Never Satisfied

This summer we have been studying Paul’s letter to the Philippians in depth. Last week, we talked about how our righteousness is found in Christ, not in ourselves or in how well we uphold the law. Our goal is to know Christ - even through suffering, and to attain resurrection life. Today we will look at verses 12-15 and see what it means to live in a holy discontent - always striving for more of Christ!

Holy Discontentment

In Philippians 3:12, Paul writes, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” This reveals a mindset we’re called to embrace - a holy discontent.

Holy discontent isn’t about questioning Christ’s sufficiency. It’s about refusing to settle spiritually. It means being deeply thankful for where God has brought you, yet still hungry for more of Him. Like Paul, we press on, not out of guilt, but out of a growing love and desire to know Jesus more.

This mindset shows up in how we pray, worship, and live. You’re not content with routine. You want real connection, real obedience, and deeper transformation. You don’t chase perfection, but you reject complacency.

Sadly, many believers settle for lukewarm faith. We want just enough of Jesus to feel safe, but not enough to be changed. In Revelations 3:15-16, we see a stark warning against this kind of faith: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” That’s a message to the church - to us.

A lukewarm faith is one of being content with the minimal effort in our faith. It’s going to church, but never changing. Reading the Bible when it’s convenient. Saying you follow Jesus but living like the world. Praying only when you’re desperate. Giving God your leftovers instead of your best. Lukewarm faith blends into the cultural complacency around us and prioritizes comfort over conviction.

A holy discontent pushes back against a comfortable, passive Christianity. It stirs up a longing for more of God’s presence, word, and power. Jesus didn’t save us so we could coast. He saved us so we could pursue — with passion, with purpose, and with perseverance.

Let this be your pursuit: More of Christ. Less of self. Never settling. Always pressing on.

Your Actions Reveal What You’re Pursuing

Holy discontent is revealed by how you live! The truth is that every one of us is in pursuit of something. We chase goals, success, and influence. We strive for better performance, deeper relationships, financial stability, and recognition. Sometimes it’s the approval of others. Other times, it’s our own ambitions that drive us. 

Even as believers, we’re not exempt from chasing things. We seek God’s favor, His blessing, His forgiveness, His presence. But if we’re not careful, our pursuit of God can start to look more like striving for results than longing for relationship. We begin to chase what He can do for us more than who He is to us. The question for us today is not if you’re pursuing something - but what are you already pursuing? What you are chasing after shows up in your habits, your calendar, your checkbook, and your conversations. The way you live tells the story of what matters most to you.

Matthew 6:21 says it this way: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” We don’t need a diary to show what someone is chasing after - it’s clearly showcased in their habits, priorities, and patterns. Your actions are like highlighters over your deepest desires. Where your time flows, where your energy goes - those are clues to what you value most. 

For Paul, he tells us what he’s striving after in verses 12-14. In verse 12 he says that “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Then in verses 13-14 he states “one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Paul’s aim is to forget what’s behind him and push towards the goal of knowing Christ more!

Paul’s use of athletic metaphor here helps us understand the discipline of a holy discontent life. We are to spring and strain towards the finish line of knowing Christ with every fiber of our being. His original readers would have recognized the allusion, as the Greco-Roman world revered the Olympic and Isthmian games. Those athletes would train with intense discipline, compete for the prize, and run with their eyes fixed ahead on the goal. 

Pursuing God Will Change Your Direction

Paul wants us to see the Christian life as more than a casual jog alongside Jesus. It is a driven pursuit field by a holy discontentment with the status quo. This language challenges those who just want to coast in their faith, or rest in salvation with no motivation to be sanctified afterward. When we live this way - it’s evident in our day to day life. Our habits are now like those of an athlete training for a goal. They are intentional, directed, and constantly helping us get towards the longterm goal of knowing Christ more. 

A holy discontentment leads to transformation. Like Paul, as we pursue Christ, we are transformed! This kind of a faith reorients our life around what truly matters. When we chase Christ, we are changed! What once mattered to us loses its grip on us. What once defined us no longer does. We don’t just adopt new habits, we become new people.

We refuse to let the past define us, and instead keep our eyes on the road ahead. Don’t let your past sins, past spiritual highs, past hurts, or past successes hold you back. Our walk with Christ isn’t about the past, it’s about the pursuit of Jesus. 

Imagine going on a road trip while spending the entire time looking in the rearview mirror. You aren’t going to arrive at your destination, because you can’t see where you’re going! Our walk with Christ requires us to forget the past, but keep our eyes in front. This changes our direction and keeps us moving forward, not backwards.

Pursuing God Means Giving Him Control

If we want to grow closer to Christ, we must be willing to let go of control. Pursuing God means giving Him every part of your life! It means following His lead in every area of life, not just part of it. It means trusting that His plans are better than yours could ever be. You might not always understand what God is doing or why He is allowing something but know that He desires the best for you. 

As we pursue God, our world changes. Sometimes this is the very thing we need, but the very thing we are afraid of. We like the idea of spiritual growth, but don’t always love the process. We want to be transformed - but on our own terms. If we truly want to pursue God, we have to give up control and allow Him to transform us as He desires. If you insist on holding on to your plans and desires - you will miss out on the journey that God has for you and all of the growth He has for you.

The more you pursue God, the more your desires begin to align with his. Our greatest blessings often come through surrender. Our greatest joys often follow obedience. It is counterintuitive, but as we allow God to take the reins, we find peace knowing that we aren’t in control. This isn’t always easy - in fact, it very rarely is. But it is always worth it. Chase after Christ with all that you have. You won’t regret it! 

What You Focus On, You Drive Towards

Our pursuit as Christians is Christ Himself. It is knowing Him, loving Him, and living for His purposes. That is the only thing that truly matters in this world. My encouragement to you today is to fix your eyes on Christ and never settle for anything less. In driving school, they teach you that when a car is coming toward you in the opposite lane with headlights on, you shouldn’t stare at the lights. Rather, focus on the solid white line on the right-hand side of the road. Why? Because if you stare at the lights, you may start to drift that way. But if you focus on the other side of the road, you tend to drift that way.

Where we focus determines our direction. If your focus is on some earthly goal or treasure, your life will naturally drift towards that thing. But if your focus is on Jesus, your life will naturally drift in that direction. Don’t just try to do better or be better. Fix your eyes on Jesus and pursue Him just like Paul did - with a holy discontent and a drive to always push forward to more of Christ.

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Philippians Week 7: July 20th, 2025. Preached by Ben Dieterly

Article Edited by Julia Castro