“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12. I know how to be abased (have little), and I know how to abound (have a lot): everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheth me.”
The Philippian Church sent Paul a monetary gift to help with his expenses. In the passage from which the text is taken, Paul thanks them profusely for their generosity, but he wants them to know that he is not needy. Paul had learned to live in all kinds of circumstances. There were times that he had plenty, and he was content. There were times that he had very little, and he was content. The point was that Paul was never “under the circumstances,” i.e., circumstances, good or bad, did not control Paul’s life. This required great faith in the Lord, for Paul faced all kinds of difficult circumstances. After he was saved on the Damascus Road and began to preach the gospel, there were people who swore to kill him. They declared that they would not eat until Paul was dead. (They must have been awfully hungry thirty years later.) I don’t think that it would be a comfortable thought that somebody had pledged to kill me. It would take great faith on Paul’s part to go on living and witnessing in spite of the fact that someone wanted to kill him. (Put yourself in that position.) Paul faced all kinds of trials as he traveled about witnessing and ministering for Jesus. He wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9. Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” Now look at a list of circumstances that Paul encountered in his ministry: “Of the Jews five times I received forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren….” (2 Corinthians 11:24-26) There is more, but these verses should prove the point that Paul’s life and his effectiveness in what he was doing were not controlled by negative circumstances. Paul was not a super-human hero who could not be harmed by the contingencies of life. He was a flesh and blood man, who had learned to not be controlled by the circumstances of his life. You and I do not have to live “under the circumstances,” because we have the same resources at our disposal that Paul had. Philippians 4:13 gives the secret: “I can do all through Christ (Who) strengthens me.” In everything that he did, Paul knew that Jesus was with him. This meant that he had the Holy Spirit working in his life to enable him to be effective. This meant that he had faith that Jesus could take care of him in all circumstances. Paul could withstand all that he suffered because he had Jesus in his life. If we have Jesus in our lives we can also do all things in His strength, just as Paul did. I don’t know what circumstances you are facing in your life today, but I do know that you do not have to live “under them.” I know from experience that you can face whatever you have to face with poise, grace and courage, if you believe that Jesus is with you and giving you His strength. If you do not know that, give Him your life today. Confess your sins, and, by faith, invite Jesus into your life. If you do know that, give your circumstances to Jesus today, and let Him handle them for you. Bro. Joe
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AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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