Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. (Philippians 3:12-16)

How should we pursue spiritual maturity—growth into the image of Christ?

One of the things I really love about Paul’s writing is his tendency to use athletic illustrations. It’s a common feature in his letters. In Ephesians 6:12, he uses a wrestling metaphor; he says, “we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood but powers and principalities.” In 1 Corinthians 9:24 he uses a running metaphor; he says, “Do you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one gets the prize. Run in such a way to obtain it.” Later in the same passage, he uses a boxing metaphor; he says, “I do not fight like a man that beats the air” (v. 26). I would imagine that if I met Paul in person that not only would we have great theological conversations but also great conversations about sports. However, the reason he commonly used these sporting illustrations was because he saw many similarities between a competitive athlete and our spiritual lives. Christians should work at their spiritual life like a competitive athlete works at his craft.

This text is no different. Paul compares his pursuit of becoming more like Christ to a person running a foot race. In verse 3:12 he says, “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” The word “press” can be translated “’to run’ or ‘follow after.’ It speaks of ‘an aggressive, energetic endeavor.’”¹ Paul saw himself in pursuit of being like Christ in every way. What was it that Paul was running after? It was what he previously mentioned in Philippians 3:10-11. He said,

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul did not just want to know Christ intimately; he wanted to be just like him in every way. He wanted to have the power of the resurrection in his life, share in Christ’s suffering, die like him, and be resurrected like him. That was the reason that Christ “took hold” of him while he was traveling to persecute Christians in Damascus (v. 12). Christ grabbed Paul so that he could make him into his very image.

This reality of being called by God to look like Christ is true for each of us. Romans 8:29 says, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” Even before birth, this process of God taking hold of us began. It began in the counsel of God before the creation of the earth. Like a soon to be mother or father planning to have a child, each Christian was not an accident. He chose and predestined us to be conformed to the image of Christ.

How do we pursue this reality? How do we grow into the very image of Christ? How do we grow into maturity? In verse 15 he speaks to the mature and says, “All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.” He speaks to the Philippians and says, “Those of you who are mature in Christ should think the same way. You should pursue Christ in the same way I am.” Next, he speaks to those who may think differently and says, “And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you” (v. 15b). He says if you don’t agree, God will reveal this to you.

How do we pursue maturity in Christ? How do we implement the disciplines of a competitive athlete into our lives so we can look more like Christ? We do it by modeling Paul’s disciplines. In fact, he will later explicitly call the Philippians, and therefore us, to model him in the next section. He says, “Join with others in following my example, brothers” (3:17). In this text, we will study Paul’s pursuit of spiritual maturity—knowing Christ—so that we can implement his disciplines into our own lives.

Big Question: What principles can we learn from Philippians 3:12-16 about pursuing maturity in Christ?

In Order to Pursue Spiritual Maturity, We Must Have the Right Attitude—a Holy Discontent

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me (Philippians 3:12)

What is the right attitude we must have in order to pursue maturity? Paul says, “not that I have already obtained all this or have already been made perfect.” Paul said, “I am not there yet.” Paul had a holy discontent. This is a very important attitude to develop if we are going to reach maturity.

Application Question: Why is it important to have the right attitude—a holy discontent—in order to pursue spiritual maturity?

1. Having the right attitude is important to spur growth.

Paul was probably the greatest Christian to ever live—he wrote almost half of the New Testament. His ministry led to the Gentile world being reached, and yet, he saw himself having not fully attained Christlikeness. This disposition is true of every great athlete. They are never content with their successes. And therefore, they continue to work hard to become better and to win more championships. Be careful of spiritual contentment. Many Christians are not growing because they are content with their attainments. They feel that they know the Bible enough, pray enough, serve enough, and therefore, they have ceased to progress spiritually. Spiritual contentment is the antithesis of spiritual growth; while a holy discontent is the catalyst for spiritual growth.

Are you content with your spiritual life?

2. Having the right attitude is important to deliver us from depression and discouragement when we fail.

Personally I struggle with perfectionism; meaning, I have an overriding feeling that I must always do things as perfect as possible. And when I have failed God, especially as a young Christian, this would often lead to bouts of discouragement and depression. Satan would at times attack me with great condemnation over my failures and even make me feel like I shouldn’t read my Bible or go to church. However, when a great athlete fails, it makes him work even harder. Michael Jordan would have a bad game where he only scored ten points, and then, the next game he would score fifty. Failures make great athletes work even harder. Similarly, Paul said, “Not that I have already become perfect, but I press.” His imperfection inspired him to seek to know God even more, instead of causing him to quit or give up. It should be that way in our spiritual life as well. Let your spiritual failures make you pursue Christ even more, instead of allowing them to encourage you to quit or settle for less than Christlikeness.

3. Having the right attitude is important to not be led astray into false teachings that emphasize “perfectionism”.

Some scholars believe Paul was indirectly attacking the belief of the Judaizers when he said that he had not been “made perfect.” It was common in those days for pious Jews to believe they could perfectly keep the law. When the rich man approached Christ about how to gain eternal life, Christ told him to keep the law. The rich man replied that he had kept it since his youth (Matt 19:16-20). Christ told him that perfectly keeping the law was enough for salvation so he could see that he had not kept the law and that he needed a savior. However, the rich man believed he had kept the law as many pious Jews did. Maybe, the Judaizers thought that combining law-keeping with faith in Christ could take them to an even higher spiritual plane. If they could keep the law without him, how much more could they attain perfection with him? Kent Hughes said this, “Paul’s enemies claimed to have reached a state of perfection that made them possessors of all the blessings of salvation, in effect the arrival of Heaven itself. Heavenly perfection was theirs now, they argued.”² However, perfection is not attainable on this side of heaven. It must be our continual pursuit, our continual endeavor, but we will not reach it until the second coming of Christ. Listen to what John the apostle said: “But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2b). We will never reach perfection on this side of heaven.

With that said, this belief in perfectionism has at times appeared throughout church history. Groups of Christians often from a Wesleyan background have taught that if they achieved a second work of the Holy Spirit after salvation, then instantaneously they could achieve holiness or perfection. Some even believe in the eradication of the sin nature. However, that was not Paul’s perspective. He said he had not achieved perfection. He also said in Romans 7 that the things he wanted to do, he didn’t do. He cried out, “who can save me from this body of sin” (v. 15-25). Also, perfectionism contradicts the rest of Scripture. John the apostle said this, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).

sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us,” he was not just denying perfectionism; he also was probably referring to a person being deceived about one’s salvation. The very theme of the book is assurance of salvation. He says in 1 John 5:13, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” Since meeting God in Scripture always is shown to create an awareness of sin, a person that thinks they have achieved perfection is probably deluded about his salvation. Isaiah saw God and cried out, “’Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty’” (Isaiah 6:5). This man saw how grave his sin was when he met God. Peter, when convinced that Jesus was the messiah, said, “Away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Lk 5:8). Paul the apostle calls himself the “chief of sinners” (1 Tim 1:15). To truly know God means to keenly know one’s own sin. Therefore, to claim perfection is very dangerous; it might actually prove that one has never truly met God at all. Scripture vehemently denies the possibility of being perfect here on earth.

As mentioned, perfectionism is the antithesis of spiritual growth. If a person thinks they have attained perfection, then there is no reason to continue to grow and seek Christ. We must be aware of this teaching, and we must also be careful of living this out implicitly by being satisfied with our spiritual attainments.

Application Question: In what ways does Paul’s statement about not having achieved perfection yet encourage or challenge you in your spiritual life?

In Order to Pursue Spiritual Maturity, We Must Have the Right Effort

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (Philippians 3:12)

One wrestler asked his coach if he could wrestle without working so hard in practice. The constant running, weight lifting, and dieting had taken its toll on him. The coach replied, “Why, yes, you can. However, you can’t wrestle and win without working hard.” Another aspect of pursuing spiritual maturity we must develop is having the right effort. The word “press” means “’to run’ or ‘follow after’ and speaks of ‘an aggressive, energetic endeavor.’”³ The word in ancient Greek was used of a hunter eagerly pursuing his prey.⁴ If we are going to grow into spiritual maturity, we must give maximum effort. We must work hard in order to be like Christ just like a competitive athlete.

Look at what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:10: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” When Paul described his effort as an apostle he said, “I worked harder than all of them.” This doesn’t seem to be boasting but a realistic evaluation of his effort in serving Christ. Unlike most of the apostles, Paul chose to forgo pleasures like marriage in order to have more time to serve Christ. At times, he also forewent pay from churches and earned his money by building tents. He worked hard in accordance with the grace God gave him to become like Christ.

Why are so many Christians not growing in maturity? For many of them, they are not willing to “press.” They are not willing to work hard to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of them. If we were really honest in our evaluation of one another in the church, many people work hard but at things other than their spiritual lives. They work hard, even at times forgoing sleep, to get a project done for school or work. They get up early to go to a job interview, but many never do that for the kingdom of God. That was Paul’s continuous labor; he worked hard—he pressed to become like Christ.

In the Parable of the Sowers in Matthew 13, four different soils hear the Word of God—the wayside, the stony ground, the thorny ground, and the good ground. I believe that only the person who hears the Word and bears fruit is really saved—the good ground. However, listen to how Christ describes the fruitfulness of the good ground: “Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (Matt 13:8). Some people who are truly born again produce a 100 fold, some 60 and some 30. What makes the difference? Is it the fact that God gives some people more grace? I don’t believe so. We each receive grace from God; however, some people work harder than others with it. Some people do what Paul did, “his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them” (1 Cor 15:10). Paul essentially said, “I used the grace God gave me to serve. I pressed in my spiritual life to become more like Christ and complete the works that he called for me to accomplish.”

This must be true for us as well; we must have the right effort. Some people will never reach maturity because they don’t give any real effort to their spiritual life. Everything else in their life gets maximum effort other than their relationship and service to God. Paul said this to Timothy, “discipline yourself unto godliness” (1 Tim 4:7). It can also be translated “exercise.” We must work to be godly.

Remember the discipline that Christ put his disciples through right before going to the cross. He called three disciples to pray with him for one hour. However, when they fell asleep, he didn’t say, “Oh it’s OK. I understand that you are tired. Go back to sleep.” He said, “Pray another hour.” They fell asleep again and he said, “Pray another hour” (Matt 26:38-45). He disciplined them. I think really what we see in the Garden of Gethsemane is something of the discipline Christ implemented in their lives throughout the three previous years. He made them exercise themselves unto godliness. Remember they were following a Savior that prior to starting his ministry fasted from food for forty days (Matt 4:2). Christ disciplined himself unto godliness. He woke up early in the morning throughout his ministry and went to the mountain to pray (Mark 1:35). He was disciplined, and he trained his disciples to be disciplined.

I have never been a great reader other than reading the Bible and books that explain the Bible. (I am still working out my sanctification.) However, when I have gotten the chance to read biographies of men and women that God used greatly, I often am left astounded at their great discipline—their great effort in pursuing Christ. Martin Luther had a thriving prayer life, where he would at times pray for two hours or more. I have read of other ministers who constantly finished the Bible several times a month. These people were willing to “press.” Their lives were energetic endeavors of pursuing Christlikeness and serving others. If we are going to grow in maturity, we must similarly “press” to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of us.

Application Question: In what ways is God challenging you to be more disciplined in your spiritual life—to put more effort into pursuing Christ?

In Order to Pursue Spiritual Maturity, We Must Have the Right Focus

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13)

Another aspect of pursuing maturity is having the right focus. Paul said, “But one thing I do.” This is the very reason many Christians are not growing; they have too many things they are focusing on. But for Paul, he had one thing that was above all other things and that was to know Christ and be like him. That was his one thing.

This is true of most people who became great at something in their lives; they learned the discipline of focus. Very few people are great at more than one thing. The great businessman, the great musician, the great athlete, the great scholar, the majority of them became great because of their focus. I remember, after my junior year in high school, my mom approached my varsity basketball coach and asked, “What does Greg have to do in order to get a basketball scholarship?” My coach replied, “Greg is going to have to live basketball. He must eat it, drink it, and sleep it. It must consume him if he is going to get a scholarship.” I remember taking those words to heart. I would sleep with my basketball and my Bible every night. I would bring my basketball and Bible in my backpack to school every day. It consumed me. This must be true of us as spiritual athletes as well. Christ must become our one thing before every other endeavor.

What makes this so difficult is the fact that the enemy of the best thing—knowing and being like Christ—is often not the bad but the good. We see this in the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). Christ visited their house, and he was in the living room teaching everybody with Mary sitting at his feet listening. However, in the kitchen, Martha was working hard to serve everybody by being a good host. She became upset at the fact that Mary, her sister, was not doing anything except sitting at the feet of Jesus. She approached Christ about this, and he replied, “Martha, Martha, … you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (v. 41-42).

Martha was doing good things. She was serving everybody in the house, including her Lord, Jesus Christ. However, Mary chose the better thing which was sitting at the feet of Jesus. Christ was her one thing, even before ministry. This is very common for people who serve. We often get busy with many good things and neglect our one thing. This was what enabled Paul to be effective at ministry. His ministry flowed out of this one thing—an abiding relationship with Christ. Remember what Christ said in John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” This “one thing”—abiding in Christ—will actually enable us to do everything better.

Application Question: What are some of scriptural benefits of living a life focused on Christ?

1. Seeing God is a benefit of focusing on Christ.

Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” The “pure in heart” means “the single-minded.” Jesus taught that the single-minded—those who are focused on God and the things of God—will see God everywhere. In the midst of a trial, when others only see problems and difficulties, the pure in heart see God and his abundant grace.

2. Fulfilling God’s purpose in our lives is a benefit of focusing on Christ.

Jeremiah 29:11-14 in the KJV says this:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.

We often quote this passage written to the Israelites who were exiled in Babylon. God said he had plans for them to give them a hope and a future. However, we must ask, “How would Israel go from being under God’s judgment in Babylon to fulfilling God’s plans?” Here is the answer: when they would seek him with all their heart, God would not only reveal himself to them but deliver them from exile.

The very reason they were under judgment was for neglecting God, but when they sought God with all their heart, God would reveal himself and deliver them from exile in order to fulfill his promises to them. I wonder how many people are going through trials in their life, even right now, and all God is saying is, “Seek me. Just seek me. Make me your priority, and I will deliver you and fulfill my plans for you.”

3. God meeting our needs is a benefit of focusing on Christ.

Matthew 6:33 says this: “Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.” In the context, Christ told the disciples to not worry about what they would eat, drink, or wear. God would provide if they would put God’s kingdom first in their lives. Many Christians go through lack because Christ and his kingdom are not their priority. In fact, often they put other things first before God in order to make sure their provisions are met. However, when they put school, work, friends, and family before God, he often allows them to suffer lack until he becomes their priority.  Jesus said if we make God our priority, he will meet all our needs.

4. God answering our prayers is a benefit of focusing on Christ.

James 1:5-8 says,

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

James, in the context of teaching about trials, said that if we lack wisdom we should ask God, for he gives liberally. However, he said that we should ask in faith because a double-minded man will receive nothing. What is a double-minded man? A double-minded man is a person who is trying to live for God and live for the world (cf. James 4:3-4). He is not a focused man. God is not his priority. This person will receive nothing from God. God answers the prayers of those who make him their priority and live a life of faith.

5. God using us greatly is a benefit of focusing on Christ.

Second Chronicles 16:9 in the KJV says, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” The chronicler said that the eyes of the Lord are always looking for someone whose heart is perfect towards him. What does “perfect” mean in this verse? It seems to be referring to someone who is focusing on God—seeking him first with their lives. For those who do this, God shows his strength in their lives. Why did God use a youth named David mightily for his name? Why did God call a junior high girl named Mary to birth the Messiah? He saw they had hearts that were perfect towards him. He was their focus and God blessed them.

Making Christ our focus comes with many benefits. However, when we neglect him, we will find ourselves deprived. Christ must be our “one thing.” How do we keep the right focus?

Maintaining the Right Focus

“…But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13b-14).

After declaring his focus (But one thing I do), Paul described how he maintained a focus on Christ. Again, Paul is using a running metaphor. The focus of the runner is to win the prize and for Paul that was primarily intimacy with Christ and being like him. He describes disciplines that we all must practice in order to do this. How do we keep the right focus?

Observation Question: How did Paul keep a right focus on Christ in Philippians 3:13, and how can we apply this to our lives?

1. We maintain a focus on becoming like Christ by forgetting what is behind.

Interpretation Question: What does Paul mean by forgetting what is behind?

• When Paul says forgetting what is behind, he is probably referring to all his achievements (Phil 3:4-9).

As mentioned in the previous passage, Paul was proud of his Jewish heritage and his accomplishments as a Pharisee. He was from the tribe of Benjamin, a tribe which produced many nobles. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews meaning that he never lost his Jewish culture. He was a Pharisee. However, when he found Christ, he counted his previous successes as a loss in order to gain salvation through Christ. Now it should be noted, Paul didn’t mean that he literally forgot his previous successes. “Forgetting what is behind” simply means that his past no longer had power over him. When God says in Hebrews 10:17, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more,” he doesn’t mean that he forgets. It is impossible for God to forget, it simply means that he no longer holds our failures against us.

In continuing the athletic metaphor, this is true of any great athlete. Michael Jordan, who was one of the most successful NBA basketball players of all time, could have been really content with one NBA championship. However, it did not make him content; it just increased his hunger. He wanted to be even more successful, and he eventually won six NBA championships. In a sense, this must be true for us as Christians as well. We must always have a holy hunger. We must never be satisfied with previous successes in Christ. Moses had a more intimate relationship with God than all the prophets during his time—God spoke to him face to face. However, the fact that he was more intimate with God than others did not make Moses content. He said to God, “Show me your glory” (Ex 33:18). He wanted more of God—more intimacy with him. This must be the same for us as well. Even though Paul had started many churches for God, he wasn’t content with his spiritual success. He forgot his successes in order to continue to pursue Christ and his calling. This enabled him to stay focused on the goal of Christ.

• When Paul says forgetting what is behind, he is also probably referring to his failures and the failure of others.

In mentioning his achievements in Judaism, Paul also mentioned how he previously was so zealous for Judaism that he persecuted the church (Phil 3:6). This no doubt was a big stain in Paul’s memory that may have taken many years to purge. Paul consented to the killing of the church’s first martyr, Stephen. After he was stoned, the Jews threw his clothes at the feet of Paul (Acts 8:1). All the Christians were afraid of him. No doubt, during his ministry he met the families of those he persecuted or even had a hand in their children’s murder. This blot was enough to destroy anybody’s ministry. Again, Paul could never truly forget his failures, but he could change the way he thought about them. Look at what Paul said about his past failure in persecuting the church:

Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 1:13-14)

When Paul remembered his previous failures, being a violent man and a persecutor of the church, he only saw God’s mercy and grace. It reminded him of how God poured out faith and love in his life through Christ Jesus. Where, no doubt, Satan tried to condemn him and keep him from doing ministry, Paul saw the mercy and grace of God on his life. No, he never forgot his past, but he allowed God to change the meaning of it in his life.

This is the problem with many Christians. They remember how they failed God or how someone hurt them, and these sins keep them from ever fully serving God. For some, it even keeps them from attending church or reading their Bible. If we are going to stay focused on Christ, we must exercise a holy forgetting in order to keep the right focus. We must take God at his Word and allow him to change the way we think about things that happened in our past. He works all things to the good of those who love the Lord (Rom 8:28). We must let our past failures and the failures of others draw us even closer to Christ.

We see how God wants to change the power of the past in the story of Joseph. Consider how Joseph responded to his brothers who previously sold him into slavery. He said this: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20). Joseph said their sending him into slavery was a grace of God to save many. Believe it or not, God wants to use our failures and the failures of others as well in order to help save many. It has been said that one’s misery often becomes his/her ministry.

Have you learned how to forget the past? Have you learned how to see God’s hand and grace even over your failures and the failure of others? Again, Scripture says, “God works everything for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28). One of the things we must do if we are going to learn how to focus on Christ is develop a holy forgetting.

2. Christians maintain a focus on Christ by looking towards the prize.

“…But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:13b-14).

Again, in using the running illustration, a successful runner never looks back, to the side, or at himself while running. He constantly looks forward towards the goal. The phrase straining toward “describes stretching a muscle to its limit, and pictures a runner straining every muscle to reach the finish line.”⁵ Paul was straining toward the goal of the prize for which God called him heavenward.

Many Christians cannot grow spiritually because instead of looking forward they are always looking at others or at themselves, and it either discourages them or makes them prideful. They get discouraged because they are not as spiritually mature as others or as successful. Or they get prideful because they are more mature than others. Both hinder their spiritual growth. Competitive runners keep their eyes on the goal—not on themselves or others around them. It’s the same with Christians who are maturing in Christ.

Interpretation Question: What goal or prize was Paul straining and pressing towards?

It was the goal of knowing and being just like Christ (Phil 3:9-10), but it also seems to refer to him being approved and rewarded by him at the judgment seat of Christ. Paul said this:

So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:9-10)

Paul aimed to please Christ because he realized that one day he would appear before the judgment seat of Christ. We see the athletic metaphor in this judgment as well. The word “judgment seat” used here is not the judgment seat of a court case but one from an athletic competition. It is the word “bema” which was a raised platform where the judge would give a reward for winning an athletic competition.

That was Paul’s goal; he wanted to look like Christ and be approved by him. This approval would ultimately come when Christ said, “Well done thou good and faithful servant” (Matt 25:21).

There is a story about a great pianist who had just finished a concert and the crowd stood and gave him a raving applause. However, the renowned pianist did not seem satisfied. Only when a man in the rafters stood and began to clap did the pianist smile and bow before the audience. The man in the stands was his teacher. Only the approval of his teacher mattered, and this should be true of us as Christians as well. We press to receive the approval of our Master.

In seeking the approval of the Master, Paul also wanted to be rewarded by him—possibly the ultimate form of approval. Listen to what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Paul did not want to be disqualified from the prize—the approval of Christ and the rewards that came with it. This was always on his mind. In fact, look at what Paul said at the end of his life:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Paul, like a competitive runner, kept his eyes focused on the prize. For him, the prize was knowing Christ, looking like him, and being approved by him.

If we are going to stay focused on Christ in a secular world, we must be motivated by heavenly things. We must be motivated by the approval of Christ and his reward. Jesus said this: “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done” (Revelation 22:12).

Practicing these truths will help us stay focused. We must forget what is behind, including past successes and failures. We must continue to look forward at our goal in the future, which is Christ.

Application Question: In what ways is God training you to practice a holy forgetting so you can progress in your spiritual life? What distractions—achievements or failures—commonly keep you from pressing forward to know Christ more?

In Order to Pursue Spiritual Maturity, We Must Have the Right Practice

All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. (Philippians 3:15-16)

A great athlete never neglects his basic disciplines. The basketball player practices dribbling, shooting, passing, and defense over and over again. The runner focuses on the swing of his arms, the distance of his stride, breathing, and pacing himself. All athletes are faithful in practicing the basics which eventually makes them successful in competition. It’s the same with a spiritual athlete pursuing maturity in Christ. In order to pursue spiritual maturity we must have the right practice.

In verses 15 and 16, Paul calls for those who were mature in the congregation to practice the same disciplines as him in pursuing Christ and Christlikeness. However, he recognized some in the congregation might not agree with him. Maybe, they believed that sanctification was a process that God did all on his own without the believer’s help. This is at times taught today. “Let go and let God,” some say. But Paul taught spiritual maturity was attained, at least in part, by our rigorous effort. He said to those who disagreed with him that God would make it clear to them, but “only” if they lived up to what they had already attained (v. 16). What they had already attained may have seemed liked basics, but they needed to continue to practice them if God was going to reveal further revelation to them.

This is true for each one of us. If we are faithful with what God has already revealed to us, he will give us more. We will know Christ more and grow in Christlikeness. We see this principle taught in other parts of Scripture. Christ said this to the disciples:

“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” (Mark 4:24-25)

Christ told the disciples that the measure they used what God had already revealed to them, it would be given back and even more. Those who were faithful in practicing the truths that God had already taught them, would be given more, but those who did not, even what they had would be taken away.

When you look at any person who is growing in the Lord, you can be sure this principle is working in their lives. God has taught them truths, and they are applying it to their lives. They are faithfully practicing it and sharing it, and therefore God is giving them more. However, instead of growing, many are going backwards based on the same principle. God taught them to delight in and meditate on the Word of God day and night (Psalm 1:2), but they choose to delight in other things. God taught them to let no corrupt communication come out of their mouths (Eph 4:29), but they instead talk much like the world. God taught them to forgive so they will be forgiven (Matt 6:14), but instead they harden their hearts against others. Therefore, God takes away.

If the Philippians who did not agree with Paul’s assessment of following Christ and growing in maturity were faithful to all God had already taught them, then eventually he would correct their wrong theology. When we are faithful, God by his grace enables us to progress into the image of Christ. However, when we rebel, there is a taking away, a hardening of a person’s heart (Matt 13:12-15).

Are you living up to what you have already attained? If so, God will give you more. If not, God will take away. Great athletes never stop practicing the basics, and it’s the same with mature Christians.

Application Question: In what ways have you seen the principle in Mark 4:23-24 happen in your life or others? Are there any areas where God is especially calling you to live up to what he has already taught you, so you can grow in maturity?

Conclusion

How do we pursue spiritual maturity in Christ?

1. In Order to Pursue Spiritual Maturity, We Must Have the Right Attitude—a Holy Discontent
2. In Order to Pursue Spiritual Maturity, We Must Have the Right Effort
3. In Order to Pursue Spiritual Maturity, We Must Have the Right Focus
4. In Order to Pursue Spiritual Maturity, We Must Have the Right Practice

¹ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 245). Chicago: Moody Press.

² Hughes, R. K. (2007). Philippians: the fellowship of the gospel (p. 146). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

³ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 246). Chicago: Moody Press.

⁴ Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 90). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

⁵ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 247). Chicago: Moody Press.

Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. (Philippians 4:1-5)

How do we stand firm in the Lord? How do we develop spiritual stability? The lives of many believers are fraught with ups and downs. They are tossed here and there by the various trials and difficulties. Scripture describes spiritual infants and the double-minded as being tossed like the “waves of the sea” in Ephesians 4:14 and James 1:6. They are spiritually unstable. However, our faith in Christ should enable us to stand firm.

Paul in this text encourages the Philippians to “stand firm in the Lord” (Phil 4:1). This is not the first time Paul encouraged this church to stand. He said the same thing in chapter 1. He said,

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel  (Philippians 1:27)

Paul said whatever happens, they should stand firm in one spirit. Trials attacking the Philippians could cause them to give up ground to the enemy. They were being persecuted for their faith (Phil 1:29), people in the church were arguing and complaining (Phil 2:14), and false teachers were attacking the congregation (Phil 3:2). These difficulties could shake their faith in Christ. Still, Paul encourages them to stand firm. The word stand firm means to persist or preserve. “It is a picture of a soldier standing fast against the onslaught of an enemy.”¹

Scripture continually uses the metaphor of war for the Christian life. Peter said, “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul” (1 Peter 2:11). Peter described the believer as warring with his soul or flesh. Paul said in Romans 7, the things I would do, I don’t do, and the things I wouldn’t do, I do. Who can save me from this body of sin? Christians are in a war with the flesh—in a fight to be holy.

Christians are also in a war with the world. James said, “friendship with the world is enmity with God” (James 4:4). John said, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If any man loves the world the love of the father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). Paul said, “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). There is an enmity between the world and the people of God (cf. 1 John 3:13, Matt 10:22). There is a war of viewpoints, and at times there is persecution towards believers over these viewpoints and the lifestyle that comes from them. The world persecuted and killed Christ, and since then it has persecuted his followers.

However, our battle is not just in our flesh and with the world; it is also in the spiritual realm. Paul called for the Ephesian church to stand firm against the devil and his schemes. He said, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes” (Ephesians 6:11). The believer needs to stand firm because he is always under the attack of the enemy. He attacks one’s mind, one’s body, and one’s family. Many things could cause the believer to become discouraged, to retreat, or to even give up on following Christ altogether.

When Paul says “that is how you should stand firm,” it can also be translated “in this way stand firm” as in the NASB (Phil 4:1). As Paul closes the letter, he is reaffirming their need to stand firm amongst various attacks, and he shows them how to do so.

How can we stand firm? How can we hold our ground and not be tossed to and fro by the various hardships and difficulties of life. In Philippians 4:1-5, we will study principles about spiritual stability.

Big Question: What principles can we learn from Philippians 4:1-5 about standing firm in the Lord?

Spiritual Stability Is Developed by Pursuing Intimacy with Christ and Christlikeness

Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! (Philippians 4:1)

Interpretation Question: What does it mean to stand firm in the Lord and how do we develop this in our lives?

The “therefore” in this text points back to Philippians 3:10-21 as one of the ways that we stand firm in the Lord. There Paul described his desire to know Christ and the power of the resurrection, to have fellowship with his suffering, die like him, and one day be resurrected like him (v. 10-11). He described himself as “pressing” to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of him, and he called this his “one thing” in life (v. 12-13). Paul saw himself in an athletic endeavor to know Christ and be just like him. Then in 3:17 Paul calls for the church to follow his example in pursuing Christ. Now in Philippians 4:1 he says this is how we should stand firm in the Lord.

Spiritual stability comes from a continual pursuit of knowing Christ. The Christian life has often been compared to walking up stream. If at some point you stop walking forward against the current of water, you will by necessity go backwards. The power of the current is too strong; it is impossible to stay in the same place. One will either go forwards or backwards. In order to stand firm, one must press against the current. It’s the same spiritually; we must always press to know Christ more, like Paul. Knowing and being like him must be our one thing if we are going to develop spiritual stability in our lives. Otherwise, we will always be tossed to and fro like the waves of the sea, up and down in our spiritual lives.

We must stand firm “in the Lord.” Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Name in the Hebrew culture referred to somebody’s characteristics or person. Essentially, the writer of the Proverb is saying that those who know the Lord and his person are safe. They are protected because of their knowledge of God. They are not tossed to and fro by the difficulties of life. The righteous understand that and therefore are always pursuing the knowledge of the Lord. They want to know and understand his name.

We can only be spiritually stable if we are growing in the knowledge of him. It is at the point when we are not growing that we are vulnerable. It is when we are not in the Word of God. It is when we are inconsistent in the fellowship of the church (where God is present), and it is when we are no longer growing into his image that we become spiritually unstable and more susceptible to the attacks of the enemy.

It is the sheep that are not close to the Shepherd that are most susceptible to the attacks of an enemy. It is the son who has left the protection of the Father’s household—left the intimacy of the Father’s hand—that is most prone to stumble and fall. Paul says this is how you stand firm in the Lord. If you are not growing and pursuing growth as your one thing, it is then that you are most prone to be taken captive by the enemy.

Paul describes POW’s (prisoners of war) in 2 Timothy 2:25-26. He says,

Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

He describes them as not thinking correctly (come to their senses), trapped by the devil, and doing his will. Christians who find themselves in captivity, bound to their lusts, their pride, and other habitual sins are typically Christians who were not growing and Christ wasn’t their one thing. This created a spiritual apathy and a lack of sensitivity to their conscience and the Holy Spirit which led them into the stronghold of the devil.

Spiritual growth is necessary to stand firm. Are you still growing in the Lord and in Christlikeness? If not, you are vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks.

Application Question: In what ways have you experienced spiritual stability when growing in Christ? In what ways have you experienced being tossed to and fro with the trials of life when not growing?

Spiritual Stability Is Developed by Fostering Harmony in the Body of Christ

I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. (Philippians 4:2-3)

The next thing needed for us to develop spiritual stability is to foster harmony in the body of Christ. In continuing the warfare metaphor associated with “stand firm,” Satan is always trying to bring conflict in a marriage, a friendship, and a church. Jesus said, “a house divided against itself cannot stand” (cf. Matt 12:25), and Satan realizes that. He always seeks to bring division in the house of God so that it will fall. In fact, division gives him an open door to attack and speed up the destruction process. Ephesians 4:26-27 says, “In your anger do not sin; Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry and do not give the devil a foothold.” Unresolved conflicts give the enemy a foothold in a church—an area for him to continue his attack. This was happening in the church of Philippi with two women specifically.

Paul challenged two women, Euodia and Syntyche, to stand firm by agreeing with each other in the Lord. We are not sure exactly what the nature of their conflict was. However, it seemed to be of a personal nature instead of a doctrinal conflict. If it was doctrinal, Paul would have just explained the doctrine and said who was right. Something personal divided these two women.

Most likely, the conflict was affecting everybody in the church, and they may have separated into factions because of it. Throughout the letter Paul hinted at potential problems. He called for them to “stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel” (1:27). This implies they were not contending as “one man.” In Philippians 2:2 he again encouraged them to be “one in spirit and purpose.” Finally, in Philippians 2:14 he called for the church to do all things without “complaining and arguing.” Again, the implication was that they were complaining and arguing and maybe the conflict between Euodia and Syntyche was the primary source of that tension.

Who were these women? All we know is that they were prominent women in this church. They were probably there when Paul started the church in Philippi (cf. Acts 16).  Paul said these women had “contended at his side” for the cause of the gospel. “Contended at my side” is a gladiatorial term. It literally can be translated “fought side by side with me.”² He also says that their names were written in the Book of Life. The Book of Life is where all the names of the redeemed are listed (cf. Daniel 12:1, Luke 10:20, Revelation 3:5). This means that these women weren’t some carnal Christians causing problems in the church. They were warriors for Christ. While Paul was in Philippi, they faithfully fought by his side to present the gospel and possibly start the church there.

It is good for us to hear this because sometimes even well-meaning and devoted Christians have conflicts.  Paul and Barnabas fought over the inclusion of Mark on a missionary journey (cf. Acts 15:36-39). It actually led them to split and go different ways. Sometimes our spiritual warriors, the spiritual elite, if we can call them that, fight amongst one another. This actually makes sense because it is the devoted Christians that really care. Caring about the lost, ministering to the poor, and discipling the saints is really important to them, and it is this passion that at times causes conflict. Sometimes their methods are different. Sometimes their personalities are very different. Sometimes their doctrine is different, and these differences can cause conflict among passionate people. People who really don’t care aren’t usually the ones who fight. This is more of a danger for passionate Christians.

Observation Question: How can we foster harmony in the church, especially amidst personal conflict as seen in Philippians 4:2-3?

1. Believers foster harmony in the church by thinking like Christ.

Paul said, “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.” “Agree with each other in the Lord” literally can be translated “think the same thing in the Lord”³ or “to be of the same mind.”⁴

What does he mean by this? This seems to point back to what he taught in Philippians 2:3-5. These women needed to develop the mind of Christ. If they thought the same way as Christ, then they could work out their conflict. Listen to what Paul said previously:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude [mind] should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:3-5)

The very thing that often causes conflict in our lives is “selfish ambition.” It is the desire for our own way and for things to be done the way we think is best. However, the mind of Christ considers others first. Christ cared about the interests of God and others before his own. If we adopt the same mind, a servant’s attitude (cf. Phil 2:7), then we can have harmony and unity in the church even amidst our various differences.

Do we consider others and their interest over our own? This is the secret to harmony and unity in the church. We must have the mind of Christ.

2. Believers foster harmony in the church by fixing their relationship with Christ.

“To agree with each other in the Lord” also may infer that they needed to fix their relationship with Christ in order to agree with one another. John MacArthur said, “Paul knew that if they both got right with the Lord, they would be right with each other.”⁵ He calls them to “agree in the Lord.”

This is the reality of most relational conflict. Relational conflict, and how we respond to it, is a picture of where our relationship with Christ is. The conflict shows us our selfishness. It shows us our lack of patience and our lack of love for others. Our relationship with others is a picture of our relationship with God. If our horizontal relationships are off then so is our vertical relationship. John said,

If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:20-21)

John said it is impossible to love God and hate our brother. It is impossible to love God whom we have not seen, if we don’t love our brother whom we see every day. He says emphatically that whoever loves God must also love his brother. The implication is that if one is in discord with his brother or hates his brother, one’s relationship with God is not right. In the context of 1 John, hate and love are actually pictures of truly being saved or not according to 1 John 5:13. The very reason John wrote the book was to give assurance to those who believed in Christ. However, the principle is the same. Our earthly relationships reflect our heavenly relationship. Jesus said if we don’t forgive others, God won’t forgive us (Matt 6:15). To fix our heavenly relationship is therefore the key to fixing our earthly relationships and vice versa.

The way that we mend relationships is by first going into the secret place and meeting with Christ. He cares about the unity and harmony of his body, and it is from that relationship that we gain what is needed to agree in the Lord.

Often when I am sharp or impatient with my wife or daughter, it is very clear to me that I am not living in the Lord as I should. I don’t have the peace, the patience, or the love that comes from abiding in him. The way for me to fix these relationships is to be with Christ (cf. John 15:5).

3. Believers foster harmony in the body of Christ by carrying the burdens of others.

Paul calls for a man named “yokefellow” or “companion” to help these two women agree in the Lord.  We do not know who this man is, but since he was addressed in the letter, he obviously was known by the congregation. He must have been a prominent man and maybe one of the elders mentioned in Philippians 1:1.⁶ The name in the Greek is actually “Suzugos.” It is a word picture of two oxen yoked together carrying the same burden. Many commentators believe that the name should remain untranslated. Paul was using a play on his name. He calls him “loyal” or “true” yokefellow meaning that his character fit his birth name. In the same way that this man’s name meant yokefellow, he should help these women resolve their conflict. The yoke was an instrument fitted around the neck of two oxen that attached to the plow. The yoke enabled the oxen to pull together and get the work done more quickly.⁷ As Suzugos worked with these women, it would enable them to resolve their conflict speedily.

This is the same thing we should do as believers in order to have harmony in the church. Conflict in a congregation creates spiritual instability. It opens the door for Satan’s attacks; it affects everybody. Since we are the body of Christ, the problems of others affect us as well. If one part of the body is sick, the whole body is sick. Therefore, we have a responsibility to lovingly get involved with people in conflict so the body of Christ can remain stable and healthy. Paul said this in Galatians 6:2: “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

We must willingly take on the burdens of others in order to work for unity. This means praying for a couple struggling in their marriage—getting involved and showing the love of Christ. It means encouraging those who are down. Sometimes it even means getting other spiritual leaders involved so they can help carry the load. We are the body of Christ.

In the West, we have a very independent culture that often doesn’t want to get involved in anybody else’s life. However, this is not a biblical culture. Christ said, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34). This does not only mean that we need to be sacrificial in how we love. It means that we must teach the Word of God to one another as Christ did. That is one of the ways he loved us (cf. Eph 5:26). It means sometimes there is a need for admonishment. It means to carry one another’s burdens and problems as Christ carries ours. That is what Paul called for this yokefellow to do. He called him to love these two women by helping them work through their conflict as Christ would.

If we are going to be spiritually stable, we must maintain harmony in the church. A soldier who fights by himself will not stand. We must work together if we are going to stand, and for that reason Satan always seeks to bring discord among congregations. We must stand by walking in harmony with the church.

Application Question: In what ways have you seen or experienced the enemy’s attempts to destroy the church through conflict? In what ways is God calling you to work for harmony in a relationship or to be a yokefellow to others?

Spiritual Stability Is Developed by Maintaining Our Joy in the Lord

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

What else is needed to develop spiritual stability? Paul commands them to “Rejoice in the Lord always.” In fact, he repeats the command for emphasis, “I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil 4:4). The repetition shows its importance. Satan is always seeking to attack our joy. He knows that a discouraged Christian is a vulnerable Christian. A discouraged Christian is a Christian that typically will not be active in serving Christ and others. They typically are too self-consumed. Therefore, he works hard to bring discouragement and take away our joy. Nehemiah said, “the joy of the Lord is our strength” (Neh 8:10), and therefore, to not have joy means to be weak and vulnerable. In order for us to stand firm in the Lord, we must rejoice in him.

Some may find it strange to command an emotion. Many people look at an emotion as something that comes and goes as it pleases. They say things like, “I just fell in love. I couldn’t help it.” or “I really don’t like that person, and I don’t know why.” But Scripture doesn’t treat our emotions in the same way others do. They are treated as an act of the will, and that is why they are commanded. We are commanded to love our enemies, to be anxious for nothing, and here, we are commanded to rejoice.

How is it possible to rejoice always, especially when things are difficult?

It is good for us to remember the context of this letter. Christians were being persecuted throughout the Roman Empire, and Paul himself was in prison for the faith. He was awaiting a possible death sentence, and yet throughout the letter, he talks about his own joy despite his present circumstances. In Philippians 1:4 he says, “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.” He experienced joy while praying for the Philippians. He said in Philippians 2:17-18, “But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”

Many believe Paul was talking about his potential death when he referred to being poured out like a drink offering. Even if he died and his imprisonment was the end of his sacrifice for God, he said, “I am glad and rejoice with all of you.” Doesn’t that sound crazy? How can one have joy at the prospect of death?

Moreover, Paul commanded the Philippians to have this joy, despite their circumstances. They similarly were being persecuted for the faith. Paul said in Philippians 1:29 that it had been granted them by God to not only believe in Christ but also to suffer for him. At the founding of the Philippian church in Acts 16, Paul was imprisoned for serving Christ, and no doubt, some had suffered the same fate as him. Despite all that, he calls for the Philippians to rejoice.

How is it possible to always have joy regardless of our circumstances? It is only possible if our joy is in the Lord. For many their joy is based on circumstances. If life is good, they are joyful, but when life is bad, they lose their joy. Instead of being Christians that stand firm, they are up and down with every event in life. If we are going to stand firm, we must develop a joy that is constant, regardless of trial or persecution.

Application Question: How can we develop a joy in the Lord regardless of our circumstances?

1. We can have joy in the Lord as we get to know his person more.

Many Christians cannot have joy “in the Lord” because they don’t know Christ well enough. Knowing God is much like any other relationship in the sense that we must develop it and foster it through intimacy. When you know God’s characteristics, when you know his perfections, and you constantly think about them, it creates joy. But again, this is a problem for most Christians. We don’t know God very well, and therefore, we don’t think about him often. Remember how Job responded in the midst of his trials which included losing his wealth, his sons, and many other difficulties? He said,

“Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. (Job 1:21-22)

Job saw God as in control of everything that happened in life including bad things. He said the Lord gave and took away, and he praised him for it. He also never charged God with wrong. See, Job understood two major doctrines about God. He understood God’s sovereignty and God’s goodness. Scripture says that God works all things according to the counsel of his will (Eph 1:11). There is not one event God isn’t in control of and that includes evil committed by men and Satan. However, Job also knew another characteristic of God and that is the fact that the Lord is good. James 1:17 says that every good and perfect gift comes from God. The Psalmist simply declares that the “Lord is good and his love endures forever” (Psalm 100:5). God is good. In fact, he is the definition of good. That is why Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. He saw no conflict in God being in control of the bad things that happened to him and God’s goodness. For him, he must have thought, “In some way or another, even the bad things must work for the good.”

See, some Christians, who don’t know God well and don’t understand his characteristics, become angry at God. They think he didn’t do what was best, and unlike Job, they charge him with wrongdoing. They do this because they don’t understand his goodness. They don’t know his character. Others don’t see God at all. All they see is the difficult boss, the corrupt government, or Satan, and therefore, they can’t praise God. They have no comprehension of the sovereignty of God and his goodness in all things.

When you see God in control of all things—the job you have, the food you eat, the friends he gave you, and the trial that he allowed—then everything in life will make you look up. When you realize that the character of God is good in everything, then not only will you know to look to God but also to worship, praise, and rejoice. David in Psalm 13:1 cried out, “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” However, in verse 5 he responded this way, “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.” He could rejoice even in the waiting season because he knew God was eventually going to deliver and save him. He knew the character of God, and it caused him to rejoice.

Therefore, in order to rejoice in God, we must simply know him more. We should give great attention to studying his characteristics, his perfections, and his works throughout biblical history, and this will enable us to begin to have joy in every situation. We can have joy because we know the one who holds our past, our present, and our future. We can have joy because we know him.

2. We can have joy in the Lord as a fruit of the Spirit.

One of the wonderful things about God’s commands is that what he commands, he empowers us to do. Paul taught in Galatians 5:22 that the fruit of the Spirit is joy. He teaches us in Galatians 5:16 how to bear this fruit. He says, “live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” When we live in the Spirit or it can be translated “abide” in the Spirit, we will not gratify our sinful nature because of the fruit that is born in our life. When I obey the commands of the Spirit through the Word of God, when I am worshiping God through the work of the Holy Spirit, then the fruit of the Spirit is born in my life and one of them is joy.

This reality is very important for me as one who often struggled with depression in the past. I have to remember that the fruit of the Spirit is joy, and that the way I bear this fruit is by living in the Spirit. It is a reminder to me that as a believer my depression and discouragement is not a product of my circumstances, it is a product of me not making my home in the Spirit of God. I am not negating precipitating factors such as environment or physical issues, but Scripture promises this fruit regardless of our situation. When I first got married and I would start to get depressed, I would tell my wife that I needed to go “take a pill.” What that meant was that I needed to go spend time in the Word of God, prayer, and worship so I could have joy. In order for us to rejoice in the Lord, we must make our home in his person. We must live in this relationship because as we abide, he gives us joy. He equips us to rejoice.

3. We can have joy in the Lord as an act of obedience.

Again, “rejoice in the Lord” is a command. This means that God calls us to choose to rejoice no matter our circumstances. When a trial comes, somebody harms us, or something unpleasant happens, we have a decision to make. We can choose to be angry or to be depressed, or we can choose to respond to God in obedience. Joy is a choice. We can choose to reflect on God’s sovereignty, God’s goodness, and his wisdom, or we can choose to reflect on the storm, the person who hurt us, or the unknown. We make this choice every day. Focusing on God will bring joy. Focusing on the difficulties will bring worry, discouragement, anger, and depression. We must choose just like Paul did while in prison. He could have joy while on death row, and he called the Philippians, who also were suffering persecution, to do the same. He called them to make a choice to focus on God and trust him. We have the same choice. What will you choose?

Many Christians cannot stand firm because their joy is based on circumstances instead of their relationship with God. Circumstances are constantly changing, and therefore, it affords them no stability. Our joy must be based on a person that is unchanging. God’s unchangeableness, or his immutability as theologians call it, is something that should give us joy (cf. James 1:17). He is not like us; we constantly change. However, God never changes, and therefore, as we know him and seek him, we can have joy. Are you rejoicing in the Lord? Are you living in intimacy with him? This relationship will keep us from being up and down like the waves of the sea. This relationship will enable us to stand firm.

Application Question: What are some things that constantly take away your joy? How is God calling you to develop joy in him despite your circumstances?

Spiritual Stability Is Developed by Practicing Gentleness to All

Let your gentleness be evident to all. (Philippians 4:5a)

Another thing we must do in order to stand firm in the storms and trials of life is develop the characteristic of gentleness. Paul says, “Let your gentleness be evident to all.” This is one of the hardest words in the Greek to translate. In fact, there is no one English word that can fully express what this word means. One might even say that it is untranslatable. We can see this by the various words used to translate it. It has been translated “sweet reasonableness, generosity, goodwill, friendliness, magnanimity, charity toward the faults of others, mercy toward the failures of others, indulgence of the failures of others, leniency, bigheartedness, moderation, forbearance, and gentleness are some of the attempts to capture the rich meaning.”⁸ John MacArthur believes the best way to translate the word is “graciousness.” ⁹ However, most commentators tend to agree that “either forbearance or gentleness is the better translation.”¹⁰

Application Question: How do we let our gentleness be made known to everyone and how will this help us stand firm?

1. “Let your gentleness be made known to all” means that we must be merciful towards others’ faults.

A person that is vengeful and vindictive when harmed will never stand firm. Proverbs 25:28 describes an angry person as “a city without walls.” In ancient times, a city without walls was not only open for attack but ultimately for destruction. In the same way, a person that is constantly angry at people who hurt him or treat him badly will not stand. Their anger will ultimately lead to destruction.

Jesus was the ultimate gentle one (cf. Matt 11:29). When his enemies crucified him, he said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34). He is also gentle in his response to our failures. He continually washes us with his blood so we can be in a right relationship with the Father (cf. 1 John 1:7, 9). He taught his followers to turn the other cheek instead of responding in wrath to wrong doings (cf. Matt 5:39). His gentleness allowed him to stand amidst constant attacks and also the failures of those he loved.

How do you respond when people hurt or mistreat you? Scripture says that instead of being harsh, you should let your gentleness—your forbearance—be made known to all. This will enable you to stand. Anger is destructive not only to those who are recipients of it but also for the person who harbors it.

2. “Let your gentleness be made known to all” means that we must graciously serve others, especially those who hurt us.

Not only must we be gentle in response to those who hurt us, but we should also respond with graciousness and kindness.  In America, we have something called a gentleman. He opens the door for those behind him so they can enter a building first. He pulls out a chair so a lady can sit down first. He serves others before he serves himself. He is a gentleman. In the same way, as Christians, everybody should be able to see our gentleness, especially those who harm and persecute us. Again, all this is given in the context of Euodia and Syntyche’s conflict. Instead of holding a grudge toward one another, they should forgive and serve one another. This is what we should do as well. Listen to what Paul said in Romans 12:20-21:

On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

We must be gentle to all but especially to those who hurt us. We should feed them when they are hungry and give them something to drink when they are thirsty. We should overcome evil with good.

One of the ways we stand firm is not by fighting for our rights but giving up our rights and serving others. Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth” (Matt 5:5).

This is very relevant as persecution towards believers is growing rapidly throughout the world, and one day, according to Christ, we will be hated by all nations because of him (Matt 24:9). How can we stand? We stand by responding gently to those who hurt us and returning good for evil.

Application Question: How do you typically respond when mistreated? Why is gentleness important for spiritual stability? How is God calling you to develop gentleness?

Spiritual Stability Is Developed by Maintaining a Constant Awareness of the Lord

The Lord is near. (Philippians 4:5b)

Next, Paul seems to give motivation or encouragement for being gentle to all and also for “being anxious for nothing” in the next verse (4:6). He says the Lord is near. However, this is not just a motivation for gentleness, but it is also necessary for us to foster if we are going to stand firm. We must develop a constant awareness of the Lord.

Interpretation Question: What does Paul mean by “the Lord is near” and how is that meant to encourage us to be gentle towards others, especially those who mistreat us?

1. “The Lord is near” could mean that the Lord is near in space.

This would encourage people suffering or being persecuted in several ways. Scripture says, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). (a) God is near to comfort those who are hurting. (b) In addition, the Lord is near to empower them to serve those around them. Paul said this:

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. (2 Timothy 4:17)

(c) It also could mean that he is present to defend and judge those who hurt them. Listen to what Paul said in Romans 12:18-19: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

Live at peace with everyone. God will fight your battles. He is near to fight for you. Your job is to be gracious and serve people (v. 12: 20-21). (d) Finally, it also could be a form of accountability. God is near to discipline us if we are not gentle and gracious to others. James uses God’s presence as a form of accountability for the Hebrew Christians in the book of James. He said, “Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!” (James 5:9). If we grumble and complain in the midst of conflict and injustice, it could bring the discipline of God (cf. 1 Cor 10:10).

Certainly, God’s nearness in space means all these things. We should be gentle to all because he is near to comfort us when we suffer, to empower us, to defend us, and even to judge us if we do wrong.

We must develop this awareness by practicing his presence. How is this done? Living in a state of prayer and thanksgiving is necessary for developing a sense of the Lord’s presence and also thinking on the right things (Phil 4:6-9). This will help us be stable in life and not up and down with various events. Do you seek to live in a constant awareness of the Lord’s presence?

2. “The Lord is near” could mean that God is near in time.

This would be an encouragement by the fact that the second coming is near. When he comes, he will make all things right. In addition, we will be held accountable when our Master comes. Reward and loss of reward will occur based on our faithfulness (cf. Lk 12:42-48). Jesus gave this parable about his coming:

The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. (Luke 12:42-44)

Scholars who believe “the Lord is near” refers to the second coming, point to Philippians 3:20-21 in the previous chapter. Paul said:

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

However, since the text is ambiguous, it probably refers to both. The Lord is near both in space as his presence is always with us and in time as he is coming soon.¹¹ We must develop an awareness of Christ’s presence if we are going to stand firm amidst the trials of life, and we must develop a sense of his immanency—our Lord could come at any moment.

Application Question: How do we develop or practice an awareness of Christ’s presence throughout the day? How should this help us stand firm? In addition, how do we develop and maintain a sense of Christ’s immanency—that he could come at any moment? How should that comfort and enable us to stand firm, regardless of our circumstances?

Conclusion

How do we stand firm amidst the various trials and temptations in life? Paul in this text calls for believers to stand firm.

1. Spiritual Stability Is Developed by Pursuing Intimacy with Christ and Christlikeness
2. Spiritual Stability Is Developed by Fostering Harmony in the Body of Christ
3. Spiritual Stability Is Developed by Maintaining Our Joy in the Lord
4. Spiritual Stability Is Developed by Practicing Gentleness
5. Spiritual Stability Is Developed by Maintaining a Constant Awareness of the Lord

¹ Teacher's Outline and Study Bible - Commentary - Teacher's Outline and Study Bible – Philippians: The Teacher's Outline and Study Bible.

² Hughes, R. K. (2007). Philippians: the fellowship of the gospel (p. 163). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

³ Hughes, R. K. (2007). Philippians: the fellowship of the gospel (p. 164). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

⁴ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 271). Chicago: Moody Press.

⁵ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 271). Chicago: Moody Press.

⁶ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 272). Chicago: Moody Press.

⁷ Teacher's Outline and Study Bible - Commentary - Teacher's Outline and Study Bible – Philippians: The Teacher's Outline and Study Bible.

⁸ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 276). Chicago: Moody Press.

⁹ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 276). Chicago: Moody Press.

¹⁰ Teacher's Outline and Study Bible - Commentary - Teacher's Outline and Study Bible – Philippians: The Teacher's Outline and Study Bible.

¹¹ Hughes, R. K. (2007). Philippians: the fellowship of the gospel (p. 168). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings. All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. (Philippians 4:10-23)

What is the right perspective to have in supporting missions?

Scripture teaches that we are all called to be missionaries whether we serve in missions at home or abroad. We all are called to go throughout the world and make disciples (Matt 28:19). However, many of us have wrong perspectives on supporting missions. Some may feel like they are not called to support missions. Some feel like giving to missions is a burden. Some feel ashamed about raising funds for missions, and some will not consider going simply because they lack finances. All of these are wrong perspectives on missions that hinder God’s great work. As we look at Paul’s final words to the Philippians, we learn a great deal about a proper perspective on supporting missions as he speaks about how they supported him in the past and also while imprisoned in Rome.

It is good for us to remember that God has chosen to do the work of missions through the financial support of faithful saints. When God sent his Son to do the work of missions on the earth, he chose to provide for him through the faithful financial support of others. Luke 8:3 says this: “Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.”

Christ was provided for through the faithful support of others and specifically through women, who had a low standing in that society. Similarly, when God sent Elijah to Sidon, he commanded a widow to provide for him there (1 Kings 17:9). When God called for Nehemiah to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem, God gave him favor with the Persian king to pay for it (Nehemiah 2). Even here in this text, Paul was being supported by the Philippians who were extremely poor as seen in 2 Corinthians 8:1-2.

And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

What is a proper perspective on supporting missions? How can we have the right heart and mindset in supporting others? How can we have the right heart in seeking support? God may be calling many people to missions, but they will not go simply because of finances. God is bigger than our finances. God owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10). The main thing we must discern is if God has called us to go.

In this text, we see the end of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, and also, Paul’s great joy in their support of him while in prison. As we look at this text, we learn principles about what a right perspective is on supporting missions. As we go through this, we must ask ourselves, “Do I have a right perspective on supporting missions?” And, if not, “How can I have a more biblical perspective and practice on giving or receiving support for missions?”

Big Question: What principles can we learn about giving to missions in Philippians 4:10-21?

Our Giving to Missions Must Continually Be Renewed

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. (Philippians 4:10)

Paul said that he rejoiced greatly in the Lord because of the Philippians’ renewal of concern and support for him. While Paul was in Rome under house arrest, the Philippians sent Epaphroditus who supplied Paul with basic living subsistence, as the prison system did not provide food, clothing, or money. The word “renewed” is a horticultural term used of a flower or tree budding or blossoming.¹ It seems that the Philippians had not supported him for some extended time period; some believe it had been nearly ten years. ² They were concerned for him but had no opportunity to show it. Maybe it was because of the extreme poverty they were suffering (cf. 2 Cor 8:1-2), Paul’s great distance, or their lack of understanding what his needs were. Either way, they had ceased to support him in the work of ministry for some amount of time, and they had just renewed it. For this reason, Paul greatly rejoiced.

Similar to the Philippians, our giving should continually be renewed like a flower in blossom as well. For many Christians, they give their monthly tithe and feel no need to blossom, no need to excel in the work of giving. However, this is a wrong understanding of giving. In fact, the New Testament never commands the tithe and continually states how we are no longer under the law (cf. Gal 3:24-25, Rom 6:14). Paul actually teaches in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 about how to give weekly. There he says it should be given in keeping with our income or as God prospers us (v. 2). Look at what he said:

Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. (ESV)

In contrast to simply giving our tithe every week, New Testament giving must continually be renewed. In fact, we are commanded to excel in it. Consider what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 8:7: “But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”

Paul says we must seek to excel in giving in the same way we seek to excel in faith, speech, knowledge (of God and Scripture), and love. Our giving must continually be renewed before the Lord, especially as the Lord prospers us or we encounter the needs of others.

We serve a God that gave all he had. He gave his only begotten Son, and his Son, Jesus Christ, gave his life for the sins of the world. If we are growing more into his image, then there will be great feats of sacrificial giving happening in our lives as well. Paul rejoiced at their renewal of giving.

Is your giving blossoming as well?

Application Question: What is the difference between the concept of the tithe and New Testament grace giving (cf. 2 Cor 8:7)? Do you believe Christians are still under the tithe? Why or why not? In what ways has God been challenging you to grow in being a giver? What makes giving difficult?

Our Giving to Missions Should be a Ministry of Great Joy

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. (Philippians 4:10)

We must also notice Paul’s great joy in their giving. Now some might say his joy makes perfect sense. Of course he is joyful; the Philippians are helping him out. However, in the next verse he makes it clear that he is not joyful because they met his need. He says, “I am not saying this because I am in need” (v. 11).

Paul was not rejoicing because they provided for him, but he rejoiced at the grace that God would give them because of their support and how it honored God. He later says this:

Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. (Philippians 4:17-18)

The gifts they gave were an offering to God that would be rewarded. Therefore, Paul rejoices greatly in their giving because it brought glory to God, and it would lead to God’s blessing. Similarly, this should be our mindset as well in the ministry of giving. It is something that we should rejoice greatly in as well, not only because it helps people, but because it brings glory to God. It’s a sacrifice that honors God.

In fact, Paul taught this about giving: he said it must always be accompanied with joy in order for it even to be acceptable to God. Second Corinthians 9:7 says this: “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Paul says if our giving is reluctant or under compulsion, “I must give because God told me so” or “I feel like I must,” then we should not give. Giving to the ministry of the Lord is something that we should rejoice greatly in as Paul did. It’s a ministry that brings honor to God.

Certainly, we see something of this great joy in Israel’s building of the tabernacle. They were commanded to bring gold, silver, and special offerings to build the tabernacle, but eventually the people had to be “restrained” in their giving because they gave so much (Ex 36:6).  When something is truly a joy, you typically have to practice some amount of wise restraint.  However, we can never out give God (Mal 3:10). We must have great joy in our giving to the work of missions. Joyful giving is the only type of giving that is acceptable to God.

Application Question: What do you think about Paul’s teaching on how reluctant giving or giving under compulsion is not acceptable to God (2 Cor 9:7)? Do you consistently experience great joy in your giving? Why or why not?

Our Giving to Missions Is Needed but Not Necessary

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:11-13)

Paul did not want the Philippians to think that he was rejoicing greatly at their gift because they met his need. He says “I am not saying this because I am in need” (v.11). No, he wanted them to know that he had learned contentment in every circumstance whether in plenty or in want. The word “learned” means to learn by experience.³ Paul had been shipwrecked, beaten, imprisoned, and he also experienced times of prosperity. No doubt, on some of his missionary journeys the churches would support him and take good care of him. Some churches were wealthy as seen with Laodicea (Rev 3:17). While with other churches, he lived in extreme poverty and under severe persecution. Some might think being content in poverty would be the hardest task; however, being content in wealth is even greater. It is often the extremely wealthy who are the most discontent in life and also tend to commit suicide the most.

Paul said he learned the “secret of being content in any and every situation.” The word “secret” can be translated “initiated into the secret.” It was used of being initiated into a pagan religion and their inner secrets.⁴ Paul said that he had been initiated into the secret of contentment that very few find.

Even though contentment is commanded of Christians, very few learn this discipline. First Timothy 6:6-8 says this: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” Hebrews 13:5 says this: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”

The word “content” means to be self-sufficient. It was a word used by stoic philosophers who sought to avoid emotions and to learn indifference to things not under one’s control. In ancient Greek the word was used of a city that provided for all its goods without any need for imports. ⁵ It was self-sufficient. However, Paul changed the word to mean essentially “Christ-sufficient.” He could always be content because Christ would give him strength and meet all his needs.

Even though Scripture continually commands contentment, most Christians never learn this discipline. The media and the culture seek to bring discontentment in every way. We must look like this, dress like that, have this type of job, have that type of phone, this type of computer, etc. Most Christians run around like the world after every new gadget, every new thing that comes on the market. Because they are discontent, they, like everybody else, complain about their family, their in-laws, their job, their home, their car, their clothes, their church, etc. Most know nothing about contentment. How do we learn contentment? What was Paul’s secret?

Observation Question: How could Paul be content in every situation?

He said the secret was that he could do all things through him who gives him strength (v. 13). “I can do” “means ‘to be strong,’ ‘to have power,’ or ‘to have resources.’”⁶ Paul was glad the Philippians provided for him, but he also knew that God would provide his resources in some way or another. Their offering was needed but not necessary because of the grace of God.

The word “through” can also be translated “in.”⁷ He could do all things “in” him or have all his resources supplied in him. In Paul’s relationship to Christ, the one whom Paul counted everything rubbish to gain (cf. Phil 3:8), the one he was pressing to know and be like in every way (Phil 3:12), he found sufficiency for every task, difficulty, and need. We see these promises throughout the Scripture. Matthew 6:33 says to “Seek first the kingdom of heaven and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Paul said that he wasn’t speaking in regard to need because he had learned this truth in his life. God was always going to meet his needs as long as he was building God’s kingdom. He knew that his relationship with the Lord was sufficient for the tasks God called him to accomplish. He had no need to beg or become anxious. God knew his needs and would provide for them in one way or another. Therefore, he could be content in his all-sufficient Lord.

Remember what Christ said to the disciples, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them” (Mat 6:31). We should be content because we know the faithfulness of our Father. He will always meet our needs.

Not only would God meet Paul’s need, but Paul had learned by experience that when he was weak, God’s power was the strongest in him. Second Corinthians 12:8 says this: “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.” When Paul was at the end of his resources, when he was weak, God’s power was made perfect in his weakness. It was sufficient for him to persevere through severe trial or weakness. Paul learned this through experience, and this made him content. God would meet his needs by providing strength or material resources.

Now, this brings us back to our main point. God is winning the world to himself through the work of missions, and he will always provide for his ministers. He will meet their needs. The Psalmist said this: “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread” (Psalm 37:25). The question is not, “Will God provide?” The question really is, “Will we get involved? Will we be one of the hands used as part of his provision?” Our giving is needed, but it is not necessary because God will provide for his people.

Paul knew that if the Philippians did not help, God was very capable of sending manna from heaven or ravens with meat every day. He could command a widow or Caesar himself to meet his needs. Or God could simply empower him to persevere. Whatever way, God was going to meet his needs, and he had learned contentment in Christ’s sufficiency. Paul needed help, but if the Philippians didn’t help, God would have provided in some other way. Remember what Mordecai said to Queen Esther in challenging her to help the Jews who were about to be exterminated by their enemies in Persia? He said this:

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)

Mordecai knew that help and deliverance would come for God’s people from some place. The question was whether Esther would be part of God’s deliverance. Are you willing to be part of the process of God helping and delivering his ministers? Because Esther helped she was blessed. The book of Esther is about the salvation that came through her, even as the book of Philippians is in part a thanksgiving for the Philippians’ faithful help. God honored them for their faithfulness.

Our help is needed but not necessary. God will provide for his ministers. This should be a great comfort to each believer who is seeking first the kingdom of God—God will meet their needs. They should also learn to be content as they wait on the Lord. “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Is 40:31). But, it also should encourage us to get more involved with God’s work. God will honor those who do.

Application Question: In what ways do you struggle with contentment? How is God calling you to learn sufficiency in him? What do you think about the concept of “our missions support is needed but not necessary”?

Our Giving to Missions Should Be Intentional

Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. (Philippians 4:14-16)

Another principle that we can take from Paul’s final words to the Philippians is that our giving to missions should be “intentional.” Consider how Paul describes their giving. He says, “Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles” (v. 14). “When I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need” (v. 16). The Philippians continually met the needs of Paul. The circumstances and needs of Paul fueled and directed their giving.

John the apostle said this:

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:17-18)

John said that helping the needs of our brothers is an act that proves the love of God dwells in us—that we are truly saved (cf. 1 John 5:13). God saw the needs of the world, and he responded. The love of God swelled up in generosity as God offered his Son. If God lives in us, we similarly should be drawn to meet the needs of others as well.

Certainly, we still have our regular giving to the church (cf. 1 Cor 16:1-2, 1 Tim 5:17), but we also should be prepared to help the urgent needs of others and especially those serving on the mission field. Ephesians 4:28 says, “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.” Paul essentially commands the Ephesians to prepare to share with those who had needs. When a need arises in the church or on the mission field, many Christians have nothing to give. Paul told the Ephesians to intentionally prepare to give to those who had needs. This seems to be beyond the regular support given to the church.

Are you preparing to give to those who are in need? Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” This is intentional giving—meeting the needs of others. What needs has God already placed around you that he is calling you to meet? Many times someone’s need is God’s signal for us to give or to get involved.

With that said, we also should diligently make sure that this ministry, organization, or person truly has a legitimate need. Our funds can be misused and at times further handicap people. Paul gave instructions to Timothy about how to care for widows in the church. He commanded him to make sure the widows were “really in need,” following God, and not living for pleasure (1 Tim 5:5-6). We also must make sure that our giving is best used to honor God, benefit his people, and his work.

Application Question: How do we prepare to be someone who carries others’ burdens and meets the needs of others? How do we discern if a person or ministry is “really in need”? What does that discernment process look like?

Our Giving to Missions Is Honored by God

Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. (Philippians 4:17-20)

Paul said that the gifts sent by the Philippians through Epaphroditus were honored by God. He describes the honor these gifts received in verses 17-20. 

Observation Question: In what ways were the Philippians’ gifts honored by God and how is this honor reflected in our giving?

1. Our gifts are honored by God through reward in heaven.

Again, Paul was not rejoicing because his need was met, but because the Philippians would receive credit to their account (v. 17). The word “credit” is business terminology. God was keeping a record of their gifts, and they would be rewarded for them. Christ said something similar to the rich man. He said, “sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven” (Matt 19:21). Our giving is recorded and rewarded in heaven. In addition, Christ taught us to not store up riches on earth, but to store them up in heaven (Matt 6:19). One of the ways we store our riches in heaven is by giving them to the Lord.

It has been said that everything we earn will one day be left on the earth when we die. However, what we give to the Lord will follow us to heaven. God honors our giving by crediting it to our account and rewarding us in heaven.

2. Our gifts are honored by God through becoming acceptable, sweet smelling sacrifices to him.

Paul said that the gifts the Philippians sent were a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God (v. 18). Maybe the Philippians thought they were just giving to Paul; however, they were really giving to God. Through an angel, God said something similar to Cornelius about his giving. Listen to the account in the book of Acts:

One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. (Acts 10:3-4)

In addition, Christ said this in his discourse with the righteous at his second coming in Matthew 25:

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:37-40)

Whatever we give, even to the least of Christ’s brothers, is essentially given to God. They are sweet smelling sacrifices that bring pleasure to God. The writer of Hebrews said, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Heb 13:16).

3. Our gifts are honored by God through reward on earth.

Paul said, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (4:19). He essentially says, “You met my need. Therefore, God will meet ‘all’ your needs.” This means that not only would God meet their financial needs but also their emotional, physical, social, and spiritual needs. Everything that they gave would come back in abundance.

This truth is taught throughout Scripture. In Luke 6:38 Christ said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.’” Christ said that God would abundantly give back to the giver.

Similarly, Paul said this to the Corinthians, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). The promise for giving was that all grace would abound in the givers’ lives. This grace would meet their needs at all times, and also they would abound in every good work. Giving would affect their ability to understand the Bible, to lead people to Christ, to disciple others, to be a good husband or wife, and to be a good parent or employee. Their faithful giving would open the door for abundant grace in every good work. Grace will overflow into the life of a giver. This then is the very reason many are in lack. They are not giving, and therefore, they find a lack of grace for every need or good work in their lives.

In addition, Paul says that Christ would meet their need “according to his glorious riches” (v. 19). It has often been noted that this text does not say “out of his riches.” A rich man could donate a dollar out of his riches. But to give “according” to his riches means that he might give millions of dollars. That is in accordance with his riches and not simply out of them. God’s supply for the giver is abundantly given according to his riches.

4. Our gifts are honored by God by bringing glory to the Father eternally.

Paul says in verse 20, “to our God and Father be glory forever.” The word glory has to do with the “weight” of something. When we give, we demonstrate how much God really matters to us. We demonstrate something of what is intrinsic to his nature, his glory. When the early church sold all they had and gave to the poor (Acts 2:45), it brought glory to God. It showed how much God really meant to them. It showed his importance in their lives. It’s the same for us. As we faithfully and sacrificially give, we bring glory to God eternally through the gift. This is the ultimate honor we receive from God. We receive the honor of glorifying him. The Westminster Catechism says man’s very purpose is “to glorify God and enjoy him forever.”

Application Question: What stood out or challenged you most about the honor that God bestows upon us for giving?

Conclusion

What is the right perspective on giving to missions?

1. Our Giving to Missions Must Continually Be Renewed
2. Our Giving to Missions Should Be a Ministry of Great Joy
3. Our Giving to Missions Is Needed but Not Necessary
4. Our Giving to Missions Should Be Intentional
5. Our Giving to Missions Is Honored by God

¹ Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 98). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

² MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (pp. 297–298). Chicago: Moody Press.

³ Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 97). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

⁴ Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 97–98). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

⁵ Hughes, R. K. (2007). Philippians: the fellowship of the gospel (p. 186). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

⁶ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 303). Chicago: Moody Press.

⁷ Hughes, R. K. (2007). Philippians: the fellowship of the gospel (p. 186). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

Writing is one of the best ways to learn. In class, we take notes and write papers, and all these methods are used to help us learn and retain the material. The same is true with the Word of God. Obviously, all of the authors of Scripture were writers. This helped them better learn the Scriptures and also enabled them to more effectively teach it. In studying God’s Word with the Bible Teacher’s Guide, take time to write so you can similarly grow both in your learning and teaching.

1. How would you summarize the main points of the text/chapter? Write a brief summary.
2. What stood out to you most in the reading? Did any of the contents trigger any memories or experiences? If so, please share them.
3. What follow–up questions did you have about the reading? What parts did you not fully agree with?
4. What applications did you take from the reading, and how do you plan to implement them into your life?
5. Write several commitment statements: As a result of my time studying God’s Word, I will . . .
6. What are some practical ways to pray as a result of studying the text? Spend some time ministering to the Lord through prayer.