Untitled Sermon (2)
The “secret” of living by faith is not finding the power within ourselves to believe, but instead lies in the fact that the Lord invests His strength in us (Hab. 3:19).
1. : steadfast in affection or allegiance : loyal. a faithful friend. 2. : firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty : conscientious.
The word content (autarkēs) means “self-sufficient.” The Stoics used this word (which occurs only here in the NT) to mean human self-reliance and fortitude, a calm acceptance of life’s pressures. But Paul used it to refer to a divinely bestowed sufficiency, whatever the circumstances.
This was not an expression of pride in his own abilities but a declaration of the strength provided by Christ.
Some religions and philosophies prided themselves on secret knowledge. Paul had a different kind of secret. His secret was his reliance on Christ, a reliance gained through his Christian experience. Stoics relied on personal will to gain contentment. Paul did not claim such personal inner strength. His strength came from Jesus living in him. Paul was in Christ and thus content no matter what his circumstances.
The Christian life is not only difficult; it is also impossible unless we acquire the power to live it through Christ. To be sure, this truth does not come naturally to us but must be learned.
emphasize the spiritual principle of dependence on the Lord rather than on human help.
Most of us have learned how to “be abased,” because when difficulties come we immediately run to the Lord! But few have learned how “to abound.” Prosperity has done more damage to believers than has adversity. “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” (Rev. 3:17).
All of nature depends on hidden resources. The great trees send their roots down into the earth to draw up water and minerals. Rivers have their sources in the snow-capped mountains. The most important part of a tree is the part you cannot see, the root system, and the most important part of the Christian’s life is the part that only God sees. Unless we draw on the deep resources of God by faith, we fail against the pressures of life. Paul depended on the power of Christ at work in his life (see Phil. 1:6, 21; 2:12–13; 3:10). “I can—through Christ!” was Paul’s motto, and it can be our motto too.
Jesus teaches this same lesson in the sermon on the vine and branches in John 15. He is the Vine; we are the branches. A branch is good only for bearing fruit; otherwise you may as well burn it. The branch does not bear fruit through its own self-effort, but by drawing on the life of the Vine. “Without Me, ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). As the believer maintains his communion with Christ, the power of God is there to see him through. “I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency” (Phil. 4:13, AMP).
This does not mean God will bless whatever a person does; it must be read within the context of the letter, with its emphasis on obedience to God and service to God and others.
4:11 content. The Greek word is autarkēs [842, 895], which means “sufficient in oneself, self-supporting, self-reliant, strong enough.” It appears only here in the NT. The related verb is arkeomai [714A, 758], which means “to be strong enough, to suffice, to be sufficient, to be content.”
Paul calls attention to the temptations of arrogance, misplaced trust, not enjoying God’s free gifts, not doing good works, stinginess, making poor investments, and living an empty life.
This school also presents various tests.