Sermons by Ken Trivette from the Living Word

The Book of Philippians
HOW TO HANDLE LIFE'S UP'S AND DOWN'S
Philippians 4:11-13

1. In 1923, a group of America's most successful financiers met at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. Among them were Charles Schwab, the president of the largest steel company in America; Samuel Insull, the president of America's greatest utility company; Howard Hopson, the president of the largest gas company; and Richard Whitney, the president of the New York Stock Exchange. Also present were Albert Fall, a member of the cabinet of the President of the United States; Jesse Livermore, the Wall Street financier; Ivan Krueger, the head of the world's largest monopoly; and Leon Fraser, the president of the Bank for International Settlements. Twenty-five years later, in 1948, Billy Rose wrote a syndicated newspaper column in which he called the roll of those that were gathered at that meeting. What had become of the successful financiers that had gathered at the Edgewater Beach Hotel?

2. Twenty-five years later he found that Charles Schwab, the president of the largest independent steel company in America, had lived on borrowed money for five years before he died and died bankrupt. Samuel Insull, the president of the greatest utility company, had died penniless, a fugitive from justice. Howard Hopson, the president of the largest gas company, was dead. Richard Whitney, the president of the New York Stock Exchange, had only been recently released from Sing Sing Prison. Albert Fall, the member of the president's cabinet, had been pardoned from prison so he could die at home. Jesse Livermore, the head of the world's largest monopoly, had committed suicide. Leon Fraser, the president of the Bank of International Settlements, had also committed suicide.

3. It would seem that for many that had gathered in that meeting in 1932, instead of learning how to handle life, life had handled them. As with so many, instead of learning how to handle the up's and down's of life, the up's and down's of life handle them.

4. The Apostle Paul by his own testimony, tells us how to handle the up's and down's of life. Paul had experienced both the high's and the low's of life. He knew what it was to be up and he knew what it was to be down. Yet, instead of the up's and down's handling him, he had learned how to handle them.

5. How do we handle the up's and down's of life? How do we become the victor's of the up's and down's rather than the victim. Let's consider our text and see if we can find an answer. In order to handle the up's and down's of life, first:

1. WE MUST LEARN TO LIVE A DETACHED LIFE!

1. A certain passerby observed some poor children in a poor section of a certain city that were having a good time playing make believe by riding an old log in the yard. He said to them, "That's rather slow riding! Wouldn't you like a horse and buggy?" One of the children answered, "Yes, sir! But we haven't any, so we are getting the most fun we can out of what we have."

2. In much the same way, Paul tells us that he was perfectly happy with where he was and what he had. He states that he had learned to be happy regardless of his state. Notice first of all:

A. The Circumstances Of His Life.

1. In verse 11 he speaks of his "state." The word speaks of circumstances. Paul was speaking of the circumstances of his life. What were the circumstances of Paul's life? In verse 12 Paul says, "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound." In this statement we get an idea of the "state" or the circumstances of Paul's life.

2. First, he speaks of the circumstances that were abasing. The word means, "to humble, to make low." The word was sometimes used to speak of a river in the time of drought. Paul was saying, "I know how to run low." Paul knew what it was to run low and be humbled by the circumstances of life. He knew what it was to live on the meager, live in the miserable, live by the modest, and live through the malevolent.

3. I remind you that when Paul wrote these words he was not in a Penthouse but a prison. He didn't have a servant waiting on him but a solider watching over him. If anybody knew what it was for the river to run low in a time of drought, it was Paul.

4. He also speaks of circumstances that were abounding. The word "abound" speaks of the opposite of the word "abased." It speaks of a river overflowing. The river had not always run low in Paul's life. There had been times when it had overflowed the banks. Before he was saved, Paul had experienced the finest things in life.

5. As a child, he probably had anything he wanted. As a student, he had been educated under Gamaliel, which was then a very expensive education. He would had to have substantial means to be able to attain this kind of education. As an adult, he was a Pharisee with all the pomp and prestige that went along with that postion.

6. Paul had been on the top and he had been on the bottom. He had known both prosperity and poverty. He had had it all and then had nothing. He had known, in his own words, circumstances that were abasing and abounding. He had seen both the up's and down's of life. Notice also:

B. The Contentment of His Life.

1. Paul declared in verse 11, "For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Paul was saying that no matter his circumstances, he had been content. 

2. I once saw a cartoon showing two fields divided by a fence. Both fields were about the same size and each had plenty of green and lush grass. In each field there was a mule with his head through the fence eating grass from the other mule's pasture. At the bottom of the cartoon was one word--DISCONTENT.

3. Many believers are like those two mules. They are always looking for greener pastures. They are never content, never satisfied, and never happy.

4. In a cemetery in England there is a grave marker with the inscription, "SHE DIED FROM WANT OF THINGS." Next to the marker is another marker that reads, "HE DIED TRYING TO GIVE THEM TO HER."

5. One hundred years ago it was estimated that the average American had 70 wants. Years later, a similar survey showed that the grandchildren had nearly 500 wants. What is the lesson to be learned? We are a generation that becoming needs more and more to be satisfied and less and less content with what we have.

6. Listen to 1 Timothy 6:6-8, "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 therewith be content."

7. A person is indeed wealthy if he has learned to be content in whatsoever state. It is indeed a great gain. Paul was a wealthy man. No matter the circumstances of his life; in both the up's and down's, he was a contented man.

8. The word "content" that Paul used was used was a favorite word of the Stoic philosophers of his day. The word means, "contained." It was used by the Stoics to speak of someone that was self-sufficient. It described someone that was independent of external circumstances.

9. When Paul declared that he was content he was saying that he had learned to live in complete detachment from the circumstances of his life. His happiness, joy, and contentment did not depend on what was going on around him, but Who was living within him.

10. H.A. Ironside told of a Christian that asked another Christian how he was getting along. His friend dolefully replied, "Oh, fairly well, under the circumstances." The other replied, "I am sorry that you are living under the circumstances. The Lord would have us living above the circumstances."

11. Have you like Paul learned to live above the circumstances instead of under them? No matter what, no matter where, no matter why, we can be content by living a detached life. Secondly, notice that in order to learn how to handle the up's and down's of life:

1. WE MUST LEARN TO LIVE A DEPENDENT LIFE!

1. In verse 12 we read, "Everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." Paul describes the secret of being content in every situation as one of being dependent on the Lord. Notice:

A. The Allowance Of Certain Circumstances By God

1. In verse 11 Paul said he had "learned." Now in verse 12 he says that he had been "instructed."  The word "instructed" was a technical expression of the pagan mystery cults and the initiation of their adherents. Paul was saying that God had initiated the circumstances of his life. God had appointed and arranged the circumstances of his life whereby he had been both full and hungry and had both abounded and suffered need. Paul was aware that all that had happened in his life had been appointed by God.

2. As Christians we often forget that in the Christian life there are no accidents, but only appointments. God allows circumstances that are both abasing and abounding to come into our life. James understood this when he said, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations" (James 1:2). The word "divers" means, "many colored." It was used of a garment that was made up of a wide variety of colors. Our life is like a garment that is being woven by God and He uses various colors of circumstances to make the garment in His plan.

3. I think of the poem entitled "The Divine Weaver:"

My life is but a weaving
Between my Lord and me; 
I cannot choose the colors
He worketh steadily.

Oftentimes He weaveth sorrow
And I in foolish pride,
Forget that He seeth the upper,
And I the under side.

Not till the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver's skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.

4. How helpful it is to our fainting, fearful, and faltering hearts to know that the up's and down's of life are initiated by God. Also notice:

B. The Acceptance Of Certain Circumstances From God

1. This was the secret of Paul's contentment. He didn't wrestle with what happened in his life or struggle with the why or the what of the circumstances of life. He accepted them as part of God's work and will in his life.

2. There is a parable about a violet which shed its modest beauties at the foot of an old oak tree. One day the oak said, "Are you not ashamed of yourself when you look up at me, you little thing down there, when you see how large I am, and how small you are; when you see how small a space you fill, and how widely my branches are spread?" "No," said the violet. "We are both where God has placed us; and God has given us both something. He has given you strength, to me sweetness; and I offer back to Him my fragrance, and I am thankful." The old oak replied, "Sweetness is all nonsense. A few days, a month at the most, where and what will you be? You will die and the place of your grave will not lift the ground higher by a blade of grass. I hope to stand some time, ages, perhaps, and then when I am cut down, I shall be a ship to bear men over the sea, or a coffin to hold the dust of a king. What is your lot to mine?" The little violet cheerfully said, "But we are both what God made us and we are both where He placed us. I suppose I shall die soon. I hope to die fragrantly, as I have lived fragrantly. You must be cut down at last; it does not matter, that I see, a few days or a few ages, my littleness, or your largeness, it comes to the same thing at last. We are what God made us. We are where God placed us."

3. Here is the secret of contentment. It is realizing that we are where God has placed us. It is when we with a trustful and restful heart accept the circumstances of life as that which God has allowed, that we can truly be content. As Corrie ten Boom said, "Don't wrestle, just nestle." We can look up to heaven with the assurance that nothing comes our way that has not been allowed and approved of God.

4. Finally, may I say that if we are to live a contented life:

3. WE MUST LEARN TO LIVE A DYNAMIC LIFE!

1. Someone might say, "I don't know if I can face the up's and down's of life with contentment? I'm not sure that I am able to accept all that happens in life with contentment?" Notice what Paul says in verse 13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Notice carefully what Paul was saying. First, we see:

B. The Heavenly Strength That Is Available

1. The word "strengtheneth" means, "to enable." One translated the words, "He infuses His strength in me." We can face whatever life may bring with contentment by the power of a living Christ who infuses His strength into our life. It is a heavenly dynamic that is available. Secondly, we see:

B. The Human Sufficiency That Is Accomplished

1. Paul tells us that we can face all things, that we can accept all things, that we can be content in the up's and down's of life because He infuses His strength in our life. J.B. Phillips translates verse 13, "I am ready for anything through the strength of the One who lives within me."

2. You may be saying, "I can't face it. I can't handle it. I can't go on!" You can't in your strength, but you can in His strength.

3. William Ernest Henley, born in Gloucester, England in 1849, was crippled from childhood. He was one of the early humanists. Many times at a High school or college graduation his "Invictus" is quoted:

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.

4. These words have been used to challenge and call for commitment on one's part. His words have been quoted to make one want to dig in and work harder, giving it all they got. But there is a serious flaw in what he said. Instead of giving us advice for success he has given us humanistic advice for failure.

5. In the first place, we are not the master of our fate. Furthermore, if one is the captain of their soul, sooner or later the up's and down's of life are going to rip the foundations out from under your so called unconquerable soul. I think Dorothea Day's answer to Henley's "Invictus" gives us better advice:

Out of the darkness that dazzles me,
Bright as the sun from pole to pole,
I thank my God I know to be
For Christ, the conqueror of my soul.

Since His the sway of circumstance,
I would not wince nor cry aloud.
Under the rule which men call chance
My head with joy is humbly bowed.

Beyond this place of sin and tears
That life with Him! And His the aid,
Despite the menace of the years,
Keeps, and shall keep me, unafraid.

I have no fear, though strait the gate,
He cleared from punishment the scroll.
Christ is the Master of my fate,
Christ is the Captain of my soul.

5. Christ is the Master of our fate, and if He is the Captain of your soul, He will infuse His strength into you life to enable you to be content in all the up's and down's of life.