Philippians

Tuesday, 28 February 2017

I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. Philippians 4:12

The words of this verse explain what he just said. Taken together, they read –

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: ¹² I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

Saying, “I know how to be abased,” indicates that in a state of deprivation, he could still properly function. The word used indicates “being brought low,” or “being humbled.”

Next he says, “and I know how to abound.” This is in contrast to being abased. It indicates “to exceed the ordinary,” and thus a state of surplus. When things were going exceptionally well, he took it in stride. Such times of abundance did not change him into a prideful soul, nor did he learn to rely on that abundance. Instead, when things abounded for him, he understood that it was simply a gift from the Lord.

Following this, he says, “Everywhere and in all things.” It is an absolute statement concerning every facet of his life. Wherever he walked, and whatever came his way, it was included in the attitude he now possessed.

And this attitude was that, “I have learned.” The word used more fully means, “I have learned the secret.” It is a metaphor which comes from the rites of initiation in pagan mysteries, and so it signifies something like, “I have been initiated.” From his past life, he had been initiated into this attitude which he now possessed. The secret of contentment was learned. This contentment was “both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

His contrasting words show the totality of his life experiences. To him, he could get along with any extreme without demonstrating the negative qualities which normally surround someone when faced with the same. In times of being full, there was no need to boast; in times of famine, there was no need to worry. To Paul, life was lived for Christ. This carnal, temporary world was not the only hope he possessed, and so whatever the state, it was nothing more than another step on the way to final glory.

Life application: Paul’s attitude in this verse is one which we should strive to emulate. If we can truly acknowledge that whatever we are facing now is the Lord’s will, then we can trust that it is the proper place to be, even if it is a place of deprivation or total loss. Glory lies ahead. This temporary life is not the totality of our existence.

Lord God, help each of us to focus on the eternal. Whether we face lack or abundance, or whether we face joy or pain. Each thing that we experience was ordained for us by You, and it is temporary. There is a great glory which lies ahead for those in Christ, and so help us to keep our eyes, hearts, and thoughts directed to that glory. Help us to not be anxious or frustrated, or overly confident. Instead help us to trust in Your provision as being perfect for each moment. Amen.

Monday, 27 February 2017

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: Philippians 4:11

Paul, having noted that the care of him by the Philippians had “flourished again,” now notes that what was given to him was a blessing beyond basic needs. He states this by saying, “Not that I speak in regard to need.” The “I” here is emphatic. It is his way of saying that his needs were always met, and that what they gave to care for him brought him above that basic state. If he did not receive their care, he would still make do.

He conveys this in the words, “for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” The word for “content” here is autárkēs. It is an adjective found only here in the Bible and which means, “self-sufficient, content in the sense of being satisfied because living in God’s content (fulness). This inward sufficiency is as valid in ‘low times’ (suffering) as in ‘high times’ (temporal prosperity)” (HELPS Word Studies).

The word was used by the stoics to show that they were capable of handling all situations that they were in. Paul uses it, not as a source of pride, but rather as his way of showing that in Christ, he was made capable of meeting all necessities without burdening others. This can be inferred from countless other passages where he demonstrates his total reliance on the Lord in all ways and at all times.

His life experiences had brought him to this state, and he was able to put his trust in the Lord no matter what situation he found himself in. This is seen elsewhere, such as in Acts 20 –

“I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. ³⁴ Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.” Acts 20:33, 34

Life application: The Bible conveys to us the importance of not relying on others, but self-sufficiency. It even goes on to show that we are to care for others who cannot care for themselves. However, it never teaches that loafers should be cared for so that they can continue to loaf.

Lord God, Your word is clear that we are to tend to our own needs. We are to be self-sufficient, productive, and not to rely on others when we are capable of taking care of ourselves. It goes on to show that we are to care for others who cannot care for themselves. This excludes loafers, slackers, slouches, the lazy, and the indolent. For them, Your word says that if they do not work, they do not eat. How could we have fallen so far from these precepts in today’s world? Help us to convey the message that hard work and industry is a part of Your desire for us. Keep us from being leeches on society, and give us hearts to care for the truly needy. Amen.

Sunday, 26 February 2017

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Philippians 4:10

Paul now refers to the giving by the saints in Philippi for his needs. However, despite it having come from them and their labors, he ascribes it to having come from the Lord. He says, “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly.” He moves the gratitude up to the place from which it originally stems. It is not in any way a lessening of his thanks to them, but rather a highlighting of it. If someone compliments a preacher on a great sermon, he does well to say, “Then give the glory to the Lord.” He is acknowledging the Source of the goodness which they received. The same is true with Paul’s words now.

Understanding this, he then says, “that now at last your care for me has flourished again.” The word he uses is found only here in the New Testament, and it signifies “to revive.” It is what happens with the trees in spring as they sprout new leaves and revive in the warm sun and refreshing showers. It would be what a pot of flowers would do which was deprived of water, but which revived as it received water once again. Paul is saying that the care of him by the Philippians was received by him; their care has revived him in this manner because of it.

He then acknowledges that the deprivation of their care was not of their making, or because of a lack of attention to him. Rather, he says, “though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.” The distance to reach him, the sickness of Ephaphroditus, possibly because of his incarceration making it impossible, and so forth, all led to this inability of them to tend to him. However that was now past.

Life application: Sometimes we may take things in the wrong way when we do not hear from another person for some amount of time, or because they have not attended to us in the way that was normal in the past. In such instances, the reason may be something wholly unexpected, and so it is best to not let such lapses cause an unnecessary division. Instead, we need to handle them with care and hopefully find out the reason for them in a godly and patient manner.

Lord God, give us wisdom in dealing with others so that we don’t rush into unnecessary or unsound judgments concerning the things they do. Obviously, we don’t have all of the information concerning why others do certain things, and so grant us the ability to first find out what may be misunderstood by us before we fly off the handle and cause harm to the relationship. Surely peace and harmony is preferable to strife any day. Help us in this, O Lord. Amen.

Saturday, 25 February 2017

The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:9

Paul again calls attention to the need for following the example he has set down. He did this in verse 3:17, and now he continues to exhort this to his readers at Philippi (and thus us!) by saying, “The things which you learned and received.” These are the things he would have directly instructed them through this and any other epistle, and also anything they would have heard from him as personal instruction while he was with them. They are the things he received by revelation, and which he would then have instructed them, explaining that they are the words of the Lord. They learned from him, and they received it as under the authority he claimed.

He then says, “and heard and saw in me.” These are the things they would have noted about him personally. He gave instruction, but did he live in accord with the words he spoke? When a pastor instructs someone to avoid sexual sin, does he then go out and engage in sexual sin? Paul conformed his life to what he received from the Lord. Therefore, his words were conformed to what he instructed, and his actions conformed to that as well.

Because of this, he exhorts them by saying, “these do.” In essence, “As you have learned from me, as you have received from me by what I taught, as you have heard my words, and as you have watched my actions… all of these you are to likewise follow.” In doing this, there will be a reward. Compliance does not lead to a dull existence, but it generates a glorious relationship in that “the God of peace will be with you.”

There is an inversion here from the words of verse 4:7. There it said, “the peace of God.” Here it says, “the God of peace.” God left us His peace through Christ Jesus, but He did not leave us in the process. We have more than a simple token left behind; we have the Giver of the token dwelling among us and in us when we conduct our lives in accord with what He has revealed.

The opposite will then be true. If we fail to do follow in these things, we will have neither the peace of God to guide us, nor will we have the God of peace with us. Instead, we will have nothing but trials, anxieties, and frustrations on the one hand, and no fellowship to comfort us on the other. What a price to pay for being disobedient children!

Life application: If you want the peace of God, and the God of peace to guide you and be with you, then pay heed to His word in your life, apply His word to your life, and set your eyes on what lies ahead of this life. By living out the faith that you profess, the peace you seek from the God you seek will be yours.

Heavenly Father, You have promised that those who are in Christ, and who pay heed to Your word, will have a special blessing. You have said that You will not only grant Your peace to them, but You, the God of peace, will be with them. Help us then to hold fast to Your word, applying it to our lives, and living out the faith that we profess. This we pray to Your glory. Amen.