Doing All Things in Christ (Philippians 4:13)

Philippians 4:13 NKJV I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

The Book of Philippians is a letter that was written by the Apostle Paul to the Christians who were living in the city of Philippi. The Philippian Christians had been supporting Paul’s ministry work by sending provisions to him regularly. In Philippians 4:10–13, Paul wrote about a period of time when the Philippian Christians stopped sending provisions to him.

In verse 10, Paul rejoiced that the Philippian Christians had begun to send provisions to him again. He referred to the provisions from the Philippian Christians as expressions of their “concern” or “care” (KJV). He knew that the Philippian Christians stopped sending him provisions because they did not have opportunity during that time, and not because they did not care about him.

In verses 11–12, Paul wrote that even without provisions from the Philippian Christians, he had learned how to be content in all kinds of situations. In verse 12, he listed the situations which he had learnt to be content in: being in plenty, being in hunger, being in abundance, or being in lack.

In verse 13, Paul expressed his confidence that he was able to be content in all those situations because the Lord was empowering him. In context, the “all things” refers to the situations that Paul had listed in verse 12.

Being a Christian does not mean that life will always be comfortable. Yet, Philippians 4:13 reminds us that whether we enjoy good times or suffer bad times, we can face any situation because the Lord empowers us with contentment.