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Meditation

Reader,

Last week, we learned that Epaphroditus had brought Paul a monetary gift from the church in Philippi. That’s what Paul refers to here when he says that his friends renewed their concern for him (verse 10).

He’s so grateful for their gift, but he doesn’t really want to talk about the money. Instead, he wants to talk about contentment. And we know from yesterday’s passage that the reason he wants to talk about this is so that we can follow his example!

Most people, even those who aren’t Christian, have heard these famous five words from this passage: “I can do all this” (or “I can do all things,” verse 13). Sometimes people use these words to bolster their confidence or to believe in themselves when they’re faced with doing something hard.

But Paul is speaking about being content, or at peace, despite negative circumstances—even in a dire situation such as a Roman prison.

Twice in today’s passage, Paul says that he has “learned” to be content. This is important because contentment doesn’t come easily to any of us. Paul had to learn it, and so do we.

So don’t lose heart if you haven’t achieved the kind of contentment that Paul shows here. Keep praying and asking God for it, and in his timing, he will help you become more content.

And don’t miss the rest of the “I can do all this” sentence. How can Paul do all this—how can he be content in any circumstance?

“Through him who gives me strength.” You won’t be able to do this by yourself. The key to contentment, or for any hard thing that God asks us to do, is to rely on his strength, not on ourselves.

Today’s text is Philippians 4:10-13

Thanks for Their Gifts

¹⁰ I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

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.

¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Encouragement

⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ​
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Rebekah

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