Philippians 4:11,12
“Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.”
I love these verses. Paul has learned to be content. He describes one issue in which he learned it. It’s in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, ‘Because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.’ There it is, all in three verses.
Let’s expound on this a bit more. I believe Paul was the 12 apostle. The one to replace Judas. Yes, the 11 apostles chose Matthias, but he was never heard from again. I could be wrong. Paul was certainly apostle-like. Some say that part of being one of the 12, he had to be taught by Jesus. Well, that happened. Jesus introduced Himself to Paul on the road to Damascus. Part of the revelation Paul spoke of was probably given by Jesus. It was unique and special.
Anyways, God knew Paul would have exalted himself, so he was given a thorn in the flesh. Some say it was an eye issue. Upon meeting Jesus He saw the bright light and scales fell off them a few days later, so those may have been scabs. He also references this issue in Galatians 6:11, “See what large letters I am using to write to you with my own hand!” So, it appears Paul went through the remainder of his life nearly being legally blind. He had to learn to be content. Once he learned this he said he would rather “boast about my weakness”. That’s a high mark. One’s disability is a constant pain that is a constant reminder. Here we have a sufferer saying he would gladly keep it in exchange for the great gift God has given him.
What makes this answer even more interesting is that it’s one of the few times God includes a reason. Paul asks for the infliction to be Gone. God says, no, My grace is sufficient for you. And the reason is, “for power is perfected in weakness”. Wow! That is great. This must have been quite an issue for Paul for God to have done this. There can be no mistaking it. God wanted this to be crystal clear with Paul. He accepted it with joy and he says in today’s verse that he has learned to be content.
Paul learned contentment on many levels. He has learned to get along with much. That would seem to be easy. However, I could see that being complicated. First off, christians are to be humble. Especially in the first century. That’s one mental hurdle. Another is worrying about how this would appear. Would this hurt one’s witness? I could see Paul worrying about this. However, he saw that God put him there. He had to learn to be content with much. That is a lesson.
Paul also learned to be content with little. I would imagine there were times on his journeys that he had little. They would have prayed for relief. God must have given them assurance that He was with them and would provide. That can be scary.
Part of these verses inform us that we shouldn’t expect a constant state of ease. It may happen, but it’s not promised. In fact God’s power is perfected in weakness. We don’t seek lean states, but look to God if they come.
Part of being content is to have God’s peace. Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This peace is a blessing. I can picture an anxious or angry life and God’s peace is a soothing liquid poured within. It takes over and the trouble stops. That’s the truth.
Fear, anxiety anger, greed and much more can cause God’s peace to disappear. We are to learn to keep it. Don’t give in to doubts. Paul could have been afraid that they didn’t have enough food and lodging on their journey. They probably were. Instead of giving in to fear, they prayed. They leaned that God would provide wherever He would guide. Along with that faith comes God’s peace.
God’s peace is a symbol that He is with us. We don’t worship the peace, we acknowledge it’s one of His attributes. A blessed companion. This peace is so strong it satiates. We don’t have to pursue this or that. He has got us.
We still have goals and desires. It’s not wrong to do some acquiring. However, let His peace guide us. If we are looking and His peace disappears, it might be Him telling us “No”. However, I had much guilt as a young believer. I think much of that was from the devil. He uses condemnation as a weapon against us. However, God does use the absence of His peace as a sign to close a door. Just as He uses His peace as a sign to open a door. Part of this is learning to be content. “I don’t need that.”
There are a couple of other places where Paul addresses contentment. One of those is I Timothy 6:8 says, “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.” We can be assured God will provide those. Jesus addressed this Matthew 6:25-29, ‘“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they? And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span? And why are you worried about clothing? Notice how the lilies of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin thread for cloth, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.”
These verses are amazing. The birds aren’t doing nothing, but they don’t starve. We are to do our best and commit the rest. God works it out. Thanks, Lord. Walking through life with You is so great. Like my wife says, “It’s an adventure.” Help us to be like Paul and be content in all states.