Thanksgiving – Paul’s Style (Philippians 1:1-6 )                                                            2009.11.22                                 Pastor Richard Yu

         When we think of thanksgiving, we normally and naturally give thanks for tangible benefits such as health, material possession, food, job, or family; and we give thanks for intangible benefits such as friendship, our salvation in Christ, or freedom to worship. We may have learned to give thanks even in difficult life circumstances such as illness, or the lost of job, because we experienced the spiritual benefits such as a sense of closer walk with God, comfort, or sustaining strength through them.

        However, most of these are still personal benefits received in one form or another, and thus our thanksgiving is still by and large self-focused. But this is not what we see in Paul, his thanksgiving to God was not self-focused but others-focused. Paul regularly gives thanks for grace formed in the lives of others by God. In all his letters to the churches, excepting the one to the Galatians, Paul begins with thanksgiving and praise for the spiritual well-being of the people.

        So far as the church in Philippi is concerned, Paul offered joyous thanksgiving to God on three grounds. As we learn from Paul how he gives thanks, it is my hope that we would consider carefully what we desire to be, what we rejoice in, and give thanks for, as we look at one another, and what we ought to be praying for ourselves and for one another.

        First, Paul gives thanks to God for the Philippians’ close relationship with him (vv. 3-4, 7-8). Gratitude to God is utmost in Paul’s mind as he begins to pen this letter. Paul’s thanksgiving reflects his care and affection towards a congregation that over the years had remained close to him. This church was the first he established in Greece. By the time Paul wrote this present letter, it was about 12 years later. Even though Paul had to leave them and move on to other places, but from the tone of this letter, their relationship remained close; and these believers were often in Paul’s remembrance.

        The question is: What was on Paul’s mind when he remembers them? Was he thinking about the financial help he received from the Philippians? We do see in chapter 4 that the Philippians had more than once sent financial assistance to Paul when he was in trouble.  But Paul also made it clear that he was not looking for gifts from them, but instead he was seeking for spiritual fruits that may be credited to their account. So we see Paul was more concerned about the spiritual growth of the Philippians.

        In fact, this is a trademark of Paul. His gratitude towards God is consistently about the spiritual well being of the Lord’s flock. He gives thanks particularly for how God’s Word and grace is taking root and bearing fruits in the lives of the believers. We see this in the letters he wrote to believers in other churches as well. (cf. Rom. 1:8; 1Co 1:4-5; Eph 1:15-16; Col 1:3-4; 2 Thess 1:3; 2:13; 1 Thess 1:2-3).

        Second, Paul gives thanks to God for the Philippians’ active participation in the gospel (v. 5). The word translated as “partnership” includes the idea of intention, direction, and a striving towards. Therefore we note that the Philippians’ partnership in the gospel was not a quiet enjoyment of it, but a wholehearted activity in the interest of it, and an effective participation for the furtherance of the gospel.

        Third, Paul gives thanks to God for his conviction that since God had begun the good work of a new creation in the Philippians’ lives he would bring it to completion on the day when Christ Jesus returns in glory (v.6). And the reason Paul is so confident of this is that he has already seen with his own eyes how the grace of God is transforming the lives of these Philippian believers.  “A good work” undoubtedly has a wider meaning than the previously mentioned partnership in the gospel, and indicates a more comprehensive work of grace in the hearts of these believers, affecting both their inner disposition and outward behavior.

        Here’s the thing we learn from this passage. Sharing in common in God’s grace and mission creates a true community of believers; brotherly love and Christian affection grow in the soil of grace and gospel service. The close relationship that Paul experienced with the Philippians – their mutual love for one another, their deep affection for one another – grows out of the soil of their common experience of God’s sovereign grace and their common commitment to spreading the word of the gospel.  

        The more you care about others the more you’ll be able to discern things in them to be thankful for. And the more you’re able to give thanks to God for others, the less you tend to be judgmental or critical toward them. The more we engage in the common cause of gospel works, the more we’ll be united in the Spirit and experience joy in true brotherhood. May this be our own experience this Thanksgiving Season and beyond!