Finding Joy In Chains (Part 9) ( Philippians 4:1-9)                                                   2008.06.22    Pastor Edward Cheng  

 We know that Paul is winding down his letter because we find in chapter 4 what we generally find at the end of his letters – a “rapid-fire” collection of commands that seem to summarize his final thoughts to his readers.  As we read these commands, the task for us will be to identify any recurring themes in these commands, or to see any linkage between them.  It turns out that in this case, what we find here in chapter is very much in line with what Paul has been saying for several chapters now.

        He concludes with a command to “stand firm.”  This is in fact not a new command, but something that’s been told to us before (see 1:27).  As he concludes his letter, he emphasizes again the need for the Philippian Christians to stay steady in their faith, and even to stand out.  They are to be different from those around them, and their difference should cause them to be noticed by others around them.  Everything that follows in these next few verses seems to revolve around the command to stand firm.

        Immediately what follows is a command from Paul for two individuals in the Philippian congregation to get along.  He singles out these two individuals, even calling them by name.  More than likely his intention for this letter was for it to be read aloud to the congregation.  Can you imagine the reaction by Euodia and Syntyche when they heard their names called, and their problems with each other brought to the forefront?  These were probably two prominent church leaders who for whatever reason were not getting along.  They “contended” at Paul’s side for the sake of the gospel, which basically means that they served with him in his ministry.  And for Paul, it was time for them to seek unity again.  He urges them to “agree with each other.”  This verb is one that we’ve seen before, especially in 2:2 and 2:5.  In those verses Paul demonstrated why “thinking the same things” was important, because we are to think like Christ.  He lived His life in humility, even to the point of the cross, and in turn, we are also to put each other before ourselves.  Apparently, these two ladies had gone away from that.

        For Paul, getting along is indeed a vital component of standing firm.  When we desire to stand firm and stand out, it’s important that within the walls of the church we also get along, even to a greater degree than those on the outside.  We are to be different, and in this case our difference with the outside world is manifested in an ability to live harmoniously because our Lord calls for it.  Paul tells us several times why we should live this way with the words, “in the Lord,” and “names in the book of life.”  It’s because of our shared connection with the Lord and with salvation provided by Him that we need to seek to be unified.

        Secondly, Paul commands us to rejoice, and then again, to rejoice.  Is this a command that stands apart from what we’ve just read.  The connection between this verse and the previous verses is again the phrase, “in the Lord.”  Being in the Lord means belonging to Him and believing in Him.  And if we truly believe in the Lord, then whatever circumstance we find ourselves in we can be assured is something that the Lord has permitted in our lives.  And we can continue to trust that He knows what He’s doing.  Certainly Paul knew that the circumstances in the lives of the Philippians were less than ideal.  And yet, the command still holds true, that we are to be different and stand out through our ability to rejoice even in the face of difficult circumstances.  It’s not just when times are good that we are to find reasons for rejoicing.  Perhaps it’s especially relevant and different to do it when times are difficult.

        Finally, in these first few verses we see a command to live in gentleness, and for that gentleness to be evident to all.  This word for “gentleness” is one that Paul likes to use in the description of church leaders (1 Tim. 3:3; Titus 3:2).  Perhaps a better way to understand gentleness is to define its opposite – rude, unbecoming, harsh, rough.  We are to live differently from those around us, in gentleness, because Jesus is near.  He is near to us in time, knowing that He is the soon and coming King.  He is also near to us in proximity as we remember that He became a man to be like us and gave us His Spirit to comfort us.  And because He is not far from us, our attitude toward one another, and also toward those on the outside, needs to be different. 

        In all of these ways, we are to stand firm and to stand out from the world around us.  We are to get along and live in harmony, to rejoice in less than ideal circumstances, and to conduct ourselves with gentleness to those around us.  How different would our church be if we continue to strive for these things??