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"I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:12,13).

I now have a new very part-time gig: hauling the Amish. As most of our readers know, the Amish do not own vehicles but rather use the horse and buggy. But for longer trips they hire the "English" (as they refer to us, the non-Amish) to take them. Early yesterday morning (5:45) I took Naomi, a young Amish girl to meet a charter bus in Mount Joy that was headed to an Amish youth event. This morning I picked up Daniel to take him to work but not quite as early (6:45).

He works near our Tractor Supply so I stopped in afterwards to buy some dog food. The store had opened at 6:00 AM for Black Friday. In fact, a lot of stores opened early since today officially begins the Christmas shopping season. We like Tractor Supply but frankly am not sure how much appeal it would have to the crowd that wants to get up early for Black Friday deals! The store was well staffed with friendly workers but only had a few customers and I don't think a man buying a bag of dog feed was their goal.

In Wednesday's message we considered the "The Blessing/Danger Of Satisfaction" we summarized as, "We must always remember the Lord and learn the real joy of satisfaction as we secure our hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. The right response to satisfaction should primarily include praise to God!"

Contentment certainly won’t be found among the material gifts available this year or any year, so you won’t hear a sales pitch on an email blast or television commercial. Nevertheless contentment is a treasure that is of far greater value than any material gift we will receive. The teaching of Scripture is always relevant on this topic and every other topic.

In today's text the apostle Paul states, "I know how to be brought low (in other versions "to be in need"), and I know how to abound.". What an interesting perspective and one which most of us share, though not likely to the same degree as Paul. We've all been in need of something and we have abounded in plenty as well.

"I know what it is to be in need". Paul doesn't specify the sense of need here but elsewhere we read of his life experiences, "I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure" (2 Corinthians 11:27). Some of our readers may have experienced need to this extent but I suspect most of us have not. Quite honestly in my life, so often "being in need" may mean not getting what I wanted at the time!

But Paul also wrote, "I know how to abound". It's a little bit harder to find an example of Paul having plenty in the Scriptural record but I consider a brief association that Paul had following a shipwreck (when he was in great need). On the island of Malta he met a man named Publius who had lands and was a leading man of the island. Publius hosted Paul and his traveling companions for three days. I believe it's reasonable to assume that Publius was a man of wealth and for these several days Paul knew what it was like to have plenty.

When they departed the island we read, "They also honored us with many marks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed". (This account is in Acts 28.)

Most of us know what's it's like to have plenty but the tendency to compare ourselves with those who appear to have more may blind us to this reality!

Paul completes this verse by stating, "In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need". Fundamentally, the secret of contentment is not based on what we have or don't have. Often the next verse is quoted as a stand-alone verse but contextually it is the secret of contentment, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me".

We should ask ourselves, "Have we learned this?" If we have not, how do we develop such an attitude? In my case living in an affluent country and being exposed to so much that the world says I must have to be happy or to relate to others it is something I am still learning and can do so when I remain focused on God's kingdom principles.

As one podcaster put it:  "Let go of attachments. Don’t get fixated on achieving a certain status, fame, wealth, or material possessions. These are impermanent and will ultimately disappear one day when you die. Focus on growing and living life to the fullest instead".

God wants us to take proper steps to develop and nurture godly contentment so that we will find true and lasting satisfaction, in times of plenty and in times of want. A great key to this is Peter's words: "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3). Remember, the secret is "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me"!


Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, help us to prayerfully apply Your Scriptures so that we can be genuinely content in all situations. We desire a godly contentment to fill our hearts with peace regarding our station in life. It's far better than our having an anxious heart that struggles to acquire the latest new thing, joining an affluent group we can't afford, or striving to keep up with the Joneses. Help us to fix our eyes on You, not on that which we see others possess as we pursue contentment through our knowledge of You who supplies us with everything we need. We ask for  Your help, Jesus, for it is in Your name we pray. Amen.