God gives him the ability to face all circumstances in his strength. He shares this secret with the Philippians. They too, can find the same strength. God is fully able and fully willing to meet whatever needs surround the believer. "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

We need this strength as much when we experience affluence as when we experience poverty. When life is comfortable, we are tempted to forget the grace of God and rely on ourselves. We forget easily that many have worked as hard as us but have not had our success. God has given success to us, not because we deserve it, but as a concrete reminder that he is a gracious God. In the midst of affluence as much as in the times of deprivation, we need God's help to survive spiritually. That is what Brad Meester has learned and lives by.

Paul expressed his thanks to the Philippians for their generosity. "It was good of you to share in my troubles." Yet, he disclaimed that he was looking for a gift from them, but that he was "looking for what may be credited to your account...The gifts you sent are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God." (Philippians 4:17,18)

This reminds us that our financial support of the ministry of the church is at least as important for our own spiritual development as for any good that it might do those to whom we give. God's work is going to go forward without our help. His purpose does not depend on our giving and serving. But when we give of our means sacrificially to his purposes, we benefit spiritually, because we confirm that God is at work within us, "to will and to act according to his good purpose." (Philippians 2:13)

The chief value of generosity does not lie in the help which it gives the ministry of the church. It lies in increasing the spiritual capital of the givers, and in rendering to God a fragrant, acceptable, and pleasing sacrifice. Such aid demonstrates our partnership in the work of the gospel and shows that we are progressing in our spiritual lives as we move closer to the day when we will meet Christ in glory.

Such giving demonstrates our refusal to base contentment on the possession of financial wealth. Generous, sacrificial, planned giving is our refusal to allow wealth to control us. Regular giving enables us to control wealth and to give it power to do good. Paul rejoiced in the gift of the Philippians, not because he required it, but because it demonstrated their own freedom in Christ to care for others. By giving their money, poor as they were, they demonstrated where their loyalties lay and strengthened their commitment to God who would supply all that they ultimately needed through his riches in Christ Jesus.

Malcolm Muggeridge expressed his own contentment in these words:

I may, I suppose, regard myself, or pass for being, a relatively successful man. People occasionally stare at me in the streets –that's fame. I can fairly easily earn enough to qualify for admission to the higher slopes of the I.R.S. - that's success. Furnished with money and a little fame even the elderly, if they care to, may partake of trendy diversions - that's pleasure. It might happen once in a while that something I did or said or wrote was sufficiently heeded for me to persuade myself that it represented a serious impact on our time - that's fulfillment. Yet to say to you, and I beg you to believe me, multiply these tiny triumphs by a million, add them all together, and they are nothing - less than nothing, a positive impediment - measured against one draught of the living water Christ offers to the spiritually thirsty, irrespective of who or what they are. What, I ask myself, does life hold, what is there in the works of time, in the past, now and to come, which could possibly be put in the balance against the refreshment of drinking that water? (Jesus Rediscovered)

What is your level of contentment? What is tattooed on your heart? Where do you find satisfaction? What do you rely upon for fulfillment? What does it take for your life to be complete? These are the questions that matter, that cry out for an answer. Can you say with faith and deep conviction: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Can you live and die well by doing this? Then you will find that God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

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