[Editor's Note: This article is the second in a series on the theme, “I Can Do All Things in Christ.” This article is from the August 2005 issue of The Word Among Us devotional magazine. Used with permission. Click here to find the first article.]
There’s an old saying that goes, “Those who can, do; and those who can’t, teach.” At first blush, the sentiment behind this saying appears to be no more than an unjust criticism of the teaching profession. However, if we were to alter this saying a bit and apply it more universally, we can use it to identify a pattern of human behavior that affects all of us: Some think that they can do almost anything, while others think they can do hardly anything.
In this article, we want to dissect one of the most promising — and intriguing — passages found in the New Testament: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13), and apply it to those who think they can, and to those who think they can’t. This passage encourages those who think they can to examine the source of their confidence. It also encourages those who think they can’t to stop doubting and start moving out in Christ.
“I Can Do All Things…”
St. Paul was a doer. He preached. He established churches in Asia Minor and Europe. He wrote lengthy, in-depth letters. He fought one opponent of the faith after another. Vicious threats, nights in prison, stonings, and severe beatings could not deter this man’s drive. Clearly, this was a confident man! But as he was doing all these things, Paul also confessed that all of his confidence and all of his accomplishments were as “rubbish” (Philippians 3:8). He even went so far as to say that “nothing good dwells within me” (Romans 7:18).
Doesn’t this sound like a contradiction? Didn’t Paul use his learning to write all those powerful letters? Didn’t he draw from his rabbinic training as he formulated his theology? Didn’t he need a lot of self-confidence to preach as boldly as he did?
It’s not a contradiction at all. Paul knew that he was a steward of God’s grace and gifts (1 Corinthians 4:1). He understood that he could have been born somewhere other than in Tarsus. He knew that he could have come from a family that had no connections in Jerusalem and no prospects for his further education. He knew that everything he possessed — his intellect, his health, and his shrewdness — came from God. That’s why he could accomplish so much and yet not take credit for it as if he were some great hero.
If you find yourself wanting recognition, money, or some other kind of reward for a job well done, you may want to examine whether you are a doer in Christ or a doer in yourself. It’s not that Jesus is opposed to recognition or monetary gain. It is that when these kinds of goals become our primary motivation, a serious question arises: Who will get the glory? Goals of recognition or material gain are good, so long as they do not overshadow the Lord. But since they are ultimately perishable, these kinds of goals should be only secondary motivations.
If we were to place most of our emphasis on the thought that we can do all things, but not acknowledge that we need the strength of Christ, we would end up claiming that our accomplishments are ours alone. And that would only feed the self-love that separates us from other people and keeps us closed off to the love that God so wants to pour into our hearts.
(Many thanks to The Word Among Us for allowing us to use the article from the August 2005 issue of their devotional magazine. This article is part of NFCM’s sponsorship of the Catholic Man channel. Contact NFCM at P.O. Box 86381, Gaithersburg, MD 20886 or e-mail them at info@nfcmusa.org.)
Reflection Questions on Page 2
Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men
1. The article states that St. Paul “knew that everything he possessed — his intellect, his health, and his shrewdness — came from God. That’s why he could accomplish so much and yet not take credit for it as if he were some great hero.” Why is it important to understand this truth in our own lives?
2. The article goes on to say, “If we were to place most of our emphasis on the thought that we can do all things, but not acknowledge that we need the strength of Christ, we would end up claiming that our accomplishments are ours alone. And that would only feed the self-love that separates us from other people and keeps us closed off to the love that God so wants to pour into our hearts.” Why is thinking this way such a trap for us as Catholic men?
3. What are some hurdles and obstacles in your life, which come from past failures or a fear of failures and keep you from stepping out in faith and serving Christ more fully? What steps can you take to overcome them?
4. The article presents two categories: those who tend toward an over confidence in their own abilities and those who tend toward doubt or fear. How would you characterize yourself?
5. What keeps you from being a person who is “content with whatever they have and with whatever situation they face?” Identify two or three steps you are willing to take to change this. If you are in a men’s group, share at your next meeting the fruit of these steps.
“I Can’t Do Anything”
Hurdles — they are part of life. We face them every day. Some people revel in them. They thrive on tackling a tough situation and overcoming it. And yet for many other people, the story is different. They look at a difficult situation and lose confidence. Some even feel defeated before they start. The little voice inside tells them, “I can’t. I simply can’t. I wish I could, but I can’t.”
The children’s story “The Little Engine That Could” tells how a little blue engine carrying a trainload of toys overcame a formidable obstacle — a towering, seemingly impassable mountain — by repeating to itself: “I think I can, I think I can,” over and over again. It would be nice if we could overcome all of our obstacles in the same way that the little engine did. But it isn’t always that easy. For some of us, past failures have beaten us down and convinced us that we cannot do it. We believe that we are inadequate to the task. Others resist taking risks because they are afraid to fail. They prefer not to face the challenge instead.
Scripture tells the story of a man who gave one of his servants a sum of money that was the equivalent of about three months’ wages. Rather than invest it and risk losing everything, this servant chose to hide the money. When he heard what had happened, the master was outraged. He took the money away from this servant and gave it to another servant, who had already doubled his money (Luke 19:11-26).
While this parable may not be precisely about doing all things through Christ who strengthens us, it does offer us some important insights. If you think you can’t and then you don’t, sooner or later, you will lose even the little “can-do” that you have. On the other hand, if you think you can and then you go out and try to do it, God will be more pleased, even if you fail, than if you simply did not try.
When the “I can’t” voice rises up in your mind and tries to convince you that you can’t do it, respond by saying, “In Christ I know I can.” Such a response goes far beyond self-motivation. It is a proclamation of faith rooted and grounded in the promises of the gospel. It’s a statement of trust that we can do what God asks of us because Jesus has given us his divine strength.
The Foundation of Our Confidence
Over the next few days, try to carve out some time in prayer to examine your motivations. If you tend toward self-confidence, try asking yourself, “Am I the primary focal point of my life, or is the Lord?” Ask Jesus for the gift of humility so that you might be like St. Paul — tirelessly working and doing great things for God, yet knowing that your talents and abilities are gifts from God entrusted to you so that you can give him glory. Try to begin your day in prayer, telling Jesus that you want to start doing everything for him since he has given so much to you.
For those of you who tend toward doubt or fear, ask yourself, “How often do I think that I can’t tackle a challenge — that it’s too difficult? How often do I say, ‘I’m not worthy; I can’t overcome this fear or this resentment or this sense of guilt’?” If this is you, then it’s time to reject these voices of condemnation and inadequacy. Try to begin your day in prayer, telling Jesus, “I am not hopeless and helpless. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”
All Things — In Christ
In every age and in every land, Christians have learned what it means to do all things “in Christ.” They have learned to be content with whatever they have and with whatever situation they face. They have learned how to cope with the ups and downs of life. They have learned that the skill to overcome challenges has less to do with what they can do and more with what Jesus can do.
In our next two articles, we will look at a couple of case studies that illustrate this promise. One involves a man whose wife left him and their three children and never came back. And the other is the story of a businessman who was developing stomach ulcers because of the pressures of his job. In both cases, these men faced mountainous obstacles and learned how to overcome them by finding their strength in Christ.
Jesus has a wonderful plan for your life. He also knows that you will face times of pain, injustice, and rejection. He knows that this world is filled with temptation and sin. Whenever you face tough times, remember that Jesus himself suffered — and because he did, he knows our sufferings firsthand. He suffers with us and is always with us, offering us his consolation and strength.
This is the great promise of the Christian life. Anyone who takes as his or her own the prayer of St. Paul — that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us — will navigate even the most turbulent waters of life far more peacefully and successfully because Jesus is with us, helping us do what we could never accomplish on our own strength.
