In Philippians 4:11, Paul wrote, “I have learned in all things to be content.” Sometimes, we look at people and think, “It must be nice to be them. They are so content. I wish I were like that. Sadly, God made me a miserable, discontent person.” However, contentment is not something fortunate people are born with, while others are not. Instead, content must be learned.

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Philippians 4:11 reads, “I have learned in all things to be content.” Contentment is not something people are born with. It must be learned.

Table of contentsPhilippians 4:13 Is a Wildly Popular and Wildly Misinterpreted VerseThe Background to Paul Writing, "I Have Learned in All Things to Be Content"Paul's Credibility to Write "I Have Learned in All Things to Be Content"First, Contentment Is LearnedSecond, Contentment Is a Choice Versus a FeelingThird, Contentment Is not the Absence of TrialsFourth, Contentment Is not the Same as Happiness"I Have Learned in All Things to Be Content" Even When ProsperingDon’t Give Me… Riches ?Christ Strengthens Us to Do “All Things” He Wants Us to DoA Tale of Two InterviewsA Better Time to Quote Philippians 4:13The “Secret” to Being Able to Say, "Writing, "I Have Learned in All Things to Be Content"Roots that Go Down Deep into ChristHow Good is Christ?Footnotes

On January 12, 2013, the number 4-seeded Baltimore Ravens (10-6) played on the road against the number 1-seeded Denver Broncos (13-3) during the NFL Divisional Playoffs. The Broncos, who had defeated the Ravens earlier in the season, were heavily favored to win this meeting. However, the game went into double overtime before the Ravens upset the Broncos in what came to be known as “The Mile-High Miracle.” After the game, a very emotional Ray Lewis, the Ravens' Hall-of-Fame linebacker, attributed their victory to his faith, saying, “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.”

Ray loosely quoted Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” This is one of the best-sounding verses in the Bible. Who doesn’t want to believe every weapon and accusation against them will fail?

The context of the verse is God's promise to destroy the nation of Israel’s enemies in the future. Ray Lewis, in a metaphorical sense, made his team into Israel and the Denver Broncos into Israel’s enemies. Perhaps “every weapon” referred to the Broncos’ offensive and defensive weapons, such as Pro Bowl selections quarterback Peyton Manning, offensive tackle Ryan Clady, cornerback Champ Bailey, and linebacker Von Miller. Maybe “every tongue” referred to the Broncos’ offensive and defensive coordinators’ coaching during the game.

Although Ray meant well, instead of God vindicating Israel against their enemies so that His promises to His covenant people are maintained, Ray told the nationally televised audience that God wanted to give the Ravens victory over the Broncos.

Philippians 4:13 Is a Wildly Popular and Wildly Misinterpreted Verse

Ray Lewis quoted Isaiah 54:17, but the most popular verse among athletes is Philippians 4:13, which reads, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Well-meaning athletes are interviewed after winning a big game. They are excited and want to give God credit, so they quote Philippians 4:13. When all-star running back Adrian Peterson tore his ACL, he said, "This is a blessing in disguise. I’ll come back stronger and better than I was before…I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

You can find Philippians 4:13 on posters and other inspirational art, keychains, rings, buttons, t-shirts, stickers, postcards, bracelets, and handbags. Like Isaiah 54:17, the verse is popular because it sounds wonderful. On the surface, you will be able to do anything you’ve ever wanted to do. The verse is a blank check for whatever you want: a slogan of personal empowerment, a declaration of self-achievement, ambition, and accomplishment, and a motivating motto for prosperity, advancement, and success.

I know I sound critical of people misusing this verse. You might say, “They are trying to give God glory. How can you give them a hard time?” Whenever people misinterpret Scripture—even well-meaningly—it is problematic. Those listening are left with nagging questions, such as “Did God care who won the game? Did the winning team have more faith or commit more time to prayer? Did the losing team have more heathens or atheists?”

Picture a young man watching his favorite athlete on television, and he thinks, “This is wonderful. I can also do all things through Christ who strengthens me! As long as I have enough faith, I will win at everything from now on!” Then he plays in the big game and wonders: “Why did I lose? Did I not have as much faith as that athlete on television? Was God pleased with him, but he is displeased with me? Was God unable to give me the strength I needed?”

The Background to Paul Writing, "I Have Learned in All Things to Be Content"

If Philippians 4:13 meant we would be given the strength to do everything we ever wanted, how would you picture Paul when he wrote it? He was victorious, conquering the world, and his life could not be better. The truth is he was a prisoner! From an earthly perspective, it didn’t look like he was winning. It looked like he was losing.

Paul was incarcerated in Rome for two years, probably in a small apartment that was more like a cell. Acts 28:16 says a soldier guarded him, and Acts 28:30 says he could receive visitors, but otherwise, he was isolated. He could not move around, so he lost the freedom to work and minister in the capacity that he did previously. He anticipated a trial before Nero, and as he wrote in Philippians 1:20-21, it could result in his death. F.B. Meyer wrote that Paul was “deprived of every comfort, and cast as a lonely man on the shores of the great strange metropolis with every movement of his hand clanking a [chain] and nothing before him but the lion’s mouth or the sword.”40

During these difficult circumstances, the Philippians heard of Paul’s imprisonment and helped meet his needs. He responded:

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need (Philippians 4:10-12).

Paul expressed his appreciation for the Philippians’ generous gift and concern for him, but he did something we wouldn’t expect. He told them he didn’t need it: “Not that I am speaking of being in need.” It is not that he was not needy—he most certainly was—but he learned to be content.

Let’s understand why Paul was rejoicing. Did he rejoice because he was miserable, and if they had not come to his rescue, he would not have made it? Not at all. His rejoicing was not caused by relief: “Thank you so much. Now I will finally be okay!” Instead, he rejoiced because of their love for him. He said, “I would have been fine without your gift because I have learned to be content in any situation, but I rejoice because you are concerned for me.” This is not how people typically respond to generosity! Imagine saying this the next time someone gives you a gift.

Paul responded this way, not because he wanted to seem ungrateful, but because he wanted the Philippians (and us!) to know his contentment did not depend on them. No matter what happened in Paul’s life (“in any and every circumstance”), whether suffering (“in need…brought low…hunger”) or prospering (“abound…plenty…abundance”), he was content.

Paul's Credibility to Write "I Have Learned in All Things to Be Content"

Paul had the credibility to say, "I have learned in all things to be content we can be content," because he suffered so much. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-27, he wrote:

With far greater labors, far more imprisonments, countless beatings, often near death. Five times I received…forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

In 1 Timothy 6:8, Paul wrote that we should be content with food, clothing, and shelter. But Paul went without these. He was content with less than what he told us we needed to be content! Consider this account from his life:

The crowd joined in attacking [Paul and Silas], and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them (Acts 16:22-24).

When you have been stripped, severely beaten, thrown in prison, and chained up, you know you are “in need and brought low,” as Philippians 4:12 describes. We would expect to read that they were sobbing and praying for help, but instead, they “were praying and singing hymns to God.