Jeremy L. Berg

One of my favorite Christian thinkers and leaders these days is Skye Jethani. I subscribe to his “daily devotional for people who hate daily devotionals” called “With God Daily.” I really enjoy it. He’s currently doing a series focusing on a different idol each week. This week has been The Idol of Comfort. I thought I’d share this morning’s piece and encourage you all to consider checking out his blog, podcast and other resources here. Enjoy!

I’ve seen it on posters, mugs, jewelry, magnets, church websites, and countless memes. Celebrities post it on their social media accounts and athletes paint it on their eye black. Steph Curry has it embossed on his basketball shoes, and it is the motto for almost every Christian youth sports league. I’m talking about words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

It’s easy to see why the phrase is so appealing to achievement-focused Americans. It echoes the pioneering American outlook that says barriers are made to be broken and that nothing is impossible. It also identifies Jesus as our secret sauce; the Christian’s added edge when competing in sports, business, or the game of life. It is the pop-gospel of American Christianity captured in a tweetable sound byte.

But is that what Paul intended when he wrote the sentence? Remember, Philippians 4:13 wasn’t composed by Paul after he won a football match or when his ministry signed a television contract. He wrote it while awaiting execution in a Roman prison, and when the verse is read in-context (see here) the apostle’s actual intent becomes clear.

The strength that Paul has received from Christ isn’t the strength of achievement but the strength of contentment—including the very worst circumstances like hunger and poverty. This is the opposite of how many contemporary Christians employ his words. We see contentment as anti-American and celebrate those whose discontent drives them to achieve more. In Philippians, Paul is not speaking about his ability to achieve all things, but rather his God-given power to endure all things. Properly understood, Philippians 4:13 is about learning to accept our losses, not a divine assurance of our victory.

When we twist this verse to prop up our culture’s false god of achievement, we miss how Paul’s remarkable message actual holds the key to toppling another cultural idol—comfort. We are driven to pursue comfort and safety because we fear pain and insecurity. Self-preservation keeps us from following in the step of Jesus.

Having obeyed Jesus and experienced the worst the world can do, Paul exposes the lies of the Idol of Comfort. He reminds us that we can abandon safe, comfortable settings and faithfully step into difficult circumstances because Christ will give us the supernatural power of contentment—the ability to endure all things. The fact that Paul penned these words in a prison awaiting martyrdom only adds to the gravity of this truth.