Philippians 4:10-14 - Contentment In Christ

Philippians 4:13 could possibly be one of the most misused verses in the Bible. Most people use this verse as if Paul is giving us a blanket promise that we can be or do anything we dream, and that Christ is there to help us achieve our dreams.

 He's not. As the old saying goes, "A text without a context is a pretext," and there is no greater proof of the truth of that statement than the blatant misuse and abuse this verse gets in our American evangelical culture.

Philippians 4:13 is not about Christ helping us achieve our dreams and goals. In context, it is about God giving us the strength to be content no matter what his providential hand brings into our lives. Here is the context:

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I
am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.--Philippians 4:11-13

The focus of this passage is the virtue of contentment and the secret to contentment is resting in Christ. Paul can be faithful to Christ and satisfied with Christ no matter what his outward circumstances look like. He possesses Christ and that possession of Christ is more valuable than anything in this ever-changing world. We would do well to learn this sort of contentment and we will learn it just as soon as the focus of our lives becomes not ourselves or the things of this world, but Christ.

Below you will find a link to the Bible study I taught on this passage. I hope you will take the time to listen to it and be blessed. Just click below.


Click here: Philippians 4:10-14


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