In our modern culture, the formula for peace and happiness has become, beauty plus the "perfect" family plus the "perfect" job plus stuff plus success equals contentment.  Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," is the motivational mantra to get what I want.

In contrast, if one were to look at the life of the apostle Paul, we would expect to see a depressed man.  But we see the opposite.  Paul wrote this letter to the church in Philippi from a prison cell.  He experienced various imprisonments, flogging, shipwreck and more.  But in the midst of this, we see a man, not depressed, but full of joy and contentment.  In this passage, we see the secret to Paul's contentment, and the key to our contentment.

In today's lesson we will see Paul's joy, Paul's contentment, and finally the source of Paul's contentment.  May you be blessed as you listen to today's lesson.