For this series in Philippians, I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

4:13   I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

A few years ago, a sports figure began to display this verse on his clothing, and the implication was that nothing could stop him on the field/court. He could do all things because God was continually providing him the strength to perform on the field/court.

Does that make sense? Does that offend you? Is that a correct understanding of God’s working in our lives, that He provides not only skills, but the energy, ambition and drive to succeed. He is the One who provides our very breath, so in a sense, He does provide much of what I have described.

Yet is this what Paul is speaking of? Did Paul see a sports figure claiming God was in the middle of his experience in playing a sport, when he wrote this famous verse?

Since this is a blog that works through this book in a verse by verse method, let’s remember what we found out last time in verse 12. What was the topic? Sport related abilities to win championships?

Or might it be something much more important, much more valuable in the eyes of God.

Contentment. The context is contentment, and Paul is speaking how he can find this contentment in all things, in all situations, in all areas of life. Not that the believer is to find contentment passively, but to learn from experiences and situations in order to attain this contentment.

Two ways of interpreting this verse.

One way may be described that God is our servant, providing the needs to succeed in a vocation, to gain more and more victories, higher salaries, bigger houses, larger egos(?). More and more and more.

Or possibly, just possibly, that God would like us to be satisfied in Him, living a life in communion with Him, finding time for Him.

One practical suggestion in gaining this life of contentment is to minimize our exposure to the deadly advertising industry prevalent in our lives. Remember, to advertise is to make us desire what we don’t have, to make us uncontented.

And what are you going to do if you reduce your time spent under the influence of advertising?

I can think of a couple things that might please God, through Him who strengthens me.

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