Philippians 4:12
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,
whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
This passage sums up the book of Philippians, which was a letter written by Paul to the church of Philippi, encouraging them and thanking them for their support. Paul certainly can validate what he said here, as he wrote this epistle from prison. Surely he had to contend with being in need, being in every or any situation, living in want.
He also experienced the opposite. Before his supernatural conversion, Paul was a leading Jewish scholar, educated in Rome, where he was a citizen, and no doubt lived a relatively comfortable life. No doubt he had plenty and was well fed.
And yet, in this letter to the Philippians, Paul says, "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" (Philippians 3:8)
Paul was filled with joy in captivity, for he likened his human bondage with being bound to Christ, and he took his imprisonment, which would have caused many to be deeply distraught, as an opportunity to witness to others, exemplifying the kind of peace and joy that Christ offers, even when people can see Paul in the midst of an unpleasant circumstance.
(Phil 1:12-14) "But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Paul is able to take that position because he sees it modeled to perfection in Christ:
(Phil 2:5-8) Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Jesus had the stature of God Himself, and yet he gave it up, humbled Himself for us.
Paul also states that even if he was in such lack that it caused him to die, he would be satisfied:
(Phil 1: 21-23) but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
Imagine the strength and the peace in having that kind of position in life! Here Paul doesn't exactly know if or when he will ever leave prison, and we lose our center if we need a cup of coffee and there's no Starbucks in town! There are cultures and communities that are far more lacking than we are, and still we will always find something to be discontent about.
Jesus tells us that God will always provide for our needs, and reminds us that if we seek God instead of whatever we think will fill our voids, we will never be lacking:
(Matthew 6:25-34) "Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment? Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life? And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
Even in a dire situation - and certainly our world right now seems dark indeed - remember that ultimately, we have nothing to lose, for all we need is Christ's salvation, the Gift of God. Jesus tells the Samaritan woman at the well that the Gift of God is living water that once someone drinks of it will never be thirsty again (John 4:10-15). It seems Paul must have had a cup or two of that water!
Be like David, who says "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1). Be like Paul in prison, content to do whatever shows up in the next moment, knowing that he is either going to be working for Jesus, or sitting with Jesus.
Let's trade in our lattes for living water - trade in a caffeine high for the heights of heaven - which will never wear off. THAT is Paul's secret to being content.
