Contentedness

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13, ESV)

I was reading through Philippians this week in my devotions and came across these words.  Philippians 4:13 is one of those verses in Scripture that are often used out of context.  Like when someone uses it as a mantra for success, or as a self-help verse meant to provide motivation to try harder or speaking of overcoming some challenge.  But when Paul writes this verse, he is talking about the ability to be content even when life is not going the way he might have hoped or planned.  

What does it mean to be content?  Well, the word itself means to be sufficient, strong enough, not needing help.  That doesn’t mean that Paul just accepted his lot in life.  He is speaking of his attitude toward his circumstances so that instead of complaining or whining about it or chasing after the wrong things, he was able to look past those circumstances and focus on what really mattered.  Remember, Paul was writing this from prison.  He was not in a place of abundance and goodness.  But rather than focusing on his imprisonment or trying to change his circumstances, he focused on serving the Lord as best as he could from that position.  

In ministry it can be easy to become discontent.  Buildings, finances, dealing with disgruntled people, not having enough leaders, and so many other things that can weigh us down or get in the way.  It could also be that our issue lies not with our ministry, but with something more personal that causes us to be discontent.   Paul is not calling us to ignore those issues or pretend they don’t exist, but he is calling us to consider our attitude toward them.  Discontent comes when our focus shifts to the wrong things.  Sometimes we can become so overwhelmed by the issues we face that our focus shifts away from the mission God has for us, and all of our effort goes toward trying to change our circumstances rather than following him.  

Think about this: when writing these words, Paul had every reason to be discontent.  He could have focused on fighting his imprisonment, calling on the church to come alongside and get him out of his predicament or even just complaining about injustice and railing against the political powers that were wrongfully getting in the way of his ministry.  After all, he was in jail and we wouldn’t blame him for trying to change that.  

But a few chapters earlier in Philippians 1 Paul wrote, “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”  God was not limited by Paul being in jail, and rather than fighting it, Paul leaned in, and God used that time to accomplish great things. If Paul had not been content in that moment, he could have spent all his time complaining about his circumstances or mounting a legal defense fund to get him out.  He might have even succeeded in getting out of prison sooner, or he might just have had a really great pity party.  Either way, think of the ministry that would have been missed and how the Kingdom would have suffered from Paul’s discontent.

Life and ministry are filled with all kinds of things that can distract us or weigh us down or get in the way of what God is calling us to do.  The things we face are difficult and these words from Paul do not minimize those struggles.   It also does not mean that we should not try to change the way things are.  But I do believe that these words provide encouragement and challenge for us to keep striving.  These words remind us that God sees us.  He knows what we are facing and he is with us always, just like he was with Paul.  And God has the ability to strengthen us in the midst of whatever we face and to help us rise above our circumstances and use us in ways we might never have thought possible.  Whatever our circumstances might be, let’s not lose sight of the mission God has called us toward.  Let’s trust in him, keep our eyes on following him and rely upon him for the strength we need to keep going. Let’s learn from Paul’s example that even in the worst earthly circumstances, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!

Rob Mapstone

Director of Recruitment and Placement