Lots of people know Philippians 4:13, but usually out of context. That's why Christian high schools (and even my local YMCA) put it on the weight room wall. Hopefully, I don't need to explain that Paul wasn't talking about a bench press when he said, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
Even those who know the context mostly ignore half of it. Verse 12 says, "I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need." Maybe it's just us greedy, rich Americans that think this way, but I mostly see people focus on the going hungry and suffering need part. Somehow we think we need Christ's help for that, but we feel like we can handle being filled and having abundance on our own.
It seems fitting that I came across this passage on the day after Christmas when we "celebrate Jesus' birthday" by spending gobs of money on gifts, decorations, and outfits. We have this insidious idea that wealth, luxury, and possessions are the objective (or maybe a reward?), but Paul sees them more like the other side of the same coin. Whether you have plenty or nothing, you still need Jesus to get you through it. It's hard to gather statistics on something like this, but I suspect that as many lives have been shipwrecked through wealth as poverty.
Only when you focus on eternal things and seek God's kingdom first (ya know, like Jesus said) can you really "be content in whatever circumstance." That's the point of this whole thing.
Comments
Post a Comment