Winter 1996
Rest as a Result of Confidence in God
Dr Richard Forde
Bible Teacher, Pinecrest.

" ... for I have learned in whatsoever state
I am, therewith to be content. I know both how
to be abased, and I know how to abound; every
where and in all things I am instructed both to
be full and to be hungry,; both to abound and
to suffer need. I can do all things through
Christ which strengtheneth me" Phil 4:11B 13.

Paul states that he has LEARNED to be content in each situation of life, in whatever condition he found himself.

If we are honest with ourselves, most of us will admit that we do not identify with such a statement, but it is important to note that Paul said, "I have LEARNED." Thus, this is a process, a state of being that is reached through experience.

In verse 12, Paul states "I am INSTRUCTED." He had been taught in the school of the Holy Spirit, the laboratory of experience. And so he was brought to that level of maturity in which he could honestly say, "I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Wherever I am, and in whatever situation I may find myself; full or hungry, having an abundance or in great need, I am satisfied." The grace and strength to accomplish this came to him through the Lord Jesus Christ. For he exclaimed, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Too often, in our Christian experience, we allow circumstances to determine the state of our contentment. In the Book of Job, we are introduced to a man that the Scripture described as being "perfect and upright, who feared God and eschewed (shunned) evil."

Job had not only spiritual wealth, but great material wealth also. In the first chapter, we are told that there was a day when the "sons of God" came "to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them... and the Lord said unto Satan, hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil?"

The devil then challenged the LORD, "doth Job fear God for naught? Hast not Thou made an hedge about him, and about his house ... Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse Thee to Thy face."

The unfortunate thing about this challenge, is that too often the devil has a point. We allow seeming misfortunes to determine the degree of our intimacy with God, and our state of contentment. Job's attitude, on the other hand was, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither. The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

In the midst of his loss, Job worshipped and honored God. How often have we heard of Christians who have experienced a great loss, either of possession or perhaps, the death of a loved one, or some other calamity, and have turned their backs on God in anger.

Many times we do not understand why God allows certain situations to touch our lives, but even when we do not understand, we must still trust in His integrity, for He is a Good God and our heavenly Father, who loves us with an eternal love. The Bible states that "All things work together for good ..." We must believe this. The emphasis here is on ALL things. Whether they appear to us to be good or bad, favorable or unfavorable, the Word of God says ALL things. Another translation renders this, "God causes ALL things to work together for Good ..." Even that which the enemy means for evil, God will turn around for our good.

Paul said that in whatever situation he found himself, with that he was content. He was beaten with rods on three occasions, whipped five times, shipwrecked and in the ocean for a night and a day, imprisoned, stoned and left for dead, often in weariness and painfulness, and besides all this, the burden of his responsibility for the church was upon him, and yet, his peace was unruffled. To the very end, when he realized that he was about to be martyred, we find him saying, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand" 2Tim.4:6

What was the lesson which Paul learned that resulted in this kind of contentment? It was that God "rules over the affairs of men," and that he could abandon himself to the faithfulness of God, putting his total hope, faith, and confidence in God. And so, he proclaimed, " ... for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day."

Let us ask the LORD to enroll us in the school of the Holy Spirit that He might instruct us also, that we may learn to be content in any and every situation in which we find ourselves. We must be instructed by God Himself in order to learn this important lesson.