Whatever the circumstances

Philippians 4:4-18 (TNIV) -

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
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.
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

My thoughts -

"Rejoice in the Lord always." I love this! Paul, who has known more suffering than anyone ought to ever know tells us to rejoice. He who told King Agrippa, while imprisoned, that he (Paul) wished that he (Agrippa) could be what he (Paul) was. And he didn't mean it as a threat or an insult! He meant that as a blessing. The prisoner knew he was in a better place than the king and longed for the king to join him there. Paul was a man who trusted in God and truly was content, whatever the circumstances. He's not just saying it.

So when Paul says not to be anxious about anything he's not being naive. It's not that Paul doesn't know what's out there. It's not that Paul doesn't understand the dangers of the world or what problems we may be facing. Paul was facing death. Paul lost everything, including his freedom and ultimately his life. And yet he trusted God and had the peace of Christ to the point that he wanted for nothing in this world. It had no hold on him.

So how do we get there? There's an old joke about a person coming up to a performer on the street and asking for directions to Carnegie Hall. The perform replies, knowingly, "Practice." Look at what Paul says:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

How do you have faith like Paul's? Practice. How do you trust in God like Paul did? Practice. How do you live for Christ and be content whatever your circustances may be? Practice.

This doesn't happen overnight. You cannot become mature in your faith overnight. You have to live it. You have to use it. Like exercise grows your muscles and shirks your fat so does living out your faith grow it while shrinking that which keeps you from fully experiencing and depending on God.

That is something that Paul is commending the Philippian church for here. While others didn't they gave to Paul in his time of need. They lived out their faith in their giving. And Paul says that he is glad for it, not because it provided for his needs (remember, Paul is content in nothing - others may say this and not mean it but Paul's life shows this to be true) but because, in living out their faith they are blessed.

This blessing is not a material one. We're not dealing with some kind of "health and wealth" Gospel here. We need something greater than health, greater than wealth. We need the peace that only comes from God. And that peace grows with our faith and is strengthened as we live our faith out each day, whatever the circumstances.