The Real Secret

The Real Secret

Can I let you in on a secret? What if I told you that there was an ancient secret that you could tap into that would bring you untold wealth, success and happiness in life? That is exactly what the recent book and the film titled “The Secret” claim. “The Secret” claims that “You’ll begin to understand the hidden, untapped power that’s within you, and this revelation can bring joy to every aspect of your life. …men and women have used it to achieve health, wealth, and happiness.” The power to have these things resides in you and in certain laws that exist in the universe. Ultimately, these laws are used to get you the car, the money, the relationship and the happiness that you want. As "The Secret" puts it, all you have to do is "put in your order with the universe." Ask. Believe. Receive. That's the mantra. It is a nothing more than a New Age version of the prosperity gospel. All you have to do is think the right thoughts and you will get rid of disease, find the right person, and get rich.

The flip side to “The Secret” is that if bad things happen to you, it's all your fault. As surely as your thoughts bring health, wealth and love, they are also responsible for any illness, poverty or misery that comes your way. The truth is that you and I are not in control of the things that happen to us in life – God is. And he brings both prosperity and sometimes hardship, according to his sovereign will. The good news is there is a secret to life – not a secret of how to abound and be prosperous, but how to be content no matter what your circumstances. The apostle Paul said, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” Would you like to learn this secret? Then listen to these verses from Philippians chapter four.

PHILIPPIANS 4:10-13

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

In verse 11 Paul said that he had learned to be content. Contentment is not a gift or a natural disposition. It is something to be learned. Have you learned contentment? If Paul learned contentment then there is hope for you and me to learn also. The word Paul used for “learn” in this verse means “to learn by use and practice; i.e. by experience.” The school of Christ often involves hardship and trials. Paul had his share of them. He suffered more than any other apostle. In order to learn the lesson of contentment in the Christian life, Christ will put you through things that will stretch you and test you. You will probably fail many times before you learn this lesson. But learn this lesson you must. God will keep testing you and humbling you until you learn. Sanctification does not come about overnight. God is patient and will teach us until we learn, but from our standpoint it may seem to take a while.
The test of contentment can come either through poverty or prosperity; through hardship or through success. The poor person says, “I’ll be content when I can just get out of poverty.” The rich person says, “I’ll be content when I have a little more.” But if you think like that, you’ll never be content. Do you ever think that way? I’ll be content when _______ happens. I’ll be content when I meet the man or woman of my dreams. Or, I’ll be content when I get the house I’ve always wanted, or the furnishings for that house. I’ll be content when I get the job I’ve always wanted, the car I want, the boat, the vacation, etc. Ecclesiastes 5:10 says, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.” If you love things, you’ll never be satisfied with things. You’ll never have enough. Jesus said you can’t love or serve both God and mammon. But if you love God instead of things – you’ll be satisfied.

In Psalm 73 we read the musings of Asaph who became discontented with his lot in life. Asaph said, “I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.” He looked at their prosperity and their comfortable lives and he began to be envious. He thought about his life and it seemed as if there was no reward for seeking God. He said, “Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.” Do you ever feel that way? That you have tried to serve God and be committed to him and you begin to wonder where it’s gotten you? You may think that you have served God for many years and you have nothing to show for it. You question whether it has been worth it. That is what Asaph was thinking.

But Asaph did something – the psalm says that he went into the sanctuary of God. There he gained the perspective he needed. He realized what the destiny of the wicked would be. Though they seemed to be at peace and well-off, in a moment God would bring them “down to destruction.” He confessed his foolishness and his ignorance. He acknowledged the presence of God and his guidance. In Psalm 73:25 Asaph said, “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.” You see, the true goal of contentment is to be content with God alone as the object of our affections. It’s not that God doesn’t want us to enjoy the things of this life – he does. It is not that we should have no drive or ambition to achieve things in life – we should. But we are to be satisfied with God alone. Calvin stated that “If we give the smallest portion of our affections to the creatures, we in so far defraud God of the honor which belongs to him.” Contentment then is satisfaction with your circumstances because God is ordering those circumstances and God is present with you in those circumstances. Paul is talking about contentment with the things you and I cannot control. We are never to be content with our current level of sanctification. However we must always be content with the providence of God in our lives. Learn to meditate on God’s Providence so that you learn to think this way: “The Lord willed it, it must therefore be endured; not only because it would be wrong to strive with him, but also because God wills only what is good and right for me.” (paraphrase of John Calvin)

How then did Paul learn contentment? What was his secret? Verse 13 contains the answer – “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” What is the secret of contentment? Jesus Christ. Do you really know Him? Have you put your full trust in Him as your all in all? Draw from his strength and you can do all things. You can have contentment in any and every situation. You can do all the things that Paul mentions in his letter to the Philippians. You can do whatever God commands you to do.

The world’s “Secret” is to find a way to make more money, get better health and find a great relationship in order to find contentment. God’s way is to find Jesus Christ and then find contentment. Apart from Christ, you will never be content, no matter if you gain the whole world. There is no substitute for an intimate relationship with God through Christ to bring true contentment to your soul.