Today, because of the situation in the world, with the Covid 19 pandemic, and other troubles in this world, many people are not content, with their lives, with their jobs, with their amount of money, with their friendships, and with other things in general. There are many Christians, who for one reason or another, can not feel content, whatever the circumstances in their live. I have myself, felt the same way of not being content, with many different circumstances, in my life.
But if we look at Apostle Paul, especially what he says in Philippians 4:11-13, we can see, that Paul has learned something, about the circumstances in his life. Now, we remember what type of life, Apostle Paul had, after he became a Christians. That man, in comparison with many of us Christians, has been through all sorts of troubles, and lack in his life, with some beatings, lack of sleep and food, not having enough clothes, persecuted many times, nearly killed a few times, and yet, when we read what he says in Philippians 4:11-13, we see that despite of all that, he has learned a lesson. And that lesson, is absolutely and completely according to the will of God, for Apostle Paul, and for us Christians, because, obviously, he wrote about that, in the Epistle to the Philippians. The lesson Apostle Paul had learned, was that he knew how to be content, in whatever the circumstances. Paul did not grumble, about his life, or about his lack of food and clothing, or about the lack of other things he needed. Instead, he had learned to be content, despite the circumstances. Now, that is living by faith, and not by sight. If Apostle Paul was living by circumstances in his life, no way he was going to be content, as he said, that he was. No way! With all those horrible things happening in his life as a Christians, he would have a mental breakdown, and physical burnout. But no, he has learned to be content. If Paul was content not matter what happened in his life, that alone would save him, from all sorts of worries and anxiety, about lack of food, clothes and other things. He would be going to bed peacefully, and waking up peacefully, with not worries where or how he could get, food, clothes or other things he needed. Paul said that he can do all things, by him who was giving him strength. In other worlds, the reason why Paul was content always, is because he trusted that in any situation, in any needs he had, God will take care of him, and provide him not only the strength he needed, but everything else. God was providing Paul strength, in order to enable him, to pass through the lack of food, lack of clothes, lack of sleep, by the grace of God, so that he could by God's grace and strength, endure all that lack of things, and hardships, until God provided for him, all that he needed in his life. If we trust and believe God just as Apostle Paul did, God will provide us also, with the strength we need, to go through the lack of money, jobs, food, clothes, and other things, so that we can learn to be content, in whatever circumstances we finds ourselves in, until we receive the full provision from God, for all those things we need.
0 Comments
In this world, the so called successful people, are the ones, who have got high education, or a lot of money. According to the world system, if you can not make a lot of money, or can not be highly educated, you are a failure, and have not succeeded. You could be also considered not very bright or intelligent either. In the way this world thinks, you have to work a lot, and to earn or deserve all your riches, if you become a rich person, a millionaire or billionaire.
But for us Christians it is a different story. God has a different way to describe as successful, all his children. According to God, in the Kingdom of God, the successful people, are not necessarily the rich ones, or the highly educated ones. John the Baptist, is called the greatest by Jesus, among those born by women. Yet John the Baptist, was not highly educated or rich. If you are a born again Christian, you may be thinking that for you to have an abundance in your life, all you have to do, is to work hard, and in that way make your riches. It is true, that the Bible says that the diligent people, who work hard, will find wealth, but the Bible also reveals to us, something else about us Christians, the children of God, having an abundance of material blessings in our life. When we read Proverbs 10:22, we can clearly see, that the blessing of the Lord, brings wealth, even if the people have not worked for it. Do you see that? That is the grace of God, working in your life displayed. If you are not working for your money, how can God give you money? Did not God say, that we should work, as written in his Word? Of course he said it! But God wants us to know, that us working for our money and needs, is not everything there is. Yes God has commanded us to work, and earn our living, but he can also give money or riches, to anyone he wishes, at any time, just as he gave riches to king Solomon, without Solomon working for all that gold and silver, which was given him from God, after he had the dream. Or consider the case when Jesus told Peter and the other disciples, after his resurrection, to into the sea again, and catch fish, after the disciples were trying to catch fish the whole night, and did not catch anything. After they did what Jesus told them to do, they have an abundance of fish. Now, was that abundance of fish, caught by the disciples, the result of their work, or was it, because of the grace of God, the fact that Jesus miraculously provided all that fish in abundance for them? Of course, that was the grace of God manifested, right in front of their eyes, just as it says in Proverbs 10:22, that the blessing of the Lord, gives wealth. When God decides to bless someone, and give them wealth and riches, not man can stop it, and that will be entirely based on the grace of God for that person, and nothing to do, with what they have worked for, what education they have, or what business or profession they have. All that is to do with the grace of God in their lives. |
Archives
January 2022
Categories
All
|