License to Chill

“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 4:12).

James Bond is always trying to get his hands on highly classified files. Jason Bourne is on a one-man mission to find out the mystery of his own identity. Ethan Hunt has accepted the impossible mission of stealing confidential intel from America’s enemies. A secret formula. Launch codes. Blueprints to a covert superweapon. The clock is ticking as these secret agents seek to save the world.

But these covert operatives have nothing on Paul. Forget the Man from U.N.C.L.E. Meet the man from Tarsus. From his prison cell in Caesar’s Supermax, the apostle tells his friends back in Philippi that he’s has the secret they’ve all been looking for. “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” (v12). Forget the microfiche. It’s not on a hard drive. The file isn’t stamped “for your eyes only.” But he’s discovered top secret information that can save every person on the planet.

Like so many spies, Paul finds himself behind bars. You see, once he started spreading the previously classified data about Jesus of Nazareth to everyone who would listen, folks in power tried to shut him up and shut him down. Who he knows and what he knows makes Julian Assange and WikiLeaks look like passing notes in study hall. He’s spent about five years in the slammer waiting to have his appeal heard by Caesar himself. The funny thing is that God has used the apostle’s hard time to share the Good News of the resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter with every corrections officer working in the prison (Phil 1:12-13). As long as he has access to people, Paul is stoked to tell them all about Christ and His amazing grace. 

You may be thinking to yourself that this comparison to covert ops and a first century missionary blown WAY out of proportion. Well, you’re going to have to take that up with Paul. Here in this letter to the Philippian church, he writes about how he’s “learned the secret” (v12). This is actually one itty bitty Greek word (Gr. mueo). It means to learn hidden information through personal experience. The verb actually comes from the same root as musterion that means something hidden or secret. The apostle wants his fellow believers back in Macedonia to know he’s unwrapped the mystery. He now has this critical top secret in his possession. 

This intel is huge. What Paul has isn’t simply a combination to a specific lock to a specific safe. It can be used anytime and anywhere to unlock any situation. “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” (v12). Look at the scope of what the apostle’s found out. It works when he’s in poverty. It works when he’s got more than he can ever use. No matter where you are. No matter what you face. No matter when it is. Whether you have unlimited resources. Whether all you have less than MacGyver’s patented paper clip and chewing gum. Now THAT’S a powerful secret!!

So just what is this highly classified information? Is it some computer code or algorithm that allows you to hack past the firewalls at the NSA? Believe it or not, it’s better than that. The apostle has uncovered the mystery of contentment in Christ. In the previous verse, he made it clear, “For I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content” (Phil 4:11). When we find our total satisfaction in our Savior, we can face anything this jacked up and broken world throws our way. And when I say anything, I’m taking Paul at his word. “In any and every circumstance” (v12). That includes downsizing at work. Bankruptcy. Car accident. Loss of a spouse. Even the death of a child. I’m not saying any one of these is not gut-wrenching and heartbreaking. But we don’t have to walk through Death Valley by ourselves because Christ is right there with us (Ps 23:4).

That all sounds nice for Paul but what does he really know about hard times? Oh, I’m SO very glad you asked. First of all, remember that he’s currently writing this letter in lock up. In another correspondence with the church over in Corinth, he gives a long list of what he’s faced (2Cor 11:23-28). Prison. Beatings. Near death experiences. Five floggings. Three canings. Nearly stoned to death. Three shipwrecks. Lost at sea. Do I need to go on? I didn’t think so. And no matter what the situation or circumstance, the apostle had the key to facing it all. Jesus. Nobody could take Him away. Nothing could pry him out of His Savior’s hands. Because of Christ, he could handle anything. Agent 007 may have a license to kill. Paul has a license to chill.

Do you see why this is such critical information to get out to the world? By placing our trust in who Jesus is, what He’s done, and what He’s going to do, we can stand strong and satisfied when the world tosses everything including kitchen sink our way. Let’s face it. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31). There’s absolutely nothing that can keep God’s love from us (Rom 8:37-39). If you’re scoring along at home, that includes death, life, angels, rulers, present circumstances, or future situations. Without Him, we don’t stand a snow ball’s chance. With Him, victory is assured. 

Again, this doesn’t mean life is going to be an endless series of rainbows, unicorns, and butterflies. We live in a broken world. And we’re the ones who broke it. There’s pain all around. There’s suffering around every corner. Disease and death will continue to be all too familiar. But we have the very same secret Paul discovered. We now have access to highly classified information. And now it’s time to share it with the entire world.