I don't say this out
of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
Philippians 4:11
It is my belief that the greatest statement of Christian maturity is
Paul’s statement of contentment in any circumstance. Reread it and see how much wisdom and life
experience is behind this statement.
Was he in need?
Probably. To Paul, it made no
difference whether he was free or bound to a soldier, whether the day was hot
and humid or bleak and frigid, whether the Philippians sent a gift or failed to
make contact.
Content may be a mistranslation of the original
language, even though many versions use it. The Greek word autarkes,
which is translated as content,
really doesn't refer to one's emotional state of satisfaction. Rather, the word
autarkes means "self-sufficient" or "self-reliant."
As the Christians at Philippi first heard this letter read in their
assembly, they may well have been shocked by Paul's claim to be “self-sufficient”.
They were all-too-familiar with the whole concept of "self-sufficiency"
because it was prized by the popular philosophers of their day, the gurus who
preached in the marketplace.
Many of these counselors were advocates of Stoicism, the most popular
philosophical system in the Greco-Roman world during the first century A.D. At
the core of Stoic ethics was the view that human happiness can be attained
through self-sufficiency; through relying only upon oneself in all things. SELF-HELP GURUS!!
If we can stop depending on the opinions and help of others, the Stoics
argued, then we can be truly happy and nothing will take away our contentment.
So, at first blush, Paul appears to adopt the Stoic way of life when he says "I have learned to be self-sufficient with
whatever I have." How very Stoic of Paul! Or so it seems. BUT LET’S READ ON…
Philippians 4:13 explains everything. This is the mystery
into which Paul has been initiated. But, unlike inductees of pagan mysteries,
Paul freely and eagerly gives away the secret: "I can do all
things through him who strengthens me."
Though the text doesn't tell us who “Him” is,
the overall context in Philippians leaves no room for doubt. Paul is speaking
here of Jesus Christ.
Without verse 13, verse 11 sounds very Stoic. Paul seems to say that he
has learned to rely upon himself in every situation. But with verse 13 in mind,
verse 11 reads in an utterly non-Stoic way. In fact, Paul is not self-reliant
at all, but wholly reliant upon Christ.
Scripture to Claim
And my God will
supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
