Two thousand years ago the apostle
Paul wrote these words from a prison cell: "Not that I speak in regard to
need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. 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"
(Philippians 4:10-11). We
can be sure Paul was no more happy about being in prison than we would be. But
he was there, and the only control he could exercise in the matter was whether
or not he would allow prison to be in him! The book of Philippians reveals his
choice loud and clear. Earlier in the letter at Philippians 4:4 the apostle had written what have
turned out to be some of his most famous words – "Rejoice in the Lord always.
Again I will say, rejoice!"
Even earlier at Philippians 2:14-15 he urged his Christian friends at
Philippi – "Do all things without complaining
and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God
without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you
shine as lights in the world."
That’s amazing stuff, considering the scene Paul found himself in. In prison,
but also in Christ. Confident God was with him where he was, he chose to be
content, not complain. He chose to rejoice about what he had in the Lord, not
waste time and energy on regret. He chose to use his pen to write and encourage
others, not drown himself in a pool of self-pity, wishful-thinking,
blame-placing, or obsessing about how unfair life can be.
Paul’s words challenge me. And I’ve
got a feeling they challenge you, too. It’s not that we all live a life of ease
and have a constant "hot tub" kind of life, all warm and cozy and
comfy. Most of us face stresses and strains and pressures and problems of
different kinds on a regular basis, some of them very serious ones. We live in
a fast-paced, rat-race kind of world where we have to get up each day and get
after it or we get left behind. Paul’s words are challenging because most of
us, like him, quite often find ourselves facing difficult circumstances and /
or people over whom we have little or no control. We may have comfortable homes
and drive comfortable cars and have nice clothes and eat good food, but all of
us sometimes face painful, prison-like circumstances in our lives beyond our
ability to control or change. When that happens, the questions for those of us
who claim to follow Christ are precisely the same as they were for Paul so long
ago – will we allow prison-like pains and pressures (and in some cases people
who cause them) to define us and control our attitude? Or will we, like Paul,
hold on to our faith and joy? Will we be content, or will we complain? I know
what we end up doing more often than we find comfortable to admit! Advice from
a man named Christopher Benson fits very well here. He said, "Very often a
change of self is needed more than a change of scene." That may be tough
advice, but it puts me in charge of my attitude instead of things and people I
can’t control. You may be in a prison today, but it doesn’t have to be in you.
With God’s help, you can change yourself even if you can’t change the scene.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" – Philippians 4:13
Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN
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