“I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me”
Popular words. It seems any time a receiver catches a touchdown pass he quotes Philippians 4:13. It seems any time a baseball player hits a home he quotes Philippians 4:13. In fact this verse has been used as the verse that apparently lets a Christian do anything through the strength of God.
Can I submit to you that this isn’t at all what Paul is talking about. (A reminder that context matters) Paul is not talking about ability in this passage, but rather contentment.
He says, “I know how to get along with humble means, 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 can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (4:12-13)
Paul is not saying that any feat is attainable through God’s strength. If that were true the preceding verses would be about how he escaped prison and did it all through God’s strength.
PEOPLE USE THIS VERSE TO SAY THAT GOD SUPERNATURALLY PROVIDES FOR MY LACK, WHEN IN REALITY PAUL IS SAYING THAT GOD SUPERNATURALLY HELPS ME BE CONTENT WITH MY LACK.
The issue is contentment! Without a doubt contentment is the forgotten attribute of our society. We talk of grace, hope, love, mercy, faith, and even a little about patience, but contentment is forgotten. And it is a shame, for it is important to God.
(Luke 3:14, Hebrews 13:5, 1 Timothy 6:6-10, Matthew 6:19-24, 1 John 2:15-17, James 4:4)
And while contentment is most certainly difficult to demonstrate, it is possible. There is strength available! It is the strength of Isaiah 40:31, it is the strength Paul prayed that the Ephesians would have (3:14-16), it is the strength Paul used while dealing with his thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:9-10) and it is the strength by which we stand against the enemy (Ephesians 6:10).
In fact a better translation of that verse is “I can handle all things through Him who strengthens me.”
So the next time you find yourself in a position of need or are hardship. The next time the finances are low or the resources are bare, or you just don’t have everything you want. Trust me when I tell you that through Christ you can handle it. God may not swoop in and instantly fix your situation, but He will give you the strength to somehow be ok with it. Even sinners are happy when they get what they want, but a true expression of Christian life is when we are content even when we don’t!
Grace to You!
