I’m going to perform a brain surgery today. Tomorrow I am going to climb Mt. Everest. After that, I’m going to fly a 747.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, right?
In case you missed the sarcasm: No, this blog has not been hacked.
What Paul really meant.
While I don’t think most of us would ever go this far in “claiming” this verse, I do think it is easy to misunderstand Paul’s heart behind penning these words.
We must pay attention to the context of this verse.
Paul is thanking the Philippian church for their partnership with him. They had been sending him financing for his ministry and gifts to encourage him personally. But he wants them to know that, thought he is thankful for them, he doesn’t need them. He needs Christ.
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
Paul is trying to communicate that, though he has enjoyed their partnership, he doesn’t need their gifts. When Paul stated that he can do all things through him who strengthens, he meant that he has learned the secret to enduring all things: contentment.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
So, before we sport our coffee mugs and bumper stickers with this overly-used-out-of-context verse, let us be sure that we really mean what we are shouting off the rooftops. I can do all things through him who strengthens me is a declaration that Jesus is enough. If my husband loses his job, Jesus is enough. If my child walks away from the Lord, Jesus is enough. When my soul is in turmoil, Jesus is enough.
How has the Lord strengthened you as you strive to find contentment in all things?
There is SO MUCH MORE in this great set of verses. What did the Lord reveal to you through your study of Philippians 4:10-23?
An Announcement:
To wrap up our time together, next Friday we will have a linky open! We would LOVE to hear about how the Lord has used this study in your life. So, get your posts ready and head back here to share your heart with us.
I really enjoy reading through this passage this week.
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me is a declaration that Jesus is enough.” Yes!!!
I hope to link up next week (our church is having VBS so I might get online as often =p hehe) because I really enjoyed this study, and even when I wasn’t able to get through all parts of it, I liked having the weekly recap/summary/thoughts on here to bring more insight to it.
Thanks Katie!
Yay! Looking forward to reading your post!
Thank you for staying here in Philippians. circumstances are have a way of making out perspective become so small. Our world shrinks as we focus on the problem, hurt, injustice, lack, etc. My husband pointed out to me, it is our WEAKNESS that is our STRENGTH. In in, we can find the hope, reality of Who God really is. “He will never leave me not forsake me”, truth! I can do all things, through Christ WHO strengthens me. My life, my hope, my everything is in Lord. If I think I really care about these things that seem so BIG, I just have to stop and think how much MORE He CARES about them. Lay them down and walk with with Him, He will hand me back what is truly mean to be my burden. Thank you Jesus.
Contentment was what I kept seeing over and over again in these verses, too. Paul was content even when he was lacking, perhaps because he trusted God to provide (which He did). Paul exemplifies being content and not wanting what we do not have.
That verse 13 is a powerful one, and an inspiring one. I appreciate you focusing on the context. I think of it as God gives us strength to accomplish what He sets out for us to do (not necessarily all we think we should do). Is that off base? I feel Paul also shows us to rejoice in gifts given in love, as the Philippians did. (This can sometimes be hard.)
I have loved this Philippians study. Thank you for hosting it here!
O.k. The verse on the bottom of my journal as I did devotions this morning was Philippians 4:13. Coincidence? Or beautiful imprint of God’s message to me this morning? Thanks for letting Him use you as you write. I was blessed this morning. ~ jen
I know I am almost a month behind with the post for this section and the study is long over but I wanted to share how God gave me a real life Philippians test right at the end of the study and he has kept me in chapter 4 for almost a month.
He taught me that even though I thought I could be content in all situations, I really hadn’t learned what that meant for real.
Thank you so much to all of you who lead and participated in this study.. your posts and comments each week were a blessing!
Thanks for sharing, Rusheika. Love your perseverance!