Read Philippians 4:10-11 in your personal Bible or at the link provided.
Discover
Throughout the book of Philippians, Paul has laid out a guide to experiencing joy in all circumstances. Now he closes his letter by thanking the church for their concern and generosity. He turns it into a teaching moment, saying that no matter what he receives, he’s joyful because his life is built on something other than what he does or doesn’t have. He’s specifically hitting at how our hearts should act toward money and possessions.
Wanting more is a common sentiment in our culture. We believe that once we get just a little more, then we’ll have enough. But “enough” is a moving target. No matter our financial situation, if we feel that God hasn’t provided enough, we’ll constantly spend our time chasing empty things. Or we’ll develop a scarcity mindset and obsess over whether we’ll ever have enough.
Here’s Paul’s main point: It’s not about what we have. It’s about how we feel about what we have. Only when we redefine “enough” and find joy no matter what our bank account says will we reflect the life God wants for us.
• Redefine enough. Do an honest assessment of what you consider to be “enough” when it comes to your money and possessions. Have you talked with God about what a reasonable standard of living should look like? Where have you been living beyond your means? Confess anything that comes to mind, then build an action plan to adjust your approach. This might include developing a budget and sticking to it or having an honest conversation with a spouse, significant other, or family member about how you can redefine “enough” together.
Respond
Use your Philippians Guidebook to reflect and respond. For a digital copy of the guidebook, visit tpcc.org/rebels-guide.
Want to go deeper? Look up the following verses to see what the Bible says about love of money and chasing “enough.” Note what you observe and then continue with your time of response.
• Ecclesiastes 5:10
• 1 Timothy 6:10