Learning How to be Abased and Abound – Part 1
Philippians 4:10 – 14, NLT
10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
While Paul was imprisoned, he received gifts from the Philippians, so in Philippians 4:10, he expressed his gratitude to the Philippian church for their support and concern over his needs. This is a beautiful reminder of the church’s role towards those who are oppressed, persecuted, imprisoned, and vulnerable. Our role as a church is to bring succour, comfort, and the love of Christ to the downtrodden. In verse 11, Paul points out that he had learned to be content with whatever he had. He gives more details in verse 12, saying that he had learned to live with extreme lack and learned to live with plenty. In other words, he learned how to be abased and how to abound.
How To Be Abased
As children of God, we must learn how to be abased. Like Paul, we need to be content with what we have. Our ability to still be thankful to God and cheerful even when we have little reflects the posture of our heart towards God. The point is that God wants us to always commit to Him in every situation. God expects from us an unwavering commitment that is not dependent on what we have or do not have. If you believe God created the world and that He has the world in His hands, you should know that God has permitted whatever lack you are experiencing. I am not saying that God doesn’t want you to be able to meet your needs and obligations, but I am saying that if you find yourself lacking anything material as a child of God, God is still in control of your life. It is easy to think that a lack of certain things equates to God not being with you. The proof that God is with you is not in the material possessions you have or do not have.
Sometimes, the true state of your spiritual walk with God is only revealed through a test of your character and demeanour when you have nothing. Walk with God to a point where nothing rocks your boat because you know God permitted it and is in control. Lack of money in your bank account should not negatively affect your mood to the point that your worship of God is affected. God sometimes tests us with little before trusting us with much.
10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. 11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 12 And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? – Luke 16:10-12, NLT
Jesus was speaking here and considered money to be one of the least things. Think about it. Money that some of us glorify and worship, Jesus considered a minor thing. If you can’t be faithful in your commitment to God with money, whether little or plenty, God cannot entrust to you greater things. Manage the little you have judiciously and joyfully to the glory of God.
Sometimes, lack can be a blessing in disguise. It reminds us of our humanity, helps us connect with and feel the pain of those who experience lack more often than we do, and reminds us to trust and depend solely on God. As a young adult, I learned how to trust God in the seasons when I was in university and had nothing financially. That was when I understood “give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). I learned to live day-to-day, depending on God. I learned that God is interested in meeting our daily needs and not our greed. Your daily bread is enough.
This reminds me of Exodus 16:4, when God rained down manna from heaven for the Israelites and commanded them to gather as much food as they needed for the day; we can learn a lesson of daily trust in God and obedience from there. The ability to live on today’s bread without being anxious about tomorrow’s bread means you trust God to meet your daily needs continuously. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t save when you have excess; it means if you have little for the day, enjoy it and trust God for tomorrow.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it -1 Timothy 6:6-7, NIV.
Always remember that every material possession begins and ends in this world. We brought nothing to the world and will take nothing from it when we leave. We live in a consumerist society and are continuously inundated by mass consumerism and product placement. Everything wants you to spend resources on products you need and do not need. As a child of God, you must be disciplined and kill your appetite for materialistic consumption. Don’t feel left out because you can’t afford certain things; if they are necessary for your survival, God will provide them for you in time. Learning to live with little will keep you from trouble and grounded in your walk with God.
I recall looking at my wardrobe some time ago and asking myself, “Do I really need all these clothes?” I bet if some of you packed all your clothes into different boxes and only opened each box when you needed clothes, you might discover you have more clothes than you need. Some boxes will be untouched for months. Declutter your wardrobe, fridge, closet, storage and your heart! Learn to live with little and with what you need.
Lack can be a blessing in disguise. It reminds us of our humanity, helps us connect with and feel the pain of those who experience lack and reminds us to depend on God. -Learning to How to be Abased and Abound – Part 1 #prunedlife Share on XFor some reading this, learning to abase will help you with your savings. You rarely have money to do anything else for anyone or to save for difficult times because you always spend your money buying things you don’t need. The financial deliverance or breakthrough you need might be learning to live with little. Learning how to abase is also learning how to tame your fleshly desires and wants. God is more interested in your spiritual growth and relationship with Him than your wants. God remains God even in our lack and poverty.
I conclude with Romans 8:35-37, NLT
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
Nothing can or should separate us from the love of Christ. We may lack food, clothes, cars, and houses or be poor, yet we will live as those who have overwhelming victory in Christ because we are truly victorious in Christ. Our material state will not define who we are and our commitment to God. May the Lord help us to walk with him diligently even in seasons where we have little or nothing in Jesus name. Amen.
Be on the lookout for Part 2 of this topic, which will focus on learning how to abound.
