Comments on Philippians 4:8-14

  A couple of weeks ago I took up the first seven verses of Philippians chapter 4. We talked about Euodia and Syntyche and their dispute. We talked about the importance of rejoicing in the Lord despite circumstances. We were reminded that there is nothing we need to be anxious about, because we can come before His throne with our cares and lay them at His feet and we were told that “the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard [our] hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Today we’ll be taking up the next seven verses and so I’ll read them now: “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things and the God of peace will be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.”

    Going back to the beginning of our passage, again here Paul writes, “Finally.” This time he’s actually concluding the letter. He lists out for us eight adjectives that should describe the things that a Christian “dwells” on. I’m going to take this verse from two directions. First, to quote Ironside, “It will be found exceedingly difficult to think on things true, honest, just, pure, and lovely, if there be not some definite, concrete example before the mind. Mere occupation with beautiful sentiments and poetic ideals is not, I take it, what he would here inculcate. But all are found fully exemplified in our Lord Jesus Christ as the perfect Man here on earth, and, in measure, these qualities are reproduced by the Holy Spirit in all who have been made partakers of the divine nature.” In other words these descriptors would be difficult to just think about in abstraction but we have One in whom all these qualities dwell, that is our Savior Jesus Christ. McGee pointed out in his commentary that this verse has been called the “briefest biography of Christ,” ever written. If we find ourselves having trouble thinking of these abstract ideals we simply need to turn our minds to Christ Himself and we will be thinking about that which is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy.

    The other direction I wanted to take on this is more of a believer to believer slant. In Ironside’s commentary he wrote, “... if Euodia, realizing Syntyche has been redeemed to God by the same precious blood as herself and is indwelt by the same Holy Spirit, determines to think of the virtues or anything worthy of praise in her life and personality - to magnify her graces and minimize her faults, refusing to indulge in unkind criticism - she will be so attracted by what is of Christ in her that she will find herself linked in heart to the one from whom she had previously turned coldly away.” If we did a better job of thinking on the good we can see in our brothers and sisters and not dwelling on the bad, how much more gracious would we be with one another? We need to remember that our brothers and sisters are as much in Christ as we are, and so treat them accordingly. 

    Before going on to the next verse I wanted to take a brief moment to talk about the first descriptor Paul tells us to dwell on: true. This admonition goes well with verse 6 from last time as if we dwell on things that are true we won’t worry nearly so much. They did a study and found that of the things people were worrying about, only 8% of them were actual things that the people could control. The other 92% were either imaginary, never happened, or involved matters outside the person’s control. So, if we dwell on true things, our worry will naturally become less. 1 John 5:6 states, “This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is truth.” Again, when we think on that which is true, we can think on Christ and the Spirit for God is true. I appreciate how Wiersbe put it: “No Christian can afford to waste mind power on thoughts that tear him down or that would tear others down if these thoughts were shared.”

    If we compare this list to that which David uses to describe the law of the Lord in Psalm 19 we’ll notice many similarities. In verses 7 - 9 David writes, “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.” So to follow this command we ought to be dwelling on Christ Himself, the Spirit of God, and the law of the Lord.

    Next we have Paul again encouraging the Philippians to follow his example. He isn’t arrogant here, but rather pointing out that having good doctrine on paper does no good at all if that same doctrine isn’t lived out. Again quoting Wiersbe: “In Paul’s ministry, he not only taught the Word, but also lived it so that his listeners could see the truth in his life. Paul’s experience ought to be our experience. We must learn the Word, receive it, hear it, and do it. ‘Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only’ (James 1:22).” It is so important for us to live out what we preach, because people are always watching and if your life doesn’t match your words, your words lose their power. Our friends, co-workers, neighbors, and children are all watching to see how we act. Paul’s life matched up with his words and the Philippians knew it. To quote Wiersbe once again, “Right praying, right thinking, and right living: These are the conditions for having the secure mind and victory over worry. As Philippians 4 is the peace chapter of the New Testament, James 4 is the war chapter. It begins with a question: ‘From whence come wars and fighting among you?’ James explained the causes of war: wrong praying (‘Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss,’ James 4:3), wrong thinking (‘purify your hearts, ye double-minded,’ James 4:8), and wrong living (‘know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?’ James 4:4). There is no middle ground.” 

    So Paul’s call here is not just, “Listen to me,” but, “Watch me, and then do likewise.” That means we need to be careful to learn, receive, hear, and do what we have from the Word of God. As Peter reminds us, God “has given us everything we need for a life of godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). The question is whether we will take Him at His Word and live in such a way that others can see His truth in us.

    Next we read Paul taking the opportunity of their gift to him to praise the Lord. He acknowledges that they were always concerned about him, despite the nearly two year hiatus in their communication. He had been arrested in Jerusalem and the Philippians had some trouble, apparently, tracking him down again. But once they did, they got another gift together for Paul and sent it with Epaphroditus to him in Rome. The serving believer has no command in Scripture to demand any support from his fellow believers, as he is to be trusting wholly on the Lord. However, we fellow believers have a duty to the missionary to see his needs are met. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (Luke 10:7).  Again we are reminded that this was a personal letter from Paul and he was thanking them for the gift. I appreciated a point Wiersbe made on this verse: “They had been concerned, but they had lacked the opportunity to help. Many Christians today have the opportunities, but they lack the concern!”

    After thanking them for their gift, he makes it clear that he was not in want, because he had learned to be content. To quote J. Vernon McGee now, “Many of us think that if things are going right and if we are in the right place, then we will be content. That means that we depend on the circumstances of life for our contentment.” If we look around and are trying to be settled in the things of this world then we have not learned the contentment that Paul is writing about here. We need to remember that we can rest in the unchanging care of the Lord. Dan H. said something to me that really struck home: “A child doesn’t ask their father daily if they can trust him that day.” We are children of a loving Heavenly Father and He will care for us. So, “Contentment is not complacency, nor is it a false peace based on ignorance. The complacent believer is unconcerned about others, while the contented Christian wants to share his blessings. Contentment is not escape from the battle, but rather an abiding peace and confidence in the midst of the battle.” -Wiersbe. 

    This whole letter Paul is reminding them again and again that even though there will be bad times. Even though problems will arise and trials will come, it is not the believers place to worry or be anxious about them. Our peace doesn’t stop the storm from coming but gives us the assurance that we can make it through in Him. Or, to quote something I saw on Facebook the other day, “Remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? God didn’t put out the fire. He just put Jesus in there with them and they came out unsinged and without smoke. It’s not about God stopping all the things that look bad; it’s about Who’s in there with you.” The secret of contentment is really faith in God.

    Paul then goes on to describe the circumstances that he had found himself in. He’s been poor and he’s been rich. In verse 11 Paul says that he “learned” to be content. That word is ἔμαθον and carries with it the idea of hearing something or being informed of it. The word here in verse 12 is μεμύημαι and has more the idea of a secret initiation. It was often used by pagan religions of the day to indicate that the person was going to learn the secrets of the religion. Paul here uses it to show that, through trial and testing, he had learned that the secret of peace in Christianity is in God Himself. This wasn’t a truth Paul picked up in a classroom or from a quick conversation, it was something forged in the furnace of real life. Shipwrecks, imprisonments, hunger, persecution, and seasons of abundance all became the “lessons” in his private tutoring from the Lord. The world looks for contentment in possessions, comfort, and control, but Paul had been initiated into a different kind of secret: that Christ Himself is enough. It didn’t matter if he was wealthy or broke, honored or shamed, his portion was found in his Lord, and so he could be content no matter what.

    The very next sentence of his letter is one we’ve all heard many times I’m sure: “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” To quote McGee again, “Does it mean you can go outside and jump over your house? Of course not. Paul says, “I can do all things in Christ’ - that is, in the context of the will of Christ for your life. Whatever Christ has for you to do, He will supply the power, Whatever gift He gives you, He will give the power to exercise the gift.” We have the power of God to act in accordance with His will. McGee had shared an anecdote about a train engine that had skipped the tracks and crashed. Train engines have all the power they need as long as they stay on the tracks. Christians have all the power we need, as long as we stay in the will of God. To quote Wiersbe now: “The most important part of a tree is the part you cannot see, the root system, and the most important part of the Christian’s life is the part that only God sees. Unless we draw on the deep resources of God by faith, we fail against the pressures of life.” Our faith and trust in God is only actually visible to Him, but from it we can do all things “in Christ.” That’s why this verse is not a motivational slogan for self-achievement, but a declaration of dependence, Paul knew the source of his strength, and it was never himself. The same power that sustained him is the same power that is at work in us today, enabling us to walk faithfully in whatever path the Lord lays before us.

    And yet, even with that deep confidence in Christ’s sufficiency, Paul did not take the kindness of others for granted. Our section today wraps up with Paul again thanking them for the gift they had sent. He wanted to make sure they understood that he was grateful for their generosity, even though he knew that the Lord was enough. Their gift was more than just material help, it was a tangible expression of their partnership with him in the work of the gospel, something he had rejoiced in since the opening verses of this letter. Thankfulness is often lacking in today’s world and we can follow Paul’s example here of praising God for the gift and remembering to thank the people that gave it as well.

Let us remember that the Christian life is not about having all the answers or finding the perfect circumstances, but about resting in the unchanging presence and power of Christ. Like Paul, we are called to dwell on what is true and noble, to live what we believe, and to find our contentment and strength in Him alone, regardless of what life brings. Our faith may often be tested, but in those trials, God is teaching us His “secret” of peace and dependence. Let us then walk forward with confidence, encouraging one another, sharing generously, and trusting that the God who has begun this good work in us will carry us through. May the God of peace truly be with us as we practice these things day by day.