Learning From The Master

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. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

Philippians 4:11-13 

Where had Paul learned to be content? If we trace his line of thought through the book of Philippians, we arrive at the passage in the second chapter which reveals to us our greatest example of abounding and being abased. ‘Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.’  No one else has abounded more than Christ. He had eternal fellowship with the Father, the worship of angels and was in the form of God. Instead of demanding the continued exercise of His right, He made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and came in the likeness of fallen humanity. Thus all the humiliation of Christ was a form of abasement. In all these things, Christ proved Himself to be content. In this He became the pattern for Paul and so becomes the pattern for us. We learn from the Master. As with Paul, our learning of contentment comes as the consequence of a lifetime of looking to Christ. It does not come by our self-preaching, or self-motivation. We cannot talk ourselves into contentment. It only comes by looking to Christ. His Holy Spirit renews us in the whole person after His image.   

Our Gracious Master and Our God, 
we rejoice that You teach us to imitate You. 
We praise You that as we imitate You, 
we learn to be content. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning