Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
I’m sure that we’ve all heard that verse in relations to overcoming difficult or impossible tasks. While it is true that we can rely on Christ for our strength, there is a limit to how He will strengthen you.
Don’t go calling me a “heretic” just yet, hear me out first …
The limit is that we can do all things through Christ IF we are walking in what God wants us to be doing. If we are walking outside of God’s will for our lives then we can not rely on Him for our strength because He will not provide it where we are not walking the plan that He has for us.
I have unfortunately heard this verse thrown around to justify someone taking on more and more work and responsibility in ministry. I’ve heard it coming from the front of some meetings as a ministry does more and more, stretching it’s volunteers and students much farther than God would want them to be stretched.
Don’t get me wrong, I know that God wants us to be stepping out into new things and ideas, but they need to be the things that God Himself wants us to be walking into. He knows far better than we do, and far better than our leaders do, what we are able to take on and what we are able to cope with. God also knows the whole picture of what will be happening in our lives, and what will be changing in our lives in the future. He can tell us His plans with this knowledge that we do not posses.
I’ve seen friends burn out by trying to do too much. Everything that they took on and engaged in was “good” works, and things that brought glory to God, but it was too much for them. Sometimes I wonder how much of it was what leaders wanted them to do, how much they wanted to do and what part of it was what God wanted them to do? I don’t have the answer, but I know that God knows what we are capable of and what we can handle.
So next time you look at taking on more, and are encouraged by Philippians 4:13, stop and ask yourself, “Is what you are about to do what God has for me?”. If it is then He will give you strength, but if it is not then you will be on your own…
Photo by Magnus
LOVE what you wrote here Bill. Too many people in positions of leadership and authority brain washing people under them that they are to strive and keep pushing on no matter what the cost and that they are lesser of a person if they don’t take heed to the meaning (“their” meaning) of this scripture. And exactly what Sandy said…if you don’t push yourself to burn out, you are labelled as….”oh you of little faith” for believing that God can’t sustain you. Isn’t there something in the Bible about a day of rest!!
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I once told a wise man that I could do anything I put my mind to. He looked right at me and said “no you can’t.”
This was all in the context of discussing my life and how to move forward.
It was a profound moment.
🙂
@JonDavisJr It is too easy I think to have that mentality that “we can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, without realising that it is only as we operate in His will that this is true.
I am still learning, albeit rather slowly …
[…] The promise of God strengthening us is true, but it happens when we walk in His will. […]