Charles Spurgeon Commentary Philippians 4:12

"I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want." — Philippians 4:12 (ASV)

Every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need (Philippians 4:12).

Was he not a true Master of Arts? He had mastered the art of being hungry without murmuring, the art of being full without boasting, the art of suffering need without impatience, the art of abounding without setting his affection on worldly things. He was indeed a Master of Arts of the very highest order.

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound:

These are two grand things to learn. There are some who know the first, but who do not know the second. I have known several of God's children who seemed quite eminent for piety when they were abased, but they were never worth anything after they grew rich.

They did not know how to abound; they became haughty, and far too great for their place. It was not so with the apostle, for he could truthfully say, I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound.

I know both how to be abused, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

These are both hard lessons to learn; I do not know which is the more difficult of the two. Probably it is easier to know how to go down than to know how to go up. How many Christians have I seen grandly glorifying God in sickness and poverty when they have come down in the world; and ah! how often have I seen other Christians dishonoring God when they have grown rich, or when they have risen to a position of influence among their fellow men!

These two lessons grace alone can fully teach us.