This morning the internet was down for maintenance. We were told it would be. I managed to get in a couple of hours of work before it went down, but it forced me to do something else other than my paid job. While I couldn’t post my blog, I did write it and now that the internet is up, I can put it up. I also made a pot of butternut soup.
I found this picture on the daily mail website – a stark contrast in Mexico City between those who have a lot and those who have a little.
The apostle Paul experienced many different spheres and levels of life. It was if he had lived in the shacks and he he had lived in the mansions. When he was Saul, before He met Christ on the road to Damascus, he was admired as an educated Pharisee who went out of his way to persecute the Christians. After his life was dramatically changed, his entire thought process underwent at transformation as well. No longer was status and prestige, honour and power important to him. His purpose for life went from self-absorption to looking outwards. He started wanting to help and serve others. Through his Christian ministry and missionary journeys, he saw good times and bad. He sums it up in Philippians 4:12-13
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
Paul had learned the secret of being content.
I think he must have grappled with trying to find the balance between his honour and prestige and the life of humility that he was called to live. I think he must have struggled with the wealth he could have had, honour and power he may have risen to, humanly speaking, and compared it with the riches and richness that he had received through Christ. The things money can’t buy:
Peace, joy, contentment, supernatural love, eternal life.
He wraps up the learned secret in 11 words.
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
When I am in need, I can cope with it through Christ’s inner strength.
When I have plenty, I can cope with it through Christ’s inner strength.
When I am completely satisfied – well fed, in fact, I can cope with it through Christ’s inner strength.
When I am hungry, I can cope with it through Christ’s inner strength.
When I have plenty, I can cope with it through Christ’s inner strength.
When I am living on the breadline, lacking in what I want, I can cope with it through Christ’s inner strength.
With each of these scenarios, there are challenges.
When a person has plenty, they grapple with being a good steward, with using it well, with taking care not to become too possessive over it, to guard their heart so they don’t turn it into a thing to worship, to live with palms up and hands wide open, to be generous and not greedy.
By coping with wealth and extravagance through Christ’s inner strength, it gives direction and focus to what is right.
Deuteronomy 8:18
“Remember the Lord your God. He is the One who give you power to be successful.”
Everything we have comes from God. Whether there is plenty or little, we need to be wise stewards of what God has given. Paul had learned the secret to being content. He used all he had for Christ. He could do all things through Christ who gave him strength.
We can do the same. True riches are those that can’t be bought.
These are the days.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂