August 23, 2925 CONTENT IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE
Philippians 4:11-13 “ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Like so many of the scriptures, this is without a doubt counter-culture. The culture of the world says that one should always be on a path where they are receiving more and more and they should always be becoming more prosperous. To live a life as described by Paul in this verse requires the work of the Holy Spirit; a work that transforms in the inner most part of our being. The issue is not how much or how little one has, or what the circumstances are at the moment. The real issue is that of being content in any and all circumstances. This may sound paradoxical, but it is a work of the Spirt in us, and it is also something we learn. We learn as we walk with the Spirit and work with Him as He works in us. We will walk through difficulties, but the Spirit of God will be with us and will strengthen us in such times. It is amazing, but Paul had learned how to be abased, and how to abound. I read about a CEO of a major corporation who lost his job due to company downsizing. He applied for jobs, but was turned down for being over qualified. A long story- but he eventually saw an ad for a job as a cook cooking potato fries at Chick-fil-A. He got the job and decided he would be the best potato fry cooker anywhere. He had promotions and eventually became a store operator. Sorry for the long story-but you get the point. We must believe and know that God is ALWAYS present with us. Our part is to seek to learn of Him and to make the choices to walk in His ways. It is a mystery, but we can be full and we can be hungry and we can abound and also suffer need. That is the miracle part; that is the part that the worlds culture has no understanding of. The key statement that Paul made was that He ‘could do all things through Christ who strengthens him.’ That is not true just for Paul; that’s for you and I as well. Let us, with the Spirit working in us, be lifted out of the culture of this world and discover a ‘higher-plain’ of living. Again, there is no way we can have a lasting contentment without knowing that Christ is our life.
2 Corinthians 12:10 “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Blessings, Buddy
Philippians 4:11-13 “ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Like so many of the scriptures, this is without a doubt counter-culture. The culture of the world says that one should always be on a path where they are receiving more and more and they should always be becoming more prosperous. To live a life as described by Paul in this verse requires the work of the Holy Spirit; a work that transforms in the inner most part of our being. The issue is not how much or how little one has, or what the circumstances are at the moment. The real issue is that of being content in any and all circumstances. This may sound paradoxical, but it is a work of the Spirt in us, and it is also something we learn. We learn as we walk with the Spirit and work with Him as He works in us. We will walk through difficulties, but the Spirit of God will be with us and will strengthen us in such times. It is amazing, but Paul had learned how to be abased, and how to abound. I read about a CEO of a major corporation who lost his job due to company downsizing. He applied for jobs, but was turned down for being over qualified. A long story- but he eventually saw an ad for a job as a cook cooking potato fries at Chick-fil-A. He got the job and decided he would be the best potato fry cooker anywhere. He had promotions and eventually became a store operator. Sorry for the long story-but you get the point. We must believe and know that God is ALWAYS present with us. Our part is to seek to learn of Him and to make the choices to walk in His ways. It is a mystery, but we can be full and we can be hungry and we can abound and also suffer need. That is the miracle part; that is the part that the worlds culture has no understanding of. The key statement that Paul made was that He ‘could do all things through Christ who strengthens him.’ That is not true just for Paul; that’s for you and I as well. Let us, with the Spirit working in us, be lifted out of the culture of this world and discover a ‘higher-plain’ of living. Again, there is no way we can have a lasting contentment without knowing that Christ is our life.
2 Corinthians 12:10 “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Blessings, Buddy
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