Paul's Secret

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 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.

Philippians 3:11-13

Paul has a secret for us. He was speaking to the Philippians here, and he is thanking them for sending him some material support, most likely financial in form.  He is thankful they sent him some help, but he wanted to make something clear.  Although he rejoiced when he received their gift, he did not want them to think that he was desperate for it.  He was not necessarily rejoicing because he needed the gift.  He was rejoicing because it showed that the Philippian church was concerned for him; he knew they loved him.

How can Paul, a traveling missionary, who said in another passage that he was constantly in affliction, hardship, distress, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, sleeplessness, and hunger (2 Cor. 6:4-5), say that he was not in desperate need of anything?  He said in 2 Corinthians 6:10 that he was poor, yet he made others rich; he had nothing, yet he possessed everything.

Though Paul suffered so greatly, he could tell the Philippians that he has learned to be content in whatever circumstance he finds himself in.  He has learned to both be filled and go hungry, and he has learned to suffer need and have abundance.  Through it all, he found a secret.

The secret was that Christ strengthened him through everything!

I want to give you a few thoughts about this great secret.

1. Learning is experiential.

First of all, it is important to realize this.  Paul learned to be content with having extra by actually having extra.  On the flip side, he learned to be content with little by actually having little.  You can't learn to be patient without having to wait.  You can't learn to be loving without being around those hard to love.  You can't learn to be generous without being around those who don't have anything.  And you can't learn to be content unless you go through times of need.  When I coached high school softball, I could talk to the girls all day long about how to hit a ball.  I could show them videos of athletes hitting the ball.  I could go up to the plate and let them watch me hit the ball.  But the best way for them to be a hitter was for them to go up to that plate themselves and take a swing.

2. Contentment is needed in good times and bad times.

Secondly, notice that Paul does not say he only learned to be content when he was in need.  He also learned to be content when he had extra.  Furloughed workers are not the only ones who need to learn contentment!  Contentment is something every Christian needs.  Contentment is the guard against hopelessness, complaining, and jealousy when we have nothing.  Contentment is also the guard against greed, the love of money, and selfishness when we have more than enough.

3. Christ strength is needed in times of plenty and times of scarcity.

Paul's secret was that Christ strengthened him to endure both situations.  Philippians 4:13 is famously used by Christians all the time.  But so many of us miss the context of the verse.  Christ strengthened Paul to be content.  Christ's strength is what allows us to suffer need, but still be thankful.  To have little materially, but much spiritually.  Christ also strengthens us to have much, but still hope in Christ alone.  To have much materially AND much spiritually.  Without Christ's strength, we cannot be content in either situation.

4. Christ is strong enough to help you thrive in any circumstance.

Finally, what Paul learned he now teaches us.  Christ is strong enough to help us in any situation in life.  His strength means that we don't just survive- we thrive.

Whatever situation you are in today, seek Christ's strength.  Bloom where you are planted!