When I was a young boy, there were some things my friends would do that I wouldn’t even try.  My reason for not trying was mixed.  At times it might have been due to fearing failure.  Other times it was just because I thought it went too far, and I just wasn’t interested.  Yet sometimes, I was already content with what I was doing and did not need something else.

So you could say that I was copping out in some cases, and at other times, I was simply content.

As a man who has been in ministry for many years, in fact, decades, there are many things others think I should do that I feel the freedom to say no to.  There are also levels of lifestyle that others think I should live that I feel no need to pursue.  I am content.

But some might attribute their assessment of my spiritual maturity and effectiveness to things I have mentioned, but that does not matter to me.

Philippians 4:10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, 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. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

There was a time when the group Paul was addressing had fallen off their attention and care for him.  At the time of his writing, their care had resumed.  It also appears that there may have been some obstacles to their ability to show their care that has now been moved out of the way.  It was not that they stopped caring, just that their display of it was hindered.

But Paul makes it clear here that he was not in need in such a way that their hindrance hurt him.  You get the impression he does not want them to feel responsible for him being without. He is not using manipulative language to coerce them to up their giving.

In other words, Paul will not present his need as urgent and pressure them to give to it.  Even if Paul were hungry, he would not seek to coerce them to give.  He then uses this as providing an opportunity to offer a lesson.

When Paul speaks of Christ strengthening him to do all things, he is talking about what it means to be content in all situations without it being a cop-out.  Paul can be content and not be a cop-out because he can do all things through Christ, who strengthens him.  Life does not have to turn out as Paul dreamed it would for himself.  Paul’s contentment and happiness are not based on what level of lifestyle he can live. It is based on his relationship with Christ.  Paul is not affected by the things of this world in this example.

When we walk in a close relationship with the Lord, we know our worth and value are not determined by how much of a thing we do that is good.  We are free to do according to what He reveals is ours to do, however great or small.  Knowing we are in step with Him makes our contentment real and not a cop-out.

Your assignment might look different from another’s, but that is okay.  All you need to know is that it is your assignment, and take heart in knowing you are doing what He has asked of you.  Do not get trapped in the game of comparisons.  I encourage you to look to Him and live!  Let Him tell you what is yours in your right now moment.  Let Him set your path, and He will bring you into the future He has ordained for your life.  I promise that whatever it is, you will have His strength to embrace it.