For a review of chapter 4, Paul encouraged the believers in Philippi to stand fast in the Lord (4:1). And he charged them to have good relations with others (4:2-3). Paul told them that in their personal and inner conflicts, God graciously offers His peace (4:7). Now in the following verses, Paul offers for them to follow his example to find contentment in all things (4:8-13). Every believer should understand that what we do in this life will matter for eternity.
There was once a sect of monks who lived at a remote monastery that followed a rigid vow of silence. They kept a vow that could only be broken once a year – on Christmas – by one monk. After casting lots, one of the monks earned the right to speak, but it could only be one sentence. On Christmas one year, Brother Thomas earned a turn to speak and said, “I love the delightful mashed potatoes we have every year with the Christmas roast!” Then he sat down. Silence ensued for another 365 days.
The next Christmas, Brother Michael earned his turn and said, “I think the mashed potatoes are lumpy, and I truly despise them!” Once again, silence ensued for 365 days.
The following Christmas, Brother Paul rose and said, “I am fed up with this constant bickering!” (Strive to Humor daily e-mail list, 12-19-01; www.PreachingToday.com)
Peace is difficult even for these silent monks at a remote monastery. So, how can we hope to find peace in the world, which is so full of trouble and turmoil? How can we hope to find that stillness and tranquility of heart and soul, which leads to harmony in our relationships? I invite you to study with me in Philippians 4, where the Bible tells us how to find peace in the midst of conflict and circumstances.
In the context, this is a church conflict. Remember Euodia and Syntyche? These two people had disrupted the church and caused a dissention. One observation here, is that conflicts are normal and they come from people you love. Therefore, Paul writes to the believers to learn to develop skills to grow relationships, not end them.
Paul writes to these Philippian believers so they know, how to think and what to do in the midst of conflict and difficulty.
Before we look at the text of Philippians 4:8-13. I hope that you understand that finding peace does not mean personally isolating yourself from others and refusing to do something about a problem or person. That is the way a dysfunctional relationship is handled. When a conflict arises, some people take the course of action to pull away or distance themselves from the people who disagree with them on non-doctrinal matters. But that is not recommended by Paul, nor is isolating from others a principle found in the Bible.
So, Paul concludes his letter to this church to find peace in the midst of any circumstance. There are two principles I would like to share for victory in any difficult circumstance or any situation in life.
- A Christ-like Attitude depends on virtuous thinking (4:8-9).
Paul’s concept of the peace of God is to set our hearts and minds on virtue and goodness. In verse 8, Paul gives six commands for our thought life.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
Verse 8 can help solve a conflict in the local church. And we can apply these character qualities to other areas of our lives as well. For example; “whatever is true” = integrity at work; “whatever is pure” = purity on my computer.
Paul wrote these 6-qualities of godly behavior for believers. Paul tacks on “if there is any excellence and if anything, worthy of praise think on these things.”
Notice, we are not just told to “dwell” or “think” on these godly characteristics. Interestingly, the Greek word for “meditate” (Greek logizomai) is a verb, meaning that this is not simply a thought, it is an action that must happen. It’s the term from which we get our English word for the mathematical term logarithm.
In this context, logizomai means to carefully and calculatingly contemplate these virtues in a similar way that we would work out a mathematical problem.
I was thankful that Luke had a math teacher that required that he showed his work on math problems. His teacher wanted to make sure he could show how he logizomai his way through to the solution not just know the answer.
Similarly, many Christians arrive at an answer to conflicts or anxiety without working out the problem God’s way.
Sadly, there are too many people that will approach a problem with a pre-dispositioned perspective. And yet they are unwilling to show or do the work to solve the problem. They just want an immediate solution.
Conflicts are like complex math problems, we must carefully and strategically think them through using God’s methods of problem solving. We must settle on an answer that finds God’s “shalom” to go forward.
If we look back in the context, we have seen when we “pray,” we can experience the peace of God (4:6–7). And we will see in 4:8-9 that when we “practice” virtuous thoughts, we can also experience God’s peace.
Philippians 4:9 “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Paul is a man who lives “in the trenches” with those he seeks to teach and to lead. Paul wants and expects his readers to follow him as he follows Christ (3:17). Thus, he says, “Keep doing these things” (present active imperative). Do not be just hearers, but doers (see Luke 11:28; James 1:22).
When hearing is followed up with doing “the peace of God will be with you.” As we practice God’s Word in conflict or in sour relationships, God will be present in a powerful way.
I heard of people who slip a rubber band on one of their wrists. Now whenever they recognize they’re not rejoicing or thinking virtuously about a situation, they would flick themselves. When they sense a lack of gentleness, they would snap the band on their wrist.
For anxiety that you’ll get later on when you find yourself filled with worry, snap. When you begin thinking about ungodly characteristics, snap yourself silly. When you are convicted over your lack of living like a doer of the Word, draw that rubber band back and prepare to say “ouch!” If you’re really audacious, take off your rubber band and use it on someone else! Now, really the truthful remedy is that the Holy Spirit wants to change us, sometimes a method like this helps, and sometimes there is reinforcement from others to help.
As Christians, we are saved by God’s grace and we are granted daily doses of His mercy. But that doesn’t mean we will be free from conflicts in life. In Philippians 4:10–13, as believers stand fast in the Lord, God will provide for us in any circumstance.
The second principle to share with you.
- Our Chief Virtue is Contentment in Christ (4:10–13).
It’s been rightly said that contentment is “the hidden jewel of Christianity.” In this section, Paul explains how you and I can be content in Christ.
Philippians 4:10, “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.”
Ten years have passed since Paul was with the believers at Philippi.This unexpected benevolence from the Philippians caused Paul to rejoice “in the Lord greatly.” But the monetary gift was more than a tangible expression of the church’s self-sacrificial love. Paul rejoiced greatly for them, because their gift was a token of their concern for others and their faithful pursuit of God’s ministry to others.
There is a “hapax legomenon” (A word used only once in the NT) in this sentence.This is the only appearance in the New Testament of the verb translated “flourished” or some translations use the word “revive” (Greek anathallo), this word is a horticultural image of a plant that blooms again, after a period of dormancy.
What their giving told Paul was that it showed that the Philippians’ concern might have looked dormant, but really they did not have an opportunity to express their concern.
This type of revival (sacrificial love for others) would be welcome today in any modern Church!
It’s fascinating to recall that Paul wrote these words while he was under house arrest for an indefinite period of time.
Paul gets to assure them by helping them learn to be content in Christ in any circumstance. Paul then describes some of the conditions he faced over the years – which were like roller coaster-like ups and downs. He stood fast in the Lord through life experiences and saw God’s provision.
Philippians 4:11–12 “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”
The apostle emphasizes two words in these verses: “learned” and “know.” He repeats both of these terms twice in these two verses. This helps us understand that Paul wasn’t born content, nor did contentment happen easily or naturally.
The Greek word for “content” (Greek autárkēs) ironically means self-sufficient. The Greek philosophers often used this to mean contentment in ourselves. However, this secular sense was the farthest thing from Paul’s mind. Paul did not promote self-sufficiency, but sufficiency in Christ. Paul used this opportunity to write to them about his rest in Christ’ provision and timing.
Importantly, through it all Paul learned how to be satisfied in whatever circumstances life gave him. He did not lose sleep when he slept. He never forgot God’s grace. Paul had developed this virtue his by cultivating contentment in all circumstances.
In 4:12, Paul gives three pairs of circumstances, each pair presenting the opposite extremes of a spectrum.
- how to be brought low, how to abound.
- to be full and to be hungry,
- from abundance to suffer need.
Paul has learned to be content in the extremes and everywhere in between.
What about you? When the Lord gives, it’s easy to be content, but what if He takes away? Do you still trust Him and consider Him sovereign? Are you presently satisfied with the grace God has given you for this day?
In the book “Faith-based Family Finances,” author Ron Blue, told a story about a father of a wealthy family, who took his son on a trip to a country to show his son how poor people can be. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from the trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”
“It was great, Dad.”
“Did you see how poor people can be?” the father asked.
“Oh yeah,” said the son.
“So what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father.
The son answered: “I saw that we have one dog, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden, and they have stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have the whole horizon.
“We have a small piece of land to live on, and they have fields that go beyond sight. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, but they have their friends to protect them.”
With this, the boy’s father was speechless.
Then his son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are.” (Ron Blue, Faith-based Family Finances, Tyndale, 2008, pp. 29-30; www.PreachingToday.com)
Now we’ve come to one of the most well-known, yet misquoted verses in the entire Bible— Paul learned contentment by experiencing various – often intense – circumstances. Yet he can say…
Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Most times this verse is quoted it’s used illegitimately. This verse is found on bumper stickers, banners and Facebook. It is cited for any and every purpose. Yet, Philippians 4:13 doesn’t mean that our particular situation will end great for us. It doesn’t mean that an athlete or team can and will win the game. It doesn’t mean that we can achieve everything we desire in our hobby or career.
This was the verse that led Paul to face whatever challenge awaited him with both flexibility and confidence in Christ. Really, this verse describes the way Paul stands “fast in the Lord” (4:1). I believe that Paul here is summarizing his approach to life circumstances.
The words “all things” does not mean that Paul could accomplish all his personal goals, fulfill all his dreams or acquire fame and fortune. The words “all things” refer to verse 12’s ups and downs life sends his way.
He writes this verse so that the Philippians can persevere in Christ and be encouraged in any difficulty, through their conflict. The principle is that we should cultivate (Greek anathallo: revive or flourish) our contentment in Christ.
As we live our life for God, we should recognize that contentment is a byproduct of faithfulness to Christ and submission to the Holy Spirit. That means a believer doesn’t need to frantically seek contentment. You and I need to pursue a love relationship with Christ. And when we pursue our love for Christ, we will have the strength to endure with others, face our problems and be content is all circumstances. And in the end, we will enjoy the peace that passes all understanding.