Welcome to a year of reading Richard Sibbes together! The reading plan for the entire year can be accessed here. I encourage you to stick with us, allow yourself time to read, and soak in the riches of this gifted and prolific Puritan preacher. You will be edified and encouraged.
If you have trouble with how Sibbes used words, check out the Lexicons of Early Modern English for definitions from the period.
Summary/Engagement
“I’m sorry you didn’t get that job you wanted.”
“It’s OK. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
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“Man, that stinks you can’t get that loan for that sweet truck.”
“No sweat man. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
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I could go on. We have heard it quoted and quoted ourselves this verse countless times. I get the sentiment, but I don’t think it’s often quoted in context. Or, as Inigo Montoya might say, “You keep saying that. I do not think this verse means what you think it means.”
When things don’t go our way, we think that it is some trial or judgment. We Americans specifically take it as some indictment from God that all is not well and comfortable. Then we do silly things like quote Philippians 4:13. The assumption we have is whatever does not go our way must not be from God. We invoke this verse as a comfort to the soul to soothe our hurt feelings.
There are many times that this is right and good. Often though we are missing the point. We overemphasize the *I can* and ignore the *through Christ.* We think, just pull this handy Philippians 4:13 lever and he’ll reward us for our piety and give us what we want. Otherwise, I just might lay on the floor and throw a feet kicking tantrum.
The confusion of contentment with stuff is a cancer on the church. I expect it in the world, indeed, what has the world apart from Christ to live for but itself? Greed has so infiltrated the church as to have its own false gospel with its own popular preachers and enough itching ears to fill arenas. Yet our wealth is not a sign of God’s love.
No, we don’t quote the preceding verses. “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” (Philippians 4:11–12, ESV) Contentment doesn’t depend on abundance or want. God’s love is not predicated on our wealth.
“Learn hence not to quarrel with God’s government; for though he alters our conditions, yet he never alters his love.“
Application / Further Discussion
Have you considered that whatever trial or hard thing you are walking through is from God? Have you considered that it is not a thing to be overcome and beaten so much as a thing to endure by the grace of God? We have a “state depending on the good will and pleasure of [our] Father, that loves [us] better than [we] love [ourselves].”
Those who claim Christ yet have none of Him are those who seek to use him for their gain when in need or want and forget him in their wealth. It’s still a numbers game to them. What is the return on investment if I say I believe thus and such? Will I be happier if this Jesus guy helps me get this house, car, job, spouse, money, vacation, etc? How proud to use the Creator of all things as a genie. Christ did not come and say, “What is your wish, sir?” Sibbes says, and brilliantly so, “No grace is stronger than humility. No man is weaker than a proud man. For a proud man rests on nothing, and an humble man that empties himself, he stands upon the Rock.”
Contentment depends not on worldly possessions, health, safety, or any other marker. Contentment is only found in Jesus Christ. We are only able to do “all things” as we are carried along “through Christ, who strengthens me.” The strength is not in us. Contentment is not in us. Recall 1 Corinthians 13, if you have everything yet do not have love, you have nothing. “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
In all things, look to what God’s purpose is. See how he can carry you along by his strength to glorify Him. You are not the reason you have life. You are not all there is. You were meant for more, your purpose is higher, your calling is holy. You are freed from the tyranny of self and can rest solely on the strength and glory of God. Take his yoke, rest easy.
Friends, stop looking at all things as a profit/loss statement for yourself. Look to God and see how in all things, death and life, poverty and riches, health and sickness, you can glorify God. We are not the conductor of this symphony, merely instruments. This is contentment.
“We are able to do; but the strength, and the grace, and ability is from Christ. A wind instrument sounds, but the man makes it sound by his breath. We are like wind instruments. Indeed, we sound, but no further than we are blown upon; and we yield music, but no further than we are touched by the Spirit of God. We are light, but as the air is, as it is enlightened by the sun; and therefore we must understand these points, that God may have glory, and that we may know what is ours.”
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Last week, we read The Redemption of Bodies.
Next week, we read The Hidden Life.
