The Secret to Effective Living

The Secret to Effective Living
Philippians 4:10-20
November 2, 2025

As we’re coming to the end of our study in Philippians, we find Paul closing off his letter to them with these wonderful final words. He talks about them sowing into his ministry, providing for him financially as he is busy with ministry and spreading the gospel of Jesus. Weaved in between these verses we find very deep principles that impact all of us.

In this section. Paul lets us in on a secret to living effectively. Now this phrase, “The Secret”, is a very provocative phrase.

Illus – There was a book published in 2006, The Secret, which made a big splash. In a nutshell the fundamental principle is that “like attracts like,” meaning your dominant thoughts and emotions create a vibrational frequency that the universe matches, bringing similar experiences and things into your life. To manifest your desires, you must first clearly ask the universe for what you want. Then, you must genuinely believe that it is possible to receive it. Finally, be open to receiving it when it comes to you. 

Now immediately from a biblical standpoint, we can see that there is a lot wrong with this. First of all, as Christians, we don’t look to the universe. We look to God, Jesus Christ, who created the universe.

Secondly, we don’t imagine our own desires wanting the universe to fulfill our wants. We submit to God that His will be done in our lives.

But we do see Paul letting the Philippians in on a secret. It is a principle that he learned by going through the things he went through.

He’s essentially leaving a deep wisdom behind to those who are followers of the faith so they can apply it early in their Christian Walk.

I have heard many say that youth is wasted on the young. This means that when you look back over your life you say, I wish I had the wisdom I have now when I was 20. Can you imagine the possibility of having the wisdom of a 50 year old but the strength and stamina of a 20 year old?

Spiritually this is an advantage that you can have. Take hold of the wisdom of God when you are young and it will greatly impact your life. If you’re a young Christian, take hold of these principles and it will deeply affect your future and your spiritual growth and maturity.

I. Focus on the Right Treasure

• Multiple times during his ministry, the Philippians have supported his ministry and Paul rejoices greatly in this.
• Paul says in verse 17 that it is not because he seeks the gift itself, but he seeks the profit which increases to their account.
• So, if Paul’s joy and rejoicing were not about the money they were sending him, why was he rejoicing?

A. It is about the condition of the heart

• Through their actions he saw that they were grasping the heart of the message of the gospel, their hearts aligned with the heart of God. Their focus was set on the right treasure.

Matthew 6:20-21, But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

• Those who are earthly minded, store up for themselves only on this earth. They invest towards themselves and their own futures, their focus is set on growing their financial portfolio, wealth and own future comfort.
• Jesus warned against this, saying this is foolishness. Wealth on this earth is like sand running through your fingers. Those who want to hold on to it tightly, will eventually lose it all. If not during their lifetime, definitely at their death.
• But those who have an eternal vision look at the things of this world, including money, from a different perspective. They acknowledge God as the one that provides everything. They sow back into the kingdom of God financially because they know it will bring forth much fruit, and that it has an eternal impact.
• This is why Paul rejoices. Not because they sent him money, but it showed him that they have matured in their Christian Walk, understanding this truth and applying it in their lives.
• It shows that their hearts were no longer set on earthly treasures, but their hearts were set towards heaven, in love with Jesus, living their lives focused on Him.

B. God Shall supply your needs

• Paul reminds them that God is the one that shall supply their needs. They have been sowing into ministry, they have their hearts set on God.
• God loves a cheerful giver. And Paul says their giving was a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
• It is all about the heart. God doesn’t want you to give if you are sowing begrudgingly. If you give, it should be part of your worship, honoring God as the source of your life.
• I have heard people say, I work hard for my money. Why do I have to give God anything?
• Right there we find a heart problem. There is no point in arguing with people like that. Because if your heart has been changed, it will not be your viewpoint. You will understand that it is ALL from God.
• Your heart beating is from God. The strength you have to do the labor is from God. The mind and thought processes you were blessed with is from God.
• Just getting up in the morning and, if you are able to tie your shoes, is a gift from God. Not even to mention if you have the opportunity and privilege to work.
• And the beautiful thing that happens if you are living your life for Christ and is also sowing financially into the Kingdom, it does something to your soul.
• Sowing is more for us than it is for God. God owns everything. God doesn’t have any lack. But when we sow, we make a practical confession that we are not relying on our salary and our money as our source.
• By giving back to God, it frees you from the power of money in your life. You acknowledge that He is the source, and I am sure there are many here that can agree that miraculously 9/10 goes further than 10/10.
• And this is not about working the system to try and get rich. I’ve heard people say that if you sow, God will increase it one hundred-fold. Some people do the math and think, ‘If I sow $100, I’m going to reap $10,000, and if I then sow $10,000, I’ll be a millionaire within a month!!’
• That is the wrong perspective and God will not bless that.
• If you are living for God, your life surrender to Him, He will supply you needs.
• God pays His accounts. But you receiving is not the primary purpose. Living for the kingdom is. God’s supply is the secondary natural outflow of this.

Matthew 6:25-34, “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on…For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

• You need to grasp this principle as a foundational truth in your life before we can move on to the next statement that Paul makes.

C. Be content in all things

• He says that he has learned to be content in all things, whatever circumstances he is in. He has learned to get along with humble means, also knows how to live in prosperity.
• This is an important point. Some Christians think that God wants us to be poor. They feel condemned if they have money or wealth. They remember that Jesus said it will be difficult for a rich man to get into the Kingdom.
• Thus, they conclude that, when they come to Christ, they should not have money.
• This, however, is the wrong conclusion. Paul says he had seasons of very little, but also seasons of great prosperity. Yet he was content in all seasons.
• That is the key. Why was he content? Because he knew whatever season he was in, it was because it was part of God’s plan for him in the season. His life was sold out to Jesus.
• So, if there were times of humble means, it would be to the glory of God and he know that God would use it for his glory.
• If there were times of prosperity, God would use it for His glory and for His kingdom.
• Paul’s life was focused on the Kingdom of God and preaching the gospel.
• The reason Jesus said it might be difficult for a rich man to get into the Kingdom, is because the temptation is there to put your trust in money and mammon becoming your God. Those who chase after money never have enough.
• If God entrusted you with wealth, do not let it be your God. Stay close to Jesus. Let Him be the CFO of the money that He has entrusted to you.
• If God blesses you, be thankful for it, but also know that He is blessing you to be a blessing.
• The problem with money is that the temptation arises to attach your worth to it. This is why Paul could be content in all things, and in every circumstance, because he knew that his standing in society and his bank balance didn’t define him, as it sometimes does for many people.
• This is why experiencing lack sometimes is also very important in a spiritual journey. People so easily feel more worthy if they have more financial worth. When that crutch falls away, many feel worthless.
• The truth is that worth is not found in your bank balance. Our worth is found in what God says about us. Our worth is found in Him accepting us in love. Period.
• You can work as a bricklayer, as a carpenter, a financial advisor, or a doctor, or a window washer, knowing you’re a child of the king.
• Your job does not define your worth because we don’t define things the same way the world does. The blood of Jesus defines our worth.
• From this basis we are used by God for His purpose and His plan and our lives become lives lived for Him. We do the good works God has called us to; whatever that may look like.
• This is a deep crucial core mindset that needs to be aligned with the word of God. If you truly grasp this, it will change your life. And it will shield and protect you against the lies of the world that will, all through your life, want to define you by the world’s social standing ladder.

II. I Can do All Things

• Now we get to the real secret.

Verse 12 – in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

• Paul says there’s a secret of going through being hungry, or having abundance, or suffering need, and in the midst of this still being an overcomer, living with purpose, living with joy.
• The secret is this: “I can do all things…

A. Through Christ who strengthens me

• That is the whole secret! The cat is out of the bag!
• Some people have an inflated warped view of themselves. Especially if they have parents that tell them that they are the best at everything and nothing is impossible for them. This affirmation-culture. They think they are the pinnacle of all creation.
• Life has a way of cutting people like that down to size, and then some experience a deep crises in the soul.
• The power doesn’t lie in the first part of the sentence; the : “I can do all things” part. It lies in the second part that defines where the power comes from. “… through Christ who strengthens me.”
• I can do all things that God empowers me to do.
• Not just all things. Some people have limitations on some skills, or are wired towards different things. This has to do with what God purposed me for and has put into my design.

Illus – Some people cannot hold a tune in a bucket. They can learn some principles to sing, but do not have the natural talent. Some just have a natural 7-foot stature and will be better in basketball than a 5’4 guy. But they will struggle to be fighter pilots.

Proverbs 22:6, Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents],Even when he is old he will not depart from it. AMP

B. God supplies strength for His purpose

• With this understanding, we then see that the strength is from Him. It is through the indwelling Spirit of God that we are empowered to live life effectively.
• Not with, in the greater scheme of things, our own small insignificant lives being the whole purpose for living, ( humility is to have arealistic view of your importance) but that our lives will be attached to a greater purpose: God’s purpose.
• If your life is sold out to Jesus, you lay it down for Him to use for His glory. Then everything you do has significance because you know that God is working it all together for good.
• Not just for you, but the bigger picture of impacting the lives of others here and in eternity. Whether impacting 20 or 20 000, you are living God’s plan, which is the best plan.
• Again, because people measure success by worldly standards, they try and force themselves into things that was not God’s purpose. They become the square peg in a round hole, because they think they will be seen as more special, esteemed more, and will feel more worthy.
• But if you can grasp this secret, you can live a life of peace and joy in whatever position God has placed you and be content in the season.
• God will then strengthen you, supply the power, supply the wisdom for you to live effectively.
• And this is not only for spiritual growth and spiritual things. This is for practical things as well.
• The Old Testament gives us a lot of references where God used people empowered by the Holy Spirit to do practical things. Think of David in His battle with Goliath, Solomon receiving practical wisdom to lead the nation, Daniel, used in the courts of the king, Joseph leading with skill and wisdom.
• God even empowers through His Spirit to do effective, practical, manual handwork.

Exodus 31:1-5, Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “See, I have called by name Bezalel… I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, that he may work in all kinds of craftsmanship.

Illus – Last week I needed practical wisdom. My car’s check-engine light came on.

• If you know Him in all your ways, trusting Him in every situation, God wants to be intimately involved in your life, because in the end you are a co-worker with Christ living for His glory.

Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

• God receives honor when we live for Him.

Psalm 50:15, Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.”

Illus – It is like when someone receives a reward, and they thank their mom and dad for their incredible support, wisdom, financial input, and everything that made it possible for the child to excel.

• God’s heart for you is good, not evil. God wants to see you succeed, but He knows that real “success” is knowing Him and being successful is in living aligned with His purpose for His glory.
• So live with this secret in mind: Live your life with your heart focused on the real treasure, check the condition of your heart, and be content living your life strengthened by God.