Philippians 4:1-14
Paul’s letter to the Philippian church may be one of my favorites and the reason why is simple. As someone who sometimes can be given over to griping and complaining about personal circumstances, this letter is a great reminder of how to give thanks to and be always content in my relationship with Jesus.
Paul’s writing this letter from a Roman prison cell. He’s preparing to face a trial that may very well result in his execution. And yet, here’s how he opens the letter. “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.”
Not, “Dear Philippians, prison stinks, the food is awful, my cell is damp, and my being here is beyond unfair.” Nope. Paul is thanking God while living in what had to be miserable conditions. He’s thankful to the Philippians for their financial support but more than anything, he’s grateful for their faithfulness and willingness to share the gospel. As for the less-than-comfortable accommodations he’s dealing with, listen to this.
This is Philippians 1:12-14…
“And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.”
In other words, Paul’s saying, “Hey Philippi yes, prison stinks but because I’m able to share Jesus I don’t even notice.” I want to get to a place in my life where no matter what my circumstances sharing Jesus remains job one and that I find all the comfort and satisfaction I need in that.
A bit further on in this letter, chapter 4, Paul gives the church – and you and me – some encouragement that we need to tap into. I hope this inspires all of us. Let’s look…
Philippians 4:4 – “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember the Lord is coming soon.” We need to keep in mind that the one emotion Jesus wants us to equate to Him in all things is joy! Even when life goes off the rails because we live with the promise of Heaven, joy should always be our overriding emotion. And with that joy should come ongoing consideration and kindness to others.
Philippians 4:6 – “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all that He’s done.” People struggle with this one at times because how am I supposed to thank God when it feels like my world is imploding? Well, if you’re able to acknowledge your struggle, that means He’s blessed you with a day. A day in which you can pursue Him diligently with the assurance that He will make a way for you to get through whatever you need to get through. Thank Him for that! Thank Him for being a God who forgives, who extends grace and mercy. Thank Him for loving you and for knowing what you need before you even ask.
If He knows what I need, why do I need to pray? And the answer is because the Creator of the Universe sees little old you as His precious child. He wants to be in a relationship with you. Praying lets Him know that you want to participate in that relationship. As for worry? Take a minute and go read Matthew 6:25-34. Jesus will let you know what He thinks about worry.
Let’s look at one more. This one’s a biggie because at times it tends to be misinterpreted a bit. In Philippians 4:13 Paul writes, “For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.”
This verse does not mean that with a simple prayer Jesus will give you the power to split an atom, perform brain surgery, or bench press 400 lbs. Paul makes this statement as a summation of his telling the Philippians that he is content no matter what his circumstances may be. When he was Saul the Pharisee, chances are his life was pretty cushy. As Paul the apostle…not so much. And yet, through his faith in Jesus, Paul is content. And that contentment gives him the power to muddle through whatever he’s called upon to face. Jesus didn’t promise Paul a life of ease, instead, Paul’s life is one challenge after the next.
Prison aside there are also beatings, a stoning, unfair legal proceedings, a shipwreck, a poisonous snake bite, angry Jews, and, oh yeah. His primary calling is to bring the gospel to a group of people who have no earthly idea who Jesus is. And yet, through it all, because Paul found contentment and comfort in his relationship with Jesus, these things couldn’t break him.
There’s a lesson for all of us in there somewhere…