The apostle Paul offers a
testimony that might sound stoical: “I have learned in whatever situation I am
to be content” (Philippians 4:11). Respected New Testament scholar F.F. Bruce
acknowledges that Paul utilizes a Greek term current in stoic philosophy “to
denote the ideal of the totally self-sufficient person,” and he “uses it to
express his independence of external circumstances.” But far from
self-sufficient independence, Paul was “constantly conscious of his total
dependence on God.” Bruce states that Paul was not so much “self-sufficient as ‘God-sufficient.’”
This was the “secret” that he had learned that allowed him to face “plenty and
hunger, abundance and need” with contentment.
What Paul confessed was that
his life had been taken over by a gracious, loving, merciful, and all-wise God.
This meant that in whatever circumstance he found himself it was not unknown to
God. In truth, he lived with a confidence that “for those who love God all
things work together for good, for those who are called according to his
purpose” (Romans 8:28). The challenge, therefore, was to respond to each
circumstance, whether it was one in which he “abounded” or one in which he was
“brought low,” (both present unique challenges to the one who would live a
God-honoring life) with an equanimity of soul that reflected the promise of
Jesus that his “grace [would be] sufficient” for him (Cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9).
Paul’s capacity for
contentment was grounded in the promises given to him and bolstered by his
experience of Christ keeping his promises. The assurances offered to the
apostle, however, are not unique to him. The only component for contentment
that might be lacking in us is our hesitancy to prove Christ true to his word.
Can we pursue contentment -- a God-sufficient independence of circumstances --
trusting that the one who has called us to himself will “never leave us nor
forsake us,” and that his grace will prove ample enough for the particular
challenge? It’s a goal worth pursuing.
