All Things?
Read Philippians 4:10-20.
I'm about to upset some of your theologies because, in our American Christian sub-culture, we like to quote Philippians 4:13 as some kind of guarantee that whatever we want to do, we can do because God will allow us or enable us to do it. When we face something hard, we say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I know, because I've done that. So have you. But that's a pretty me-centered way of thinking. And that's not what Paul is saying.
It's never a good idea to rip a verse out of context. As Asbury professor Dr. Ben Witherington has said, "A text without a context is a pretext for a proof text." So what is the context for this famous verse? Paul is talking about being in need. He's thanking the Philippians for their support of his ministry and him in particular, and reminding them that they didn't have to send the support they did. Paul is grateful, but he's also telling them that he is not ultimately dependent on them or on anyone else for what he needs. God is his ultimate supporter, his provider.
Paul's situation is a lot like ours: he knows what it's like to be in need. He knows what it's like to have plenty. But, unlike our world, which so much prefers to have plenty, Paul has learned to rely upon whatever God sends. We demand and expect more; Paul will take whatever God wants to give him. Little or much, it doesn't matter. Deep down in his soul, Paul finds contentment wherever and in whatever situation he finds himself. And THAT is what he is talking about in this well-known verse. It is the power of Christ in him that allows him to be content even when he has no money in his bank account. A paraphrase of this famous verse might go like this: "I can be content no matter what I have because Jesus is giving me the strength to be so."
"Content" is a loaded word. Content means satisfied. It means you're okay with the situation as it is. We are rarely content, especially when it comes to finances. We work and scrape and scheme and plan to get more. Paul depends on God with a deep trust that I long for. I want to be able to be content like him, content in the provision of God and dependent on Christ. I think maybe, just maybe, this is why Jesus calls us to become like children. Is there anything or anyone more dependent than a child, especially a baby? They depend on their parents for everything, absolutely everything (though "fully content" is a state that eludes even children).
I can do all these things—rest content in God—through Christ who strengthens me. Am I content today? If everything I have goes away, will I still be content?
I'm about to upset some of your theologies because, in our American Christian sub-culture, we like to quote Philippians 4:13 as some kind of guarantee that whatever we want to do, we can do because God will allow us or enable us to do it. When we face something hard, we say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I know, because I've done that. So have you. But that's a pretty me-centered way of thinking. And that's not what Paul is saying.
It's never a good idea to rip a verse out of context. As Asbury professor Dr. Ben Witherington has said, "A text without a context is a pretext for a proof text." So what is the context for this famous verse? Paul is talking about being in need. He's thanking the Philippians for their support of his ministry and him in particular, and reminding them that they didn't have to send the support they did. Paul is grateful, but he's also telling them that he is not ultimately dependent on them or on anyone else for what he needs. God is his ultimate supporter, his provider.
Paul's situation is a lot like ours: he knows what it's like to be in need. He knows what it's like to have plenty. But, unlike our world, which so much prefers to have plenty, Paul has learned to rely upon whatever God sends. We demand and expect more; Paul will take whatever God wants to give him. Little or much, it doesn't matter. Deep down in his soul, Paul finds contentment wherever and in whatever situation he finds himself. And THAT is what he is talking about in this well-known verse. It is the power of Christ in him that allows him to be content even when he has no money in his bank account. A paraphrase of this famous verse might go like this: "I can be content no matter what I have because Jesus is giving me the strength to be so."
"Content" is a loaded word. Content means satisfied. It means you're okay with the situation as it is. We are rarely content, especially when it comes to finances. We work and scrape and scheme and plan to get more. Paul depends on God with a deep trust that I long for. I want to be able to be content like him, content in the provision of God and dependent on Christ. I think maybe, just maybe, this is why Jesus calls us to become like children. Is there anything or anyone more dependent than a child, especially a baby? They depend on their parents for everything, absolutely everything (though "fully content" is a state that eludes even children).
I can do all these things—rest content in God—through Christ who strengthens me. Am I content today? If everything I have goes away, will I still be content?
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