To all the saints in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (Philippians 1:1-2)

Feed your children, God most holy; Comfort sinners poor and lowly. Jesus, bread of life from heaven, Bless the food you here have given. As these gifts the body nourish, May our souls in graces flourish Till with saints in heav’nly splendor At your feast due thanks we render. Amen. (Christian Worship: #616)

One of the favorite Christmas classics is Dr. Seuss’s, "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas." You recall in the story how the Grinch hates Christmas. "It could be his head wasn’t screwed on just right. It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight. But I think that the most likely reason of all; May have been that his heart was two sizes too small." The Grinch eventually enters all the homes through the chimneys disguised as Santa Claus. He takes all the presents and ornaments, the trees and stockings. "He slunk to the icebox. He took the Who’s feast! He took the Who-pudding! He took the roast beast! He cleaned out that icebox as quick as a flash. Why, that Grinch even took their last can of Who-hash!"

He dragged his loot up to his mountain and then looked down upon Who-ville with a sinister grin. He listened for the cries of the Whos as they woke up to discover that Christmas was lost. What he heard instead surprised him. "Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small, Was singing! Without any presents at all!" The Grinch was puzzled how Christmas still came. "It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags! Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more!"

The Grinch learned that Christmas resides not in things but in the heart that is content. The Grinch could not steal the gratitude of the Whos. They were content whether they had plenty or whether they were without. They were content whether they would eat Who-pudding and Who-roast-beast or whether they had nothing in the least. They were content in all circumstances.

That sounds mighty similar to the apostle Paul. Paul was content in all circumstances. Tonight we are going to look at Paul’s secret of contentment. We will learn that the secret of contentment comes from God strengthening us and from God meeting our needs.

Paul might seem an unlikely candidate for someone to write about contentment. It didn’t seem that the apostle Paul always had a lot be thankful about in his life. Often he was rejected in his efforts to spread the gospel. He had been shipwrecked, beaten nearly to death, imprisoned, and even many fellow Christians were openly opposing him. And there was that "thorn in the flesh" that Paul carried with him each day of his life.

As Paul is writing about remaining content to the Philippian Christians, he was sitting in a dingy Roman prison facing what surely seemed to be a death sentence. In the midst of this situation Paul writes an encouraging letter to the Philippians. He says, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." These seem to be strange words for a man awaiting his execution.

Still, Paul was content. "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Paul wasn’t ticked off because he was on the street, sleeping under a bridge with a growling stomach. Neither was he uneasy in the penthouse, enjoying delicious meals in abundance. When without, he didn’t grumble. And when blessed he didn’t act ashamed.

How can we find this secret of contentment? How can I be content when I am struggling financially and am between jobs? How can I be content if I am constantly in pain or am suffering major illnesses and ailments? How can I be content when my job is frustrating, my schoolwork is frustrating, my home life is frustrating?

We are so often discontent with our lives. We need more money; more security; more love. We want a bigger house; faster promotions; better health. If we get those things, then we will be satisfied. Then we will be happy. Then we will be content. No, it doesn’t work that way. If you can’t be content with what you have, why would you be content with more? Our discontentment eats away at our soul. It robs us of our thankfulness. It steals our joy.

You are probably thinking "I wish I had that contentment gift like Paul had." Wait. It wasn’t a gift. It was a learned trait. Paul admits that he developed the ability to accept and adapt. He wrote, "I have learned to be content." Paul was not automatically content. He learned it. It had been taught to him by the Lord. It took time.

Paul didn’t whine because he was in prison. He didn’t complain because the conditions were miserable and the food was terrible. He was able to remain peaceful and calm. How could Paul adapt to his horrible circumstances and endure? What was it that relieved the tension and allowed him to be so relaxed within? What was his secret?

Here is his secret: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." The first part of the secret of contentment is that God strengthens us. Paul was convinced that Christ was in the midst of his every day life, pouring his power into him. It is through Christ. Christ is a part of us all the time. We are filled with Christ. We are surrounded by Christ. When we believe this, anything is bearable. Nothing is out of control. When we genuinely have this attitude that God strengthens us, contentment comes easily. It comes naturally.

Our Savior not only lives within us, he also pours his almighty strength into us. And that alone is enough to make us confident. From where do we receive that strength? Through the Means of Grace – God’s Word and Sacraments. Isn’t that why you are here tonight – not only to give God your thanks, but also receive his strength? God comes to you personally in his holy Supper. He offers you his gracious forgiveness whenever you need it. Like Paul, we will always live with worries, concerns, illnesses and pains. Still, we will be content because we rely solely on the Lord. If you have Christ’s love, forgiveness and strength you can withstand anything. Our contentment lies solely on the strength of our almighty Lord.

Our contentment also lies in the fact that God meets our needs. Paul had numerous needs as he traveled on his missionary journeys. He endured hardships and disappointments, heartaches and afflictions. Through it all, the Philippians lent their support. "Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need."

The Philippians demonstrated compassion beyond that of any other congregation. They felt pain when Paul hurt, they prayed for him when he was unable to stay in touch, and they sent their friend, Epaphroditus, to comfort him when he was in prison. What a church! No wonder Paul felt such affection for them.

They even sent financial contributions to Paul. This was a fairly young congregation, and a financially struggling one at that. Still they gave eagerly to support the Lord’s ministry through Paul.

Let’s face facts. Very few things get accomplished in ministry without money. Money and ministry often flow together. There is nothing unspiritual about admitting the need for money in our lives. To quote Sophie Tucker: "From birth to eighteen, a girl needs good parents. From eighteen to thirty-five, she needs good looks. From thirty-five to fifty-five, she needs a good personality. From fifty-five on, she needs cash."

Paul’s friends in Philippi were spiritually mature enough to realize that Paul needed cash to continue his ministry. They freely, generously, eagerly gave of their hard earned money so many more souls might be saved.

What about us? Is the subject of money taboo in our lives or can we discuss this subject openly and maturely? We all know that there isn’t a single person here tonight or in this congregation who is financially set. We all struggle when it comes to money. We are very much like the Philippians in that respect. But with our sinful nature, even the little bit we have causes us to become greedy and self-serving with our hard-earned cash. We hoard it for ourselves. We save it for a rainy day. We spend it on worthless baubles and trinkets. And when we give back to the Lord we give carelessly, cheaply. We give the leftovers and keep the best for ourselves. Is that how God wants us to treat the money he has given us? Is that being content?

Just look at what God can do through our combined offerings. Through the Philippians, Paul was able to travel all over the world spreading the saving gospel. Through your offerings, our congregation is able to support a church and a school, a pastor, 4 ½ teachers, a part-time secretary who works like she’s full-time. Through your eager giving, we can tough the lives of hundreds of families in our church, school, and community.

Paul also said that this giving wasn’t only for the benefit of his ministry, but it was also for the benefit of the Philippians’ hearts – "it was credited to their account." We are the ones who benefit from giving to the Lord. We see the joy in people’s hearts when they hear and believe the gospel we have given them. How gratifying it is to here children sing God’s praises loudly in school, to offer forgiveness to a weak brother or sister, to offer a Savior to someone who is hurting and alone. God blesses you as you bless his ministry with your giving.

When you give, don’t worry about your finances. God will supply your needs. He has met your needs in the past. He will meet your needs in the future. The Philippians were poor, yet Paul promised that the Lord would look after their needs. "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." As God’s chosen children, you have the promise that God will never leave nor forsake you. You are the special objects of God’s providence and loving care. If God gave you the glorious riches of salvation through Christ Jesus, will he not also give you everything you need to live and survive here in life? He will meet your needs.

God will meet all your needs – physical needs, mental needs, emotional needs, spiritual needs. He will do it all. He did it for Paul. He did it for the Philippians. He will do it for you. He won’t take care of some things and leave others for you to deal with. All needs. Everything that is bothering and burdening you now, God will take care of them. When you acknowledge that God meets your needs, then you will be content in everything, in all circumstances.

"To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever." Give glory to God this evening. Give him glory tomorrow when you are stuffed with turkey and pumpkin pie and watching football. Give him glory by being content. Contentment comes without ribbons! It comes without tags! It comes without packages, boxes or bags! Contentment doesn’t come from a store. Contentment means quite a bit more! Contentment means that God gives us strength. It means that he meets our needs to any length. That is the secret of contentment. Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. (Philippians 4:23)