Many who know how to be humble have not learned how to abound. When they stand on the mountain peak, they become dizzy and are on the verge of falling. A believer often tarnishes his faith more in times of prosperity than in times of hardship.
It is dangerous to be prosperous. The test of severe adversity is less perilous for a believer than the test of prosperity. How weak the soul becomes and how neglected spiritual matters are when we are surrounded by abundant blessings and the goodness of God!
Moreover, it is essential to learn this lesson because the Apostle tells us that he knew how to abound. When he had plenty, he knew how to use it, for abundant grace enabled him to adapt to the richness of prosperity. Just as a ship carries a heavy load to ensure safe floating, so too does a believer need wisdom to carry the fullness of joy without faltering.
It takes more than human skill to hold a cup full of fleeting joy with steady hands. Yet, Paul had learned this skill: “In everything and in all things, I have learned both to be full and to be hungry.” To know how to be full is a divine lesson, for the Israelites were once satisfied, but when their physical desires took over, the wrath of God came upon them.
Many seek blessings merely to satisfy the cravings of their hearts. The fullness of bread often leads to an excess of indulgence, both physically and spiritually. When we have an abundance of divine providence, we often receive little of God’s grace and show little gratitude for the blessings we have been given.
When we are full, we forget God. When we are satisfied with earthly things, we become content to live far from heaven. Rest assures us that it is harder to learn how to be full than to learn how to be hungry. That is why losing hope often stems from human nature’s inclination toward pride and forgetfulness of God.
So be careful when you pray that God teaches you how to be full.
