阅读经文 

在对于保罗时代讲希腊语的人来说，知足是一个强大的词。它的字面意思是“在你自身里面找到你所需要的一切”。

那个时代的许多教师都相信，知足是最大的美德。但他们的知足是建立在自我成就的基础上。他们教导说，一个人要想变得满足，就必须能完全满足自己的需要。

保罗知道，一个人可以完全实现自给自足是一个神话。然而，在这里，他检视自己的内心，发现他所需要的一切都藏在他里面。这种满足究竟是从何而来的呢？这是神所放置的。因为神自己的灵已经开始住在保罗里面。

神的灵所提供的这种满足感给予了保罗极大的自由。他继续说道，有时他的身体需求得到了满足，有时没有得到满足。但即使在他没有足够的食物、衣服、金钱或其他基本物资时，他仍然能在内心找到神的平安和力量。

Contentment was a powerful word to the Greek-speaking people of Paul’s day. To be content literally means "to find everything you need within yourself."

Many teachers in that day believed that contentment was the greatest virtue. But their version of contentment was based on self-accomplishment. To become content, they taught, a person had to be able to provide completely for himself or herself.

Paul knew that it was a myth to think that a human being can be completely self-sustaining. And yet here he looks within himself and finds that everything he needs is there within him. How did it get there? God put it there. God’s own Spirit had begun living inside of Paul.

This contentment provided by the Spirit of God gave Paul tremendous freedom. He goes on to say that sometimes his physical needs have been met, and sometimes they have not been met. But even when he has not had enough food, clothing, money, or other basic needs, he has still found that God’s peace and strength have been present within him.

All of these great memories and the fullness of every promise come together at the great supper of the Lamb in the new heaven and earth.