The Secret
Paul the Apostle wrote in Philippians 4:12 – “I know how to
be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to
enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances
the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going
hungry, having sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in
want.”
Paul faced many “straitened circumstances”, which
translated means he did not have enough at times for necessities and had few
possessions. This was in addition to the persecution he endured faithfully
through.
In the next verse, Paul explains the secret… “I have
strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me (I am ready for anything and
equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency).”
Paul’s clear grasp of this strength is amazing, when you consider
he was not among the original disciples that were taught personally by Jesus. Those
persons received direct daily impressions and observed how Christ handled each
situation and persecution to perfection – all the way to the cross, to glorify
His Father. Paul received his strength the same way we can, by faith.
It was Paul’s faith in Christ, that began after being
struck down on the road to Damascus, which emboldened him to fearlessly and
tirelessly proclaim the gospel to all, challenge the religious establishment,
and write so much of the New Testament. This was despite being flogged, lashed,
beaten, in dangers, going without food and sleep, and exposed to death.
So how does this relate to our finances?
Going back to verse 11 in that chapter, Paul stated “I have
learned to be content in whatever state I am.”
If Paul could be content throughout his extreme
trials by strength received from Christ, the question then is... how much more so can we be content and
“endure” the relatively minor circumstances that may come from obedience to the following in our finances?
-Being faithful in
giving tithes and offerings to the Lord
-Spending less than we
make
-Reaching out to help
others in need
This is not meant to be a hard message, but to
simply demonstrate that in these two living examples in God’s Word – the life
of Christ and the life of Paul, they personified contentment.
-Being content to trust in the Lord with your tithe will overcome any fears of not having enough.
-Being content is one of the main keys to reduce over-spending and to then reduce debts.
-Being content will release you to give generously in love to others.
And to do these actions, the strength
comes from Christ, knowing it is His will and He is with you and will bless you
for being obedient. He is on your side.
To nurture that strength from Christ, receive from Him daily in the form of reading and meditating on His Word. In 1 Corinthians 2:16 it is written "For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ". This mind of Christ comes to us from the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit will always agree with what is written in the Word of God. That is why it is foundational to be in the Word - to be able to confirm and then run with confidence what we perceive to be from the Spirit.
Lastly, for instruction in finances and a remembrance of trusting God's hand holding closely to ours, let's remember these encouraging words from Hebrews 13:5:
"Let your character be free from love of money and satisfied with your present circumstances and with what you have; for He God Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support, I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down (relax My hold on you!) (Assuredly not!).”
God Bless you and may He
show Himself greatly to you,
Paul
