Context
As we wind down our study of Philippians, we are completing
Paul’s explanation of one of the major themes of the letter—having a Christlike
attitude of concern for others over personal convenience leads to inner peace
and harmony with God and His plans.
Personal
Illustration Philippians 4:10
In verse 10, Paul illustrates this principle with a look at
his own attitude. It is joy—great
joy—that comes from seeing the Philippians dip their toe in the waters of
concern for others again and again! As
the Philippians follow Paul’s teaching about generosity toward others they
begin to get hooked. The most recent
example is their concern for Paul – again.
Earlier, they were concerned and were unable to help but Paul is just as
delighted at every instance of their care and concern for others whether it
accrued to him or not. His godly
leadership to this end will benefit him at the bema where he will show the Lord his beloved Philippians and there
be rewarded. But for now, his benefit is
contentment.
Totally Content
Philippians 4:11-12
In verse 11, he specifically points out that he is not
really in any need at all because he is totally content no matter what his
circumstances are. He acknowledges in
verse 12 that he has experienced both times of want and times of abundance, but
he always remains content. Now, he grabs their attention by attributing
this to a “secret.” The Greek word means
“instruction.” In the New Testament this
word is especially related to the word translated “disciple.” The “secret” comes through “discipleship” or
“instruction from the master.” Paul was
not one of the twelve who were personally discipled by Jesus, but he had spent
time in the school of life under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit as he applied
the Scripture to his life. It is a
process for Paul as it is for us—learning to have a Christlike attitude that is
able to be content even when he is hungry or in pain.
The Secret of
Contentment Philippians 4:13
Verse 13 gives the “secret.”
“I am able to do all things through the One Who strengthens me.” (Some manuscripts insert “Christ” but either rendering
is clear enough in any case.) Christ
gives us strength to be content, to do what He asks of us. This verse is not a catchall cherry-picked
motto that we can count on when we take on an edgy adventure doing our own
thing. The context is about living to
please God in all circumstances and being content doing so. He gives us the ability to do everything He
asks of us and inner contentment in doing it His way.
Praise for the
Philippians’ Attitude of Sharing Philippians 4:14-18
In verse 14 he quickly points out that he is not at all
unhappy with the church for sending him money.
“You did well,” he says. He is
not a glutton for pain but rather he is rooting for them because they were sharing with Paul in his “trouble.” He was content in his trouble, yet Paul is
happy they shared with him—not for his own relief—but because they were sharing.
In verses 15 and 16 he goes on to talk about how proud he is
of them. They were the only church to
keep helping him after he left town. Some places where he went the local believers
gave him room and board, but Philippi kept on helping him. They even helped him
in Thessalonica more than once. Perhaps these Thessalonians were lacking in
hospitality as well as in curiosity about the Scriptures! But Philippi made up for their lack.
In verse 17 Paul is careful to point out that he is not
buttering them up so they will send him more money. He just wants them to maximize their eternal
reward at the judgment seat of Christ.
In verse 18 he makes sure they know that he has received
everything they sent at the hand of Epaphroditus and he now has plenty. He doesn’t need anything else right now. He then points again to the way God views
their gift.
He calls it a “fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice,
very pleasing to God.” This phrase
should be familiar to us since it is very similar to Paul’s description of
God’s response when we dedicate our lives to Him as a “living sacrifice”
(Romans 12:1). If we have truly
dedicated our lives to God, this attitude of concern for others should be a
logical outgrowth of that. (He who has
been forgiven much, loves much.) When we
give sacrificially for God’s work, it is pleasing to God. The words “fragrant offering” are a metaphor
for the altar of incense in the Old Testament.
Christ Shares from
God’s Total Supply Philippians 4:19
So now in verse 19 we come to another familiar verse that is
NOT just a motto that we use to justify everything we think we need. It does say that God will supply every
need. But He also supplies contentment
in whatever situation we are in as we cultivate a Christlike attitude that
thinks of other people first. It is
“according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Jesus is the firstborn Who inherits everything
but He in turn shares them with us in proportion to our service to Him. All believers receive eternal life but not
all receive the same reward.
God’s Plan Flows
from His Character Philippians 4:20
In verse 20 Paul praises God for this wonderful plan. That word “glory” is a reference to God’s
character—in this case—His willingness to share with us! He wants us to be like Him in this.
Postscript on the
Penetration of God’s Power Philippians 4:21-23
Verses 21-23 are a series of personal greetings to the
believers in Philippi from the believers in Rome. Note the interesting greeting from “those who
belong to Caesar’s household.” The
gospel had penetrated even to the seat of power for the Roman empire. This is just a glimpse of the kind of power
that Paul counts on to supply all his needs.
No wonder he is content.
It ends with a call for God’s grace—His free gift— to be “with
their spirit” – or better, “with you all” as we have in the NKJV. (This rendering is found in many ancient
witnesses as well as the Majority text.)
The latter reading seems to fit better with the idea found in the
context that God’s grace is for every need and not just a spiritual benefit.
Our final study will look at an overview of the letter as a
whole.
© 2019 Eric Thimell
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