The Secret
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Philippians 4:11-13
11. Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. 12. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want. 13. I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
Paul was imprisoned numerous times because of his faith. He really knew what he was talking about when he said he knew how to be abased and to face want. He actually rejoiced each time he was persecuted and hungry! Persecution was the measuring stick Paul used to determine if he was doing all he could to advance the message of Jesus Christ! Less is more never applied so aptly than in this man’s life after he was converted!
I’ve never been imprisoned. Although in my youth, during the Vietnam War, I thought it would be cool to be arrested at an anti-war protest. Actually, I still do think that’s pretty cool, but I like my creature comforts way too much now and have some health concerns . . . yeah, I know . . . Paul’s point was that he was living for the next life! This life was just the trial run. This life was intended to prepare us for heaven. Carrying that logic forward, the more hardship, suffering, etc., one endures as a disciple of Christ the less refining is left to be done. More is better in this context.
One thing God revealed to me throughout the past eight months of our adventures in unemployment, underemployment and losing and finding jobs is that money makes a big difference. I don’t mean money makes a difference in whether you live in a million dollar house or a rented apartment. I don’t mean money makes a difference in whether or not you order prime rib at an expensive restaurant or “dine in” at a fast food restaurant. Having money matters when you look to your future needs. Being able to pay your bills is not a “given.” It is a luxury and a blessing. Knowing your future is secure financially is a gift! Yes these things take planning and work. But they are also by God’s grace.
Fortunately, we never dipped below the poverty line. We had savings we could draw on when needed. Many do not have that cushion built in. What I realized is that being in want is really scary. Being hungry is an uncomfortable feeling if you’re not sure when you’ll have your next meal. Being in want is a constant stressor and strain on your relationships and in your life. We realized some other important things throughout these past months. We didn’t have enough life insurance. The main reason for this is that we had both worked for many years for employers who provided at least a minimum level of life insurance.
Now that we are “older” we need more life insurance, because neither of us wants to work until we die at 90! More than that, we realize that is a responsible thing to do. We are now aware that life insurance is a luxury that many working poor, and even middle class workers, don’t have. It’s expensive. We’ve decided to bite the bullet. Being assured neither of us will lose our house or our lifestyle is a tremendous comfort and relief. I didn’t realize that not having that safety net was a “background stressor.”
We knew that our reduced income was a temporary situation. But my eyes were opened to a whole way of living that I didn’t really comprehend before. If you never expect to have enough, or a little bit more than enough, that’s really tough. That reality shapes every decision you make in your life. That is a difficult way to live and I have deep compassion for the working poor on a level I could never really understand previously. I have been given a vision of what the future would look like if we never did find jobs that afforded us a good income. I have spent time reflecting upon what years of joblessness might look like and how it must feel to be on welfare.
We’re evaluating our lives and our lifestyle in a whole new way now. One way we managed our money differently than we would have several years ago is that we never stopped our tithing to our church. We didn’t reduce our weekly offering to our church even on the weeks we had literally no income. It didn’t even occur to us. We never discussed it. A few weeks ago it hit me that we hadn’t even had a conversation about it. It didn’t make me feel prideful or boastful. It made me realize in a very personal and absolute way that God has been providing for us and we
expected that provision. Somehow He has helped us see that our faith in Him is all we need to survive—and to thrive.
Money is not the root of all evil. Love of money is. Lack of money can be, too. Another lesson we have learned is to be content in whatever state we are in.
My prayer today is that you trust in God and His promises. And that you rejoice, knowing you can do all things in him who strengthens you.
Mary
Labels: faith, God, tithing, trials, trust
Lacking in Nothing
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.
James 1:3-4For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
These verses in James don’t suggest that we will be lacking in nothing simply because our faith is steadfast and strong. We may lose a job, have a house burn to the ground, a friend or relative could become gravely ill or even die. James is not talking about a lacking in this world. He’s talking about lacking in nothing because of Christ. He's assuring that Christ is our sufficiency, in this world and in the next.
James and John both encourage us not to fret and become discouraged because of our trials and tribulations in this life. Neither of them implies that it’s not normal and acceptable to be sad, to feel pressured, even sometimes a bit depressed. What they are reminding us though, is that everything in this world will pass away and perfection in Christ will be realized in heaven.
This verse from John is one of my “hallmark” verses, one that scrolls at the top of the pages on the website. Christ has overcome the world! Any day I forget that, is a day I haven’t lived into who I am and who God wants me to be. Any day I become distracted by the things of this world, the trials, the annoyances, the really difficult situations, that’s a day I wasted.
There is nothing in my life to complain about. I’ve got it much easier than many others I know personally and vicariously through others and the media. Don’t get me wrong, my family and I have struggles. We’re faced with tough situations on a daily basis, individually and as a family. So if I have nothing to complain about, who am I to lecture?
I am merely one who has been saved by God’s grace, through the gift of Jesus Christ. I have lived for many years believing the words of scripture in my head and wanting desperately to accept them with my heart. Many times I felt God working in me, peeling away, burning off and scraping away everything in me that was not of his making or liking. Countless times I have assured myself, “OK, now I’m done.” I repeatedly convinced myself that I was now going to have a faith life that was pretty routine and easy to maintain and sustain.
That’s where the trap is: believing we are “good enough” now. I often wonder if the chicken and the egg analogy applies to life. We begin to rely upon our own strength and wisdom, something difficult happens, we turn to God, either asking why or begging forgiveness. We draw closer and closer to Him as we turn to Him more and more ardently and intentionally. Our lives seem to improve and we have a stronger faith life. Then we get comfortable again and the cycle starts all over. I sit here today proclaiming I don’t know anything except Christ Jesus, died, buried and risen on the third day. I take courage each day, resting in the assurance that He has overcome the world!
My prayer today is that you confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior every single day of your life. And that you let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Mary.
Labels: Christ, faith, James, John, steadfast, struggles, trials
