Learn the Secret

I know how to be humbled, and I know also how to abound. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
--Philippians 4:12-13 WEB*

The Apostle Paul became very familiar with extremes. He was one of the best educated and well respected Jews of his day (Philippians 3:4-6), yet it is his conversion by Christ (Acts 9.3-9; Acts 22.6-11) and his ministry in the cause of Christ that we remember.

Paul once sought out and persecuted Christians on orders from Jerusalem, even playing a supporting role in the stoning to death of Stephen (Acts 7:54–8:1). Yet in the end, as a follower of Jesus, Paul was persecuted, imprisoned and eventually executed.

But at in the closing of Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi the extremes of his life are not his focus. Rather, it is the great secret of dealing with these extremes. The Greek word in verse 12 is transliterated mueó (pronounced “moo-EH-o”). It means to be initiated into mysteries, to be instructed. Paul had become a disciple of this secret.

The secret also allowed Paul to enjoy much. The Greek word used is perisseuó (“per-is-SYOO-o”), to abound; to have great abundance. The secret enabled Paul to eat well. The Greek word is chortazó (“khor-TAD-zo”), to eat well, to be fattened, to be satisfied.

But Paul was not only familiar with being in the front of the line. He also knew very well the back of the line. This secret supported Paul through his times of humility. The Greek word is tapeinoó (“tap-i-NO-o”), meaning to be made low or humble. The secret also enabled Paul to cope with hunger. The Greek word is peinaó (“pi-NAH-o”), to be hungry or famished, to crave. The secret even enabled Paul to cope with, as we would say, “not being able to make ends meet.” The Greek word is hustereó (“hoos-ter-EH-o”), which means to come late, to be behind, to come short, to lack.

What was Paul’s great secret to being content in all things? It is the same secret that is available to us today, if we will only accept it — Jesus Christ. The Greek word used is endunamoó (“en-doo-nam-O-o”), meaning to empower, to enable, to increase, to strengthen. Christ can enable us to get through everything that is thrown at us. And when it comes down to it, the secret is not so much the strength and support that Christ offers us. The real secret is learning to lean on Him, to ask for and to accept His enabling power. Our world may crumble around us, as it often does, but He will never leave us or forsake us.



* WEB - The World English Bible, a Public Domain, Modern English translation of the Holy Bible developed by Rainbow Missions, Inc. URL: ebible.org

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