03.10. LESSON 10

LESSON 10

“Wherefore,” the first word in the last chapter of Philip­pians means that what follows grows out of what precedes. Paul has just assured the Philippians that their acceptance with God was complete when they took Christ as their Savior; that their life as citizens of heaven, seeking “after a city which is to come” (Hebrews 13:12-14), while it would make them alien to earth, would culminate in the perfec­tion of their redemption from Satan’s devastation, at Christ’s coming, by their becoming “able-bodied” citizens with bodies like Christ’s risen, glorious body. From this premise, he draws an eightfold, hortative conclusion: “Wherefore,” be steadfast, be united, be joyous, be for­bearing, be prayerful, be thankful, be peaceful, be imita­tors of “me.” An impressive “Be-hive”! A Greek wrote before Christ: “Good men weep easily, the better, the easier.” It is not surprising that within five verses Paul weeps over some Christians and rejoices over others. Many are too callous to know much feeling. But Christ sensitizes men and makes them care and feel until, as surroundings dictate, they experience a wide range of emotion. Joy and sorrow are concomitant rather than antagonistic. The “Prince of peace” was “a Man of sor­rows.” Paul describes himself as sorrowful, yet always “rejoicing.” That Christians rejoice only, cannot be in this world. Worry, not sorrow, is the kill-joy. The Philip­pians, “beloved and longed for,” by Paul, his joy and his crown, must not disappoint him, but “stand fast in the Lord.” If more of us preachers and teachers had Paul’s heart and other worldliness, more Christians would say: “Our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Unity, Joy, Forbearance

Euodia and Syntyche, possibly baptized ten years before as members of Lydia’s household, and possibly distraught by anxious work for Jesus even as was Martha, are mutu­ally estranged. Women were prominent in this church at first, and, apparently, still are. Does this help account for the excellencies of the church? or for its lack of unity? Prudently avoiding all allusion to the nature of the quarrel, or taking side with either, Paul exhorts them equally to be “of the same mind in the Lord.” To agree religiously out of the Lord would be conspiracy against the Lord. Paul does not mean, of course, that these women try to be alike in gifts and traits of personality, for Christianity does not require mechanical conformity. Too many differences in constitution and circumstances exist between any two peo­ple for this to be possible, or even desirable. God cuts each individual after a new pattern. Men as different as John the Baptist and Christ, or as Peter and John, can be “of the same mind in the Lord.” No doctrinal, just personal disagreement, seemingly, is involved. And yet, their wrangling is so damaging that Paul beseeches an unnamed yokefellow, Clement, and the rest of his fellow-workers “to help these women.” Some heathens may be willing to come into the church after they compose their differences. Had these women known that their names would be put down as sowers of “discord among brethren” in a book to be read around the earth until the end of time, think you they would have been so quick to quarrel, or so hard to reconcile? At best, earth-bound life is a foolish, little thing; it is half ridiculous and half pitiful to see how seriously men take its paltry distinctions and ornaments. Even as we think about Euodia and Syn­tyche, can you imagine how they now feel about their petty strivings in the long ago? For “all flesh is as grass” (See 1 Corinthians 7:29-31).

“Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, rejoice.” Not rejoice some times, but all the time. How easy it would be to obey, if this only read, “groan always: again I will say, groan?“ Some rebel against God, others sulkily resign to him, but only Christians can always rejoice in him. Apart from the Lord, it is useless for thoughtful men even to try to be habitually cheerful. Much easier than reason­ing our troubles away is singing and praying them away. As reading small print tires our eyes, so, without counter-working Christian joy and patience, little, nagging irritants wear us down to fussy impatience and jangling tongues. “Then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continu­ally, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name” (Hebrews 13:15).

“Let your forbearance be known unto all men.” Do our acquaintances and members of our families know us, in mat­ters of personal opinion and preference, to be forbearing, gentle, reasonable, easy to get along with, and pleasant to have around? Christians should have lovable personalities, and abilities to meet the needs of others. Do not overlook Paul’s discreet precaution in, after naming or identifying several fellow-workers in the congregation, reminding oth­ers who might feel slighted that their “names are in the book of life.” None should have felt slighted, of course, but practical Paul knows the weakness of the flesh.

Prayer, Thanksgiving, Peace

It seems that the sentence, “The Lord is at hand,” in this great hortatory passage may be applied doubly as follows: Since Christ stands by and knows all, be steadfast, united, joyous, forbearing; and, since his second coming may occur at any time, being prayerful, thankful, and “patient until the coming of the Lord” (James 5:7-9) will keep you perpetually ready. Thus Paul mightily persuades Christians to be citizens of heaven and pilgrims of earth.

“In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God . . . shall guard your hearts.” Prayer is cooperation with God in the spiritu­al realm as our daily work is in the physical realm. God releases energies from his person into the world through prayer as well as through gravitation. When in live faith Christians contact the live God, things in both nature and religion happen. Dealing with supernatural forces, they may expect supernatural results. In childlike simplicity, Paul actually believes what he writes and is at peace, anx­ious about nothing. We believe less and are anxious about many things. What a tragedy when the child in us is dead. That you talk to God about small things is evidence of your large faith in him. Christ casts out the unholy trinity of the flesh, fear, worry, and anxiety. Doubt and worry, not sorrow and trouble, cast out peace. Forgetting about the reasons for things, just make your requests to God and leave results, as you do in seeding your field, to him who feeds sparrows and marks their fall. As prayer advances, care recedes. A beautiful and fruitful union is formed when prayer and praise wed.

QUESTIONS 1.What is the import of “wherefore,” the first word in Php 4:1-23?

2.    Why does having citizenship in heaven make one a sojourner on earth?

3.    With respect to what kind of things may Christians compro­mise, and with respect to what kind may they not compro­mise?

4.    Suggest two meanings for the sentence, “The Lord is at hand.”

5.    How Is it that sorrow and rejoicing may be concomitant?

6.    In what respect are prayer and gravitation similar?

7.    How may Christians banish worry and anxiety from their lives?

8.    How and why does Christ sensitize men?

9.    How should the truth that earthly interests when compared with heavenly interests are nothing show up in our daily lives?