For the past month or so, it seems like every time I turn around, there is another setback or disappointment in my life. If it’s not a health concern, it’s a summer plan or trip that I was looking forward to following through on. To be honest, the disappointments have left me feeling pretty depressed and crying out to God.
Like everyone else, the cost of living and the economy have been difficult to manage for the last year. Sometimes it seems like life has passed me by, and I am stuck on repeat like the movie Groundhog Day, just reliving one day over.
Hardships of the Christian life.
Then one morning, God will meet up earlier than normal, and I kind of just lay in bed questioning God about things. Like a child, I had a lot of “whys” for God. At the same time, I sensed my heavenly father say, “I am here, and I hear you and your cries (Psalm 34:17; 45:18-19, Isaiah 65:24).
That is when I remembered that God’s people have always faced hardships and disappointments in this life. And then God reminded me of the most misquoted and abused Scripture passage in the Bible (Philippians 4:13).
Cultural Christianity misuses this passage as a declaration of power and strength, which in context is totally backwards of what the apostle Paul is saying in experiencing.
When we get things backwards, we are going in the opposite direction that we should be, or in this case, we are interpreting the passage in the opposite manner the Apostle Paul is presenting it within the context of his letter.
If we read the Scripture Philippians 4:13 in context, we see just how much the 21st-century church gets the faith life and God’s will backwards. The Apostle Paul certainly wasn’t living his best life, but he can still praise you in the storm, Lord.
Phil. 4:12-14
At the time, he is struggling to the point during his mission trip where he could not provide basic needs for himself, and he had to depend on others to provide for him. Interestingly, only the Philippian church was helping him; other churches on his mission trip weren’t helping him.
The Apostle Paul declares, “I know what it means to be in need, and I know it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want (Philippians 4:11-12).
No, the apostle is not boasting of his riches or great strength; he boasts of God’s provision, regardless of his situation. He experienced contentment and faith over pleasure and comfort.
Many in the 21st century church has perverted Christianity into a get rich and live your best life now Ponzi scheme. The early church called believers like this, “carnal” Christians, because they are worldly people.
The world lives for temporary things: earthly greatness, pleasure, happiness, and if you learn that these things can never really satisfy our innermost longings. The world focuses on things of this life at all costs. Worldly people want to live their best lives now because they don’t care about God or going to Heaven, nor can they understand them (Romans 8:7, 1 Corinthians 2:14).
God’s people know this world and its pleasures are temporary, and we must focus our hope and attention on things above and not the angels here (Matthew 6:19-21, Colossians 3:2, 1 John 2:15-17). The early church and mature believers know that this fallen kingdom is not our permanent home (2 Corinthians 5:1, Philippians 3:20, Hebrews 13:14).
Worldly ways
As we grow in the faith, God changes our desires from worldly to heavenly; recently, I had a talk with a neighbor and brother in the faith about being ready to go to our eternal home in heaven, with the crazy way this nation and world are going now. Just take me home, Lord!
We know the world gets its priorities backwards, and as God’s people, we must let our worldly desires go. The patriarchs of the faith and even the disciples didn’t live their best lives on earth and set their eyes on their eternal home and that celebration (Matthew 4:18-22, Hebrews 11:8-13).
Our focus as God’s people should be on what the Bible says really matters (Matthew 6:33, Philippians 4:8). The temporary things of this world will not matter in eternity.
As this world continues to deteriorate, just as Scripture told us it would, God’s people need to be focused on what will matter most in eternity (Matthew 24:6-8, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 2 Peter 3:3-4, Revelation 21:1).
Many have forgotten the tried-and-true cliché that is biblically based: “We bring nothing into the world with us and we take nothing with us when we leave it (Job 1:21, Ecclesiastes 5:15, 1 Timothy 6:7). I don’t care how much some power-hungry politician tries to convince you otherwise.
What Matters Most in God’s Kingdom.
The Great Commission has nothing to do with earthly greatness or riches (Matthew 28:18-20). No, Jesus sent His Disciples out to tell the good news and to glorify God, not themselves or an earthly nation.
Let’s be honest, worldly things are more of a distraction in the scope of eternity. As God changes our hearts, our focus and values change, or at least they should.
If you have been a believer for over 10 years and are still focused on chasing dreams or worldly things, then your heart and life haven’t changed. After living with a disability for almost 30 years, I have learned to appreciate and be thankful for the little things in life that most humans take for granted.
Every breath we take in this life is a miracle of God, and we need to say thank you, Lord (Genesis 2:7, Job 12:10, Acts 17:25). When we live for only the big, flashy things in life, we have gotten Christianity completely backwards!
