“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Philippians 4:11 (NIV)
Have you ever been flat broke? There’ve been a few times I’ve been there, and it’s not a real enjoyable place to be. At the other end of that gamut is having more than enough, which is a whole lot more comfortable and easier to appreciate!
The Apostle Paul, like most of us, didn’t have a whole lot of trouble dealing with the upper end of the “poverty to plenty” spectrum—that wouldn’t have been an issue.
Writing to the Philippians about the downer end of that prosperity scale was more where the tires met the tarmac. He might have been referring to some of the Mideast dungeons he’d been a “guest” in on a number of occasions. These were often just a hole in the ground; the food was just what friends and family would come and toss in; it was either bone-chilling wet or sweltering dry, and there were no set release dates. Paul had learned how to handle hard places!
Verse 13 is usually quoted in the broader field of “God strengthening His people for any situation they face.” That isn’t wrong but, in this context, it focuses on being able to live contentedly and work effectively in this unpredictable “poverty to plenty” life space of the believer’s journey.
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13, NIV). No matter where a person is on the comfort, financial and social registers, our God gives His people the stamina and staying power to be content in whatever scenario life finds them.
– Kene Jackson
Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website.
Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org