Strength in contentment
Philippians 4:11-13 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.
This point in Paul’s letter was most likely the reason he wrote the letter; he had received a gift from the Philippians, and he wanted to express his gratitude. It seems as those this church had continually sought to take care of Paul, even when others had forgotten him; he recognized this and he wanted to show his genuine thanks for it in this epistle. Paul was encouraging them to be content themselves in this epistle, and he used his life as an example of it. He found his every need satisfied in Christ. Contentment is a state of being that is not bred into our society of today: we are either feeling we are entitled to more, or we are so focused on our own abilities, that we feel we can obtain anything we desire. We are never happy with our current state.
Likely the most abused scripture in the Bible: 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. We take this scripture, weave it in with pride, and believe that with Christ on our side we can do anything we put our minds to. We believe we can hit home runs, secure business deals, run a marathon, be successful by worldly standards, be anything we put our minds to. This is the opposite of what Paul is teaching! Paul is saying he cannot do anything without Christ! He is saying that through Christ’s strength he can face whatever state he finds himself for the day; he is content in that strength of Christ. Here is is teaching contentment, obedience, and strength, not empowerment of oneself for the means of accomplishing a self satisfying goal.
Matthew Henry says of this contentment; “This is a special act of grace, to accommodate ourselves to every condition of life, and carry an equal temper of mind through all varieties of our state. This was an account of Paul’s learning, not which he learned at the feet of Gamaliel, but at the feet of Christ.” The strength you need to face whatever you may, is the strength found in the contentment of abiding in Christ in that current situation. He has taken you to, what He will deliver you through. That strength in contentment is the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7).
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