Note 3 at Phil. 4:11: Paul did not want the Philippians to draw a wrong conclusion from what he had just said. Although he appreciated the gifts from the saints at Philippi, the supply of his needs was not the source of his joy. Paul knew the secret of contentment. It was finding all his life in Christ (Heb. 13:5).

Note 4 at Phil. 4:11: Paul had to LEARN to be content. Contentment doesn't come naturally or as a result of circumstances.

Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 2:24, "There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should MAKE HIS SOUL ENJOY GOOD in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God." Solomon went on to say in the next verse, "For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?"

What Solomon was saying was that no one on the earth could indulge their desires the way he had. He was the richest man that has ever or will ever live (2 Chr. 1:12) and yet he had come to the conclusion that we have to make ourselves enjoy life. Things and circumstances didn't satisfy Solomon and they won't do it for us either. It is a choice on our part.

Paul had LEARNED to be content. Everyone of us has that capacity just like we have the intellect to read and write. But reading and writing doesn't come naturally. We have to learn, and some learn better than others. Likewise, we have to learn to be content, and some learn that lesson better than others as well.

The secret to Paul's contentment was that he had died to himself and was living totally for God (Phil. 1:21; Gal. 2:20). Paul was dead to himself. It isn't hard to please a dead man. Dead men don't have any needs. All depression and discontentment centers around selfishness. Eliminate selfishness and we can be content.

Note 5 at Phil. 4:11: Paul makes special mention that his contentment worked in whatsoever state he found himself. That means that Godly contentment isn't dependent upon circumstances. That is totally opposite of the way most people think today.

No one really desires depression but very few feel any responsibility or authority to maintain positive emotions in the face of negative circumstances. They think emotions follow circumstances. That's not true. Emotions follow the way we think, and we can chose to think on things that are lovely, true, of good report, and so forth (Phil. 4:8) regardless of our circumstances. As our thinking goes, so goes our emotions (Prov. 23:7; Isa. 26:3; Rom. 8:6).

Note 6 at Phil. 4:11: Paul's priorities were correct. Even though God desires to prosper his people (see note 5 at 2 Cor. 8:9, p. 1020; 3 Jn. 2), Paul's focus was not on possessions but upon Christ (2 Cor. 3:18). Likewise, we should believe that it is the Lord's will to prosper us financially and receive that, but not complain when we find ourselves in difficult situations.