Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”
Paul declared that he had “learned” by personal experience; that in his service to the Lord and His people, he did indeed suffer awful deprivations and abuses; “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with” him, “and strengthened” him (II Timothy 4:17). He had “learned”, that even when there was no apparent assistance given to him, even in the worst circumstances, he had sufficiency in all things; “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God” (II Corinthians 3:5)! He further explained that “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (II Corinthians 9:8)! This “good work” is our obedient service to our Lord, putting Him first in our minds and hearts and deeds. Certainly, not to the same degree as Paul; but, in my experience, I have also learned that when our Lord’s service is our primary desire and concern, He kindly and lovingly shows Himself to be “our sufficiency”! He makes God’s commandments and promises to us plain, easy for our understanding; declaring, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5)! I’ll not burden folks with my personal experiences, but I have surely found that, our loving and caring almighty God, will send strength and help and supplies and even funds when circumstances arise that would prevent our “every good work” in His service. As in Paul’s example, we may endure many hardships and trials and heart breaks in our Lord’s service, but when it seems that surely all is lost, He suddenly reveals His blessed presence with us, giving us what we need to continue in His service. This doesn’t mean that we should not use the gifts and talents He gives us to improve our wellbeing, but we must not neglect our obedience service to Him nor become covetous. Also, we must not assume that He will bless and provide for us when we fail to obey and serve Him; for, in times of our disobedience (assuming that we are self-sufficient), He often simply leaves us to our own care; then, we soon learn that without our Lord’s help and deliverance, we simply cannot keep going. Let us daily remember that “godliness with contentment is great gain” “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content” (I Timothy 6:6-8).