“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” -Philippians 4:13
We all love to quote this beautiful verse from time to time, especially when we are faced with difficulties and challenges that seemed to be beyond our ability to overcome, because it reminds us that the God we serve is all powerful and that if He is on our side we would be able to achieve anything that we set ourselves to do, However We tend to overlook the verse right before it in Philippians 4:12 “ I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” In this verse the apostle Paul talks about the principle of “contentment” and he calls it a secret, I personally don’t think he calls it a secret because is hidden information but because of the lack of contentment among all people.
We all love to quote this beautiful verse from time to time, especially when we are faced with difficulties and challenges that seemed to be beyond our ability to overcome, because it reminds us that the God we serve is all powerful and that if He is on our side we would be able to achieve anything that we set ourselves to do, However We tend to overlook the verse right before it in Philippians 4:12 “ I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” In this verse the apostle Paul talks about the principle of “contentment” and he calls it a secret, I personally don’t think he calls it a secret because is hidden information but because of the lack of contentment among all people.
Even as Christians we all struggle with “contentment” to certain extent. In my case it was the fact that I was too content with my current life as a husband, dad, minister, etc. I was too content with where I live and how I live so when God came with the message of “Go and make disciples..” I gave Him all kind of excuses including the fact that I wasn’t qualified to do the job but then He brought me to these two verses where He reminded me that my satisfaction is to be found on Him and that when I do He makes the unqualified able by His greatness.
I want to encourage us all to learn and embrace the secret of being content in ANY and EVERY situation whether in plenty or in want, here or there, for when we do we allow our mighty God to be at work in our lives and as I was reminded today: “when all we have is God we discover that all we need is God.”
After re-visiting the amazing sufficiency of our God, and His instruction through the apostle Paul about contentment lets say it again but now with the understanding that if it is within His will for our life and that we are ready to give up everything:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”
Santiago
I want to encourage us all to learn and embrace the secret of being content in ANY and EVERY situation whether in plenty or in want, here or there, for when we do we allow our mighty God to be at work in our lives and as I was reminded today: “when all we have is God we discover that all we need is God.”
After re-visiting the amazing sufficiency of our God, and His instruction through the apostle Paul about contentment lets say it again but now with the understanding that if it is within His will for our life and that we are ready to give up everything:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”
Santiago