Isn't it obvious what we can do through Christ who strengthens us? "All Things." Philippians 4:13 says so. That's why sports figures love the verse. It's why they tattoo it on their chest. Who cares if it makes no sense for players on opposing teams to believe Christ will help them both win the same game (think about it). It pumps you up with a sense that you have divine power to pummel your opponents.
But that's not why Tim Tebow wrote Philippians 4:13 on his black eye stickers when he played football. During an interview at the end of his college career, he told the Baptist Press:
But that's not why Tim Tebow wrote Philippians 4:13 on his black eye stickers when he played football. During an interview at the end of his college career, he told the Baptist Press:
"A lot of people know Philippians 4:13 -- 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' -- but a lot of people don't interpret that verse the right way. Most people think it means I can do anything ...on the football field, or I can make a lot of money. But that's not exactly what it's talking about there. It's [saying] I can be content with anything."
Does Tim Tebow know what he's talking about? Not too many sports figures ever provide insight into the meaning of Scripture.
I can never forget the Ray Lewis rant after the Ravens won the right to play in the Super Bowl in 2013. Ray shouted with tears in his eyes, "No weapon formed against us shall prosper. No weapon. No weapon. No weapon. God is amazing. And when you believe in him... Man believes in the possible but God believes in the impossible." By quoting Isaiah, Ray Lewis took the future hope God had given to righteous Israelites who were suffering for their sins and turned it into his reason for winning a playoff game. He inadvertently claimed to be the righteous and suffering servant in Isaiah 54:17 that was vindicated by God through victory over enemies. But instead of God protecting against future invading armies so that righteousness may be established in Israel, Ray got to beat Peyton Manning and end the Broncos 11-game winning streak.
I get so frustrated when people take biblical promises and attach them to unbiblical purposes. But Tebow didn't make that mistake. He got it right. Here's how we know.
I get so frustrated when people take biblical promises and attach them to unbiblical purposes. But Tebow didn't make that mistake. He got it right. Here's how we know.
"All Things" really means "In All Circumstances"
When Paul says, "I can do all things through Christ," he is being very specific not general. The Greek word behind the phrase "all things" in Php 4:13 is lexically linked to the "circumstances" Paul already mentioned in Php 4:11-12.
Paul describes in Php 4:11-12 how he has gone through times of great need and great abundance. He is explaining to the Christians in Philippi how he has been able to survive the good and the bad times. When he describes those "times" or "circumstances" in Php 4:12, he uses a Greek idiom: εν παντι και εν πασιν. The idiom translates "in any and every circumstance." The idiom twice employs the same Greek root word πᾶς that Paul uses again in Philippians 4:13. The repeated use of the word πᾶς in both verses tells us that Paul is talking about the same circumstances in Philippians 4:13 that he described in Philippians 4:12.
That's how we know the precise meaning of Philippians 4:13 is: I can be content in any circumstance because Christ gives me strength. It is virtually restating Php 4:11 "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances" but finally revealing the secret to that contentment: Christ gave Paul the ability to be content.
Proper grammatical analysis focuses our attention on the message Paul wanted to deliver. Philippians 4:13 does NOT mean we can do anything because Christ strengthens us. Jesus doesn't give you the ability to fly or win football games or get a perfect score on the SAT. Jesus promises to provide contentment no matter what you face.
Christians Should Not Complain
The true meaning of Philippians 4:13 does change its message. It is no enticing promise to accomplish great feats for God. It is a humbling principle that you have the power to stop complaining. That is not a sexy message, but it is powerful. It's absolutely game-changing. Complaining can curse any moment, any organization, or any relationship. But Christ undermines the foundation for discontentment. How could anyone complain about suboptimal living situations when their Savior suffered to the point of death to give us what we do not deserve?
People who see their life through Jesus' eyes have no grounds to whine but only to worship. Sinners cannot demand and do not deserve special treatment. Their redeemed hearts have reason for gratitude not reason to grumble. How could someone who got life when they deserved death, grace when they deserved accusation, and love when they should be excluded have any reason to complain?
When Paul says, "I can do all things through Christ," he is being very specific not general. The Greek word behind the phrase "all things" in Php 4:13 is lexically linked to the "circumstances" Paul already mentioned in Php 4:11-12.
Paul describes in Php 4:11-12 how he has gone through times of great need and great abundance. He is explaining to the Christians in Philippi how he has been able to survive the good and the bad times. When he describes those "times" or "circumstances" in Php 4:12, he uses a Greek idiom: εν παντι και εν πασιν. The idiom translates "in any and every circumstance." The idiom twice employs the same Greek root word πᾶς that Paul uses again in Philippians 4:13. The repeated use of the word πᾶς in both verses tells us that Paul is talking about the same circumstances in Philippians 4:13 that he described in Philippians 4:12.
That's how we know the precise meaning of Philippians 4:13 is: I can be content in any circumstance because Christ gives me strength. It is virtually restating Php 4:11 "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances" but finally revealing the secret to that contentment: Christ gave Paul the ability to be content.
Proper grammatical analysis focuses our attention on the message Paul wanted to deliver. Philippians 4:13 does NOT mean we can do anything because Christ strengthens us. Jesus doesn't give you the ability to fly or win football games or get a perfect score on the SAT. Jesus promises to provide contentment no matter what you face.
Christians Should Not Complain
The true meaning of Philippians 4:13 does change its message. It is no enticing promise to accomplish great feats for God. It is a humbling principle that you have the power to stop complaining. That is not a sexy message, but it is powerful. It's absolutely game-changing. Complaining can curse any moment, any organization, or any relationship. But Christ undermines the foundation for discontentment. How could anyone complain about suboptimal living situations when their Savior suffered to the point of death to give us what we do not deserve?
People who see their life through Jesus' eyes have no grounds to whine but only to worship. Sinners cannot demand and do not deserve special treatment. Their redeemed hearts have reason for gratitude not reason to grumble. How could someone who got life when they deserved death, grace when they deserved accusation, and love when they should be excluded have any reason to complain?
My experience has been that we don't approach life like Paul did. We normally pursue discontentment. We can't get our eyes off the desire for "more" and "better." Despite the built-in simple pleasures of life (a gift from God according to Ecclesiastes 2:24; 3:12) and the deep experiences of love, purpose and grace that Jesus provides, we focus on what isn't good. We demand a perfect life when we ourselves have not been perfect. We demand to be treated well when we have not always treated others well. We obsess about how we want it to be better in the future, and we miss the goodness in the now.
But can we really quit complaining altogether? Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us there is "a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance." So is there a time to complain? The simple answer is "no." Sometimes you will be happy, and other times you will be sad. But it is always the time to be content. Complaining about not having enough has no place in the Christian life.
Be careful not to misplace your faith. We unintentionally pursue discontentment when we use God as one more reason to obsess about something "better" and "bigger" in the future. But God is not here to solve all your problems and give you an awesome life. God does not promise a big house, a good job, a comfortable bed, and a lovely spouse. It doesn't make sense to expect wealth and success or complain about its absence.
Maybe it's time to embrace what's in front of you. Take your eyes off the horizon and settle into the goodness of life you can taste right now, no matter how small that good is. If all you have left is a God who gave everything for you, you're doing all right.
But can we really quit complaining altogether? Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us there is "a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance." So is there a time to complain? The simple answer is "no." Sometimes you will be happy, and other times you will be sad. But it is always the time to be content. Complaining about not having enough has no place in the Christian life.
Be careful not to misplace your faith. We unintentionally pursue discontentment when we use God as one more reason to obsess about something "better" and "bigger" in the future. But God is not here to solve all your problems and give you an awesome life. God does not promise a big house, a good job, a comfortable bed, and a lovely spouse. It doesn't make sense to expect wealth and success or complain about its absence.
Maybe it's time to embrace what's in front of you. Take your eyes off the horizon and settle into the goodness of life you can taste right now, no matter how small that good is. If all you have left is a God who gave everything for you, you're doing all right.
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