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Cling to Jesus in Affliction and in Abundance

Gospel Partnership Series

Cling to Jesus in Affliction and in Abundance

Here is an excerpt from "Living in the Goodness of God's Peace Part 5: An Exposition of Philippians 4:10-13":

Now at this point I must hasten to add a third point of application: God’s will for your life that you always be content by leaning on Jesus in every situation includes every good situation. This point is easily overlooked, but if we overlook it we will miss a vitally important lesson. In my previous point all the things that I mentioned – the things that we are called to endure with a deep spiritual contentment – all the things that I mentioned were the difficult things. This is often the way we approach the struggle for contentment. But the truth of the matter is that Paul tells us that the key to contentment is as important in the good times as it is in the difficult times.

When Paul says, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me,” he doesn’t just mean that he is able to “be content” while “[being] brought low” and experiencing “hunger” and “need.” He also means that he is able to “be content” while abounding and experiencing “plenty” and “abundance.” “I can do [poverty and prison] through him who strengthens me” and “I can do [wealth and personal freedom] through him who strengthens me.” “I can do [cancer] through him who strengthens me” and I can do [remission] through him who strengthens me.” I can do [a bank account that has a zero balance and have bills pending] through him who strengthens me” and “I can do [a bank account that has a $20,000 balance and no liabilities] through him who strengthens me.” We must let the truth of Philippians 4:13 cut both ways, because this is how Paul set it up in verses 11-12.

Here is a hugely important lesson that we must learn: as a sinner, you are prone to mishandle poverty and you are equally prone to mishandle abundance; you are prone to mishandle lack and you are equally prone to mishandle plenty; you are prone to mishandle suffering and you are equally prone to mishandle success; you are prone to mishandle unexpected losses and you are equally prone to mishandle unexpected gains. And Paul’s instruction in verses 11-13 applies just as much to the one as to the other....

All sane Christians know that you must cling to Jesus when you face affliction; but Philippians 4:11-13 teaches you that you must also cling to Jesus when you face abundance. In so doing, we make it clear that Jesus is our joy, and not our stuff.