December 6 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading:

Philippians 4:9-23

⁹Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
¹⁰But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
¹¹Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
¹²I 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.
¹³I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
¹⁴Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
¹⁵Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
¹⁶For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
¹⁷Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
¹⁸But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
¹⁹But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
²⁰Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
²¹Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.
²²All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.
²³The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Devotional:

How many times we hear of wives who 'just do not like it' where their husband's job requires them to live! We know of enough such wives to call attention to this passage which Paul wrote from prison. 'I have learned,' he says in verse 11, 'in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.'

Paul used the word 'state' with reference to situations in which he experienced hunger, thirst, poverty, wealth. He had learned the lesson of adaptability. He was mature. His contentment follows hard on the type of life he has described earlier in the chapter. As he communed with his God, peace flooded his soul, even in a Roman prison.

Is it fitting for a Christian wife, even a minister's wife, to complain about having to live in a certain city or area in which her husband's position has placed them? As helpers to our spouse we need to approach such a situation positively, and build a beautiful home life wherever we live geographically, being mindful that we, like Paul, can learn to be content 'in whatsoever state' our Sovereign God has placed us.

To go a step further, we should accept our present living situation as one specifically planned for us by God. He has something for us to learn there. He has someone whose life we may touch with the gospel. Our being in this place was no mistake on His part.

O God, make us content with the place You have chosen for us. Help us to remember that You are there. This should be contentment for us.