Enough or everything?

Mark 8:36 — for what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

I recently watched a movie where the villain was Satan in disguise. He offered the hero of the story status, power and riches. In short, Satan offered the man everything.

This got me thinking about Philippians 4:13 — I can do all things through him who gives me strength.

People often misuse this verse to say they can make any dream come true through Christ. They can play in the NFL. They can become rich. They can be healed of any disease and more.

But that is not what Paul is saying. The full context of Philippians 4:13 is this: I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
What Paul is saying in Philippians 4:13 is that no matter what circumstances he finds himself in, he can endure them through Christ.

Paul got further divine insight into endurance in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

These verses show us the interesting difference between how God and Satan deal with us. Satan tempts us with more. He says that if we follow his advice and cheat, we will get what we want. We don’t have to obey self-denying rules. We can have satisfaction. Everything is on the table.

Meanwhile, God doesn’t deal in everything. God deals in enough. God knows the state of humankind. He knows we are bottomless pits, spiritually. Bottomless pits cannot be filled by everything. Everything is a finite amount that will run out. Bottomless pits can only be filled by enough because — by definition — enough provides what is needed to get the job done.

Don’t get caught up in the pursuit of everything at college. Everything is an illusion. Learn when to say enough is enough and thank God for His provision.

Godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6).

Christ has given us all we need — salvation. Every other blessing is a bonus.