1 Corinthians 10:13 | Context, Context, Context

In this video we discuss a common Christian phrase that is used horribly out of context, and actually isn't directly in scripture at all! It's found in 1 Corinthians 10:13 from Paul

Context, Context, Context, is a series where we take bible verses that are used out of context and discuss and place them back in their original, intended context :)

[JefPeeples]

The times I have been in situations that I couldn't handle were the ones God used to increase my faith. God is always more interested in our character than our comfort.

[ChristyCallahan]

THANK YOU FOR THIS! Back in 2012, my husband and I threw a pastor out of our son's ICU room and barred him from returning for telling us this very thing. "God won't give you more than you can handle, " sounded an awful lot like, "You're being weak for falling apart while your child is dying." The misinterpretation of this phrase does so much damage when used in it's common way. It's almost abusive.

Now that I can reflect on the true meaning of this verse in context, it makes so much more sense. I came to this verse this morning from a reference in a Genesis bible study section discussing the nature of sin and temptation. So, the meat here to me is the promise that within the nature of every temptation lies the key to rejecting or enduring it. So like perhaps knowing the potential negative consequences of a particular sin will give us the strength to resist the temptation to indulge in that sin. Interesting. Like, knowing that murder carries such heavy consequences and penalties in our society (as well as spiritually) is literally the only thing that caused me to hold back from outright killing some people who harmed our son.

[ErikTheCooky]

i've never heard this argument before, i thought it was always clear it was talking about temptation, considering you can't read 10:13 without the word temptation being there.

[joshuasherer]

This verse tells me, that it is possible to beat my addiction that has litterally taken away everything i have ever loved

[cassielindeberg]

I realized how untrue that claim is when my husband decided he wanted a divorce. I sure as he** couldn't handle that, and it tried to kill me. God has a beautiful, amazing way of doing the impossible. Not because we can handle it. Because HE can.

[thenopasslook]

“For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:8-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Paul got more than he could handle.

[asthmadudet]

I hate when people use the “God can never give you something you can’t handle” phrase to shame people who commit suicide. They imply that suicidal people are too weak or don’t trust Gods plan enough. That phrase will only make suicidal people feel worse about themselves.

[KILLERWHALECHANNELS]

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

[hotsox]

Great lesson...now I hate that Bumper Sticker expression. Thanks, Joe.

[godisseekingtoloveandsave]

Nice Job Sir. We need a lot more of this teaching to remove false hopes and to love truly - in wisdom. Thank your friend. The truth set free - a lie keeps captives.

[savedbyfaithnotbyworks]

God won’t give you more than you can handle. Is this cliché biblically true? Often when we believe or regurgitate this statement, really what we’re saying is that we don’t want more than what we believe we can handle. If we’re honest, we make plans for ourselves that keep us comfortable, and we want God to bless those plans and stay inside those boundaries. However, God hardly ever operates that way. He almost always gives us more than we can handle on our own so that we’ll seek Him for help and guidance. 
One of the greatest promises that God gives us in Scripture is not that He will keep us out of difficult situations or that He will make sure we never experience suffering. Rather, He promises to be with us in those difficult situations and be an ever-present help in times of suffering. 
He also doesn’t promise us that we’ll face only things we can handle. If we were able to handle everything in life on our own, then why would we need God? Often the biggest blessing of being in over our heads in life is that we have an opportunity to rely on a God who can take on anything and everything. He is able. So, the promise that can be found throughout the Bible is not that He won’t give you more than you can handle, but rather that He won’t give you more than He can handle through you. 
Even in the most extreme circumstances, He will carry you through it all. You can survive because of His grace. You may not be able to explain it, but sometimes the greatest gifts are those you can’t explain. You may not understand it, but somehow you have peace, even in the midst of the storm. It’s a storm you can’t handle, and yet you still endure. Why? Because He is with you. Somehow you feel the strength to stand firm because you’re standing on Him as your foundation.
Sometimes God gives us more than we can handle, but He never gives us more than He can handle through us.

[bjornstavness]

The Greek word used is often translated either temptation or testing. Really easy to check. Also the context of this verse comes right after the Israelites complaining which would be more towards being tested not tempted.

[blahblahblah]

I never interpreted the saying like that. I thought it meant, God will always provide a way for you to make it through even when you feel like it's too much to handle it's not (like you said you can go to the doctor, or get help from someone, etc.) cause he will give you a solution (even if it is through someone helping you). You should be a pastor cause you are explaining things WAY better than the way pastors explain them. Pastors have us saying things wrong

[SouthsideJOjo]

Ah I’ve been hearing this wrong my whole life. Once I actually read it for myself it blew my mind.

[polopopolo]

Brother, this is fantastic!. Contacts is king when it comes to the Bible. I would add that the end of chapter 9 Paul talks about running to win the prize. This is about disciplining yourself and if you do that it goes hand-in-hand with With 10:13

[CJB]

I think that this is true. God will never give me anything that I cannot handle... when I’m with him. Because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me Phil 4:13. I feel like that is what this verse is about, not the verse mentioned in the video:

[thenopasslook]

You put 1 Corinthians 10:3 as the title, not 10:13.

[be.love.shine.]

God bless you thank you for sharing truth and light. I have always been put off by that saying so glad someone actually addressed this! Exactly what I thought 🦁💞🦅

[johnnydough]

Gods gives us more than we can handle so we’ll rely on Him more and ourselves less. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. We can make it through anything with Christ by our side.

[alyssamayle]

That definitely is true that people misinterpret that. However, there has been times that God has warned me ahead of time of what could happen if I don't speak up and do something now before it gets out of hand. And I actually do believe that God has saved me from a lot of things that I wasn't ready for. And theres also been lots of times God has stopped me from saying things I don't need to say so that I don't have to make someone else's life harder than what it already is unless it has to do with sin. But I think what people don't realize is that as time goes by you will get stronger to where certain things will not bother you anymore