Philippians 4:11, 13, 19 I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Taken consecutively like this, these three well-known verses have a rather different impact from the way they are usually taken. Actually, verse 11 gets used far less than the other two, and it is really the key to understanding it all. Where the NIV says “be content,” the Japanese says “have enough,” but the meaning is still pretty clear, and that is that Paul had learned to let God tell him how much was enough. He expands that thought in verse 12 to make it clear that he is including what most people would call “dire straits.” Anyone who is honest will concede that such an attitude is hard to achieve, which is why Paul makes it clear in verse 13 that is is God who enables him to do it. I couldn’t begin to count how many times I’ve heard verse 13 misapplied (and some of those times were by me)! It is only when this context is understood that verse 19 comes into proper focus. It does indeed mean exactly what it says, but the problem comes in our distorted view of what our needs are. I’m not saying that material needs aren’t included in this, but I am saying that the material isn’t our primary need, ever. Jesus dealt with the matter of our material needs at some length in Matthew 6:19-34. Sadly, many Christians and even churches are so focused on the material that they aren’t really serving God at all. (Matthew 6:21, 24) What Paul was saying that he had learned was to trust God fully, seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness, just as Jesus said. (Matthew 6:33) When that is indeed our priority, then we will discover that not only are our actual physical needs met, (though not necessarily our greedy desires) we are filled with treasures that money can’t buy: love, joy, peace, and all the rest.

This is an area in which I need regular reminders, but God is faithful to give them to me. I commented recently to my wife that there are a lot of things I would like to spend money on, but I don’t want to spend money. That means I’m in another learning period on this very issue. God knows what my real needs are financially, materially, emotionally, and spiritually, and I need to trust Him with each of those. If I will really do that, then He will indeed meet all my needs out of His “glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” As a pastor, I deal constantly with people who are struggling in this area. As James makes very clear, I am not to belittle anyone’s physical or material need, (James 2:15-16) but I should seek to lift their eyes off of the temporal and help them see the God who is indeed “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20)

Father, thank You for Your grace! Thank You for the opportunity last night to share that grace with someone who has an abundance of this world’s goods, but doesn’t have the greatest good of all, salvation by grace through faith. Thank You for how You are working in him. I pray that the seeds You have allowed me to plant and water will bear rich fruit, and soon, not just in him but in his extended family as well. May we all learn what true riches are, to receive, appropriate, and utilize all that You desire to pour out on us, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!