Philippians 4

The Apostle Paul considers this church in Philippi to be his joy and crown. He came over to Macedonia originally by divine revelation. In a vision a “man” of Macedonia was urging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” In Acts 16, the first convert recorded was a woman of Macedonia, Lydia, but there followed many other men and women, included Paul’s jailer. Now two particular women in the congregation who have worked with Paul in the past, Euodia and Syntyche, have to be asked to agree in the Lord. They need to seek the mind of Christ, to have humility with rejoicing. This is always the way in the churches. People have problems with one another as they do in extended families. The existence of churches in Philippi does not mean that all the implications of the fall have been entirely overturned.

To labor for gospel unity in any church involves the help and blessing of everyone involved. Paul seems confident that whatever the conflict may be, that with the help of some loyal companions that a solution will be found. The answer for us comes not from some specific plan of compromise, but in the continued transformation of the church by the resources that come to us from God.

If our names have been written in the Lord’s book of life, we should be able to rejoice in him, and to repair all kinds of troubling disagreements. If we are willing to really rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ, our relationships with one another can surely be healed, and we will be able to demonstrate a gentleness and a reasonableness with each other that will be a testimony of the mind of Christ that may be impressive to those who had heard something of a broken friendship that has now been repaired by God. Our problems will not all go away, but we are told to let our requests be made known to God in prayer. Whatever we may lack, we still have the One in whom our hearts rejoice, and with Him comes a peace that surpasses all understanding, and guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. If we will not rejoice in the Lord, then how will damaged relationships be healed?

So much of our battle of living is fought in our minds. When we rejoice in the Lord, our minds are filled with thoughts of the one who is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of all praise. We will do well if we think about Him, and about all things that are truly consistent with our faith in Him. This is the kind of example that leaders in the church need to set. Do we love Christ, and are we ready to admire Him as the bride to be in the Song of Solomon reviews all of the glories of her knight in shining armor?

To be more aware that we have Christ in us and among us in the church is to take a healthy step toward a new and God-given contentment. It also spurs us on in a new urgency to see the Word of the Lord’s kingdom prosper. When we support the ministry of the Word, we do so out of love for our King.

The Philippian church had developed a pattern of giving to support the Apostle Paul. Paul was not writing to them seeking further help, but was more concerned that they continue in their kingdom investments for their own benefit. For his part, he had learned the secret of contentment. Our sense of well-being is not based on how much wealth we have at any moment, but in knowing that the Lord who owns everything and who can do everything loves us and distributes His blessings according to His good plan. Through Jesus Christ, we can do all things, for Christ can do all things. Therefore we can be content whether we have a lot or a little.

Paul had received a great gift from the church through their messenger Epaphroditus who he was now sending home to them. Their care for him expressed in their giving was a fragrant offering to God. The apostle was confident that God would supply all their needs as generous givers. God is not poor, yet He became poor in Christ that we might be rich because of the gift of His death. Heaven is not a place of poverty. Through the work of redemption, Christ has secured for us some of the glory of that place where Christ lives and reigns. In heaven we will be lavishly supplied with so many wonderful blessings. Even now God has riches in glory that He can use to supply all of our needs.

The humble heart, the mind of Christ at work within the church, gladly gives glory to God. We enter into that kind of true worship even now. What must it be like to enter into the worship of God in heaven? God certainly deserves all of our glory. So we stay together in the blood of the Lamb who redeemed us. We greet one another with affection, and we receive correction. This grace is not just for a special person or for a special moment. It is for the whole church, and it comes back to the fact of Christ, our Redeemer. From His life and death we have been given grace. The grace of God is ours in the Lord. We have every reason to rejoice, if we are willing to rejoice in the Lord. May His great mercy fill us every day. It was good that Paul went to Macedonia and was loved by the church in Philippi. It is good that we can yield ourselves now to the love of Christ. It is good when we allow the humility and joy of Christ to push from our minds smaller thoughts that may actually bring trouble upon the church.