(Philippians 4).
H. Smith
In the Third Chapter of the Epistle to the Philippians the Apostle carries us in thought to the Lord in glory, and sets before us the blessed hope that lies at the end of the Church's journey through this world, when our bodies of humiliation will be changed and fashioned "like unto His glorious body." From the contemplation of these exalted themes, the Apostle, in the closing portion of his Epistle, turns to face the everyday circumstances of the world through which we are passing.
Grace can unfold to us the highest blessings of glory, and guide us through the smallest details of the life here. We have not yet reached the glory, and we may have to wait a "little while” for the coming of the Lord. This means that, at every step, we shall have to face the difficulties, the sorrows, and the defilement of this present world.
In the Gospel of John the Lord speaks of His people as "My sheep”. But sheep are needy, weak, and timid creatures. They are prone to wander, easily frightened, and quickly scattered. How then can they face the wilderness with the daily needs, the many dangers, temptations, defilements, and the constant opposition of the enemy?
In this portion the Apostle give us the answers, as he sets before us the great Shepherd of the sheep - the One Who alone can lift us above every trial, meet our every need, and keep our feet in the heavenly path. The Lord had said to His disciples, "Without me ye can do nothing;" now the Apostle, having experienced the Lord's sustaining grace, can say, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me" (Verse 13).
In the former chapter, the Apostle sees, in Christ in glory, an Object of such surpassing blessedness that he can forget the things that are behind: in this chapter he experiences such a source of strength in Christ that he is enabled to overcome the things that are present. Thus, in Christ, we have an Object to attract us on to glory, and, in Christ we have a very present help in time of trouble.
(1). Christ our resource in the presence of opposition (v. 1)
There is present before the mind of the Apostle all the power of the enemy arrayed against us, as well as the break down of the Christian profession. He has spoken in the first chapter of adversaries, and in the second of the danger from those that he likens to dogs and from judaising teachers. He has warned us that, even in the Christian circle there will be those who preach Christ of envy and strife, who will selfishly seek their own things; of others who give up the heavenly calling to mind the things of earth, and that in the Christian profession there are those who are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction.
To meet all this opposition, he gives us the great exhortation, "Stand fast in the Lord." In the presence of opposition and failure, our one great resource is the Lord, Himself. Our natural self-confidence might lead us to think that we can stand fast in our own strength, our own wisdom, or through what we may have gained by experience. We are only safe as we "Stand fast in the Lord." We cannot stand fast in our brethren. Like ourselves they are weak and failing, and they may pass and change. We can only stand fast as we have the Lord before us - a living Person.
Good for us to follow in the steps of the Lord, Himself, Who could say, as He passed through this world, "I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand. I shall not be moved" (Ps. 16:8). If we set the Lord before us we shall indeed find Him at our right hand, One who will never fail us.
(2). Christ our resource in the presence of the dissensions among the people of God (Vv. 2-3).
Not only have we to meet the opposition of the enemy, and the failure of the profession, but alas! we have to meet the ever present dissensions amongst the true people of God. In the Apostle's day believers were not all of one mind. Some were preaching of envy and strife; so, evidently they were not standing fast in one spirit, and with one mind striving together in the gospel (1:15, 27). Moreover the vain glory of others had caused discord (2:2-4). In this chapter we learn that two sisters were not of the same mind. What more distressing, disheartening, and wearying to the spirit than the constant dissensions amongst the Lord's people. How often have such dissensions given the enemy occasion, which he has not been slow to use, to turn aside weak believers from the separate path of the heavenly calling to settle down in some easy-going religious system of men's devising.
Again, however, our true resource, in the presence of our dissensions, is in the Lord. Thus the Apostle's exhortation is "be of the same mind in the Lord." If, however, we are to be of the same mind in the Lord, we must turn to the Lord to seek His mind. Differences will never be settled by mere discussion, or by way of compromise, or by seeking to arrive at a common judgment, which might indeed be "one mind", and yet only our own mind. We must seek His mind, but this supposes the judgment of the flesh, the refusal of self-will, and subjection to the authority of the Lord. Thus only shall we arrive at the same mind in the Lord.
(3) Christ our resource in the presence of all the sorrows we have to face (v. 4).
The Apostle, in his day was sorrowing over some who preached Christ in contention thinking to add afflictions to his bonds; over others who were turning aside to their own things; over the dissensions amongst the people of God. Again, he wept over those whose walk was a denial of the Cross. Further, he sorrowed at the thought of losing through sickness and death a beloved companion.
In the presence of these different sorrows, the Lord was His resource. Thus he can say, "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice." We cannot always rejoice in our circumstances, or in the saints, but we can always rejoice in the Lord. Some pass away and others change, but of the Lord we can say, "Thou remainest," and "Thou art the same" (Heb. 2:11-12).
(4). Christ our resource in the presence of all the affronts and insults we may have to meet (v. 5).
The Apostle thinks of the envy and malice, the insults and affronts, the bitterness and evil speaking, that believers have to meet. In the presence of those things we have to beware of the natural tendency to answer the flesh by the flesh, to revile when reviled, and to seek to take revenge on an offender. We have neither to assert out rights nor avenge ourselves. All is to be met in "Gentleness" - the spirit of Christ. As the Apostle can say, "Let your gentleness be known of all men" (N.Tn). Gentleness is irresistible, but how can we act in a way so contrary to our natural tendency? Only as we realise that the Lord is our resource. Thus the Apostle can say, "The Lord is near" (N.Tn.). He is near to support us; as the Apostle can say, in another Epistle, when some did him much evil and all deserted him, "Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me" (2 Tim. 4:17). He is near as the One to whom we can commit ourselves when reviled by others (1 Peter 2:23). He is near to act on our behalf in His own time and way, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" (Rom. 12:9). Realising His presence - that He is near - we can afford to be silent, and "be still," and learn that the Lord is God, a very present help in trouble (Ps. 46:1, 10).
(5). Christ our resource in meeting the cares of life (Vv. 6-7).
The Apostle faces the many things that in a world of change and need may give the believer occasion for care and anxiety. In the presence of these things he would have us to be care-free, for he says, be careful for nothing." Then we learn that this is only possible by taking "every thing" to God in prayer with supplication and thanksgiving. It is not simply "some things" or "difficult things" but "everything" is to be taken to Him – the small worries as well as the great trials. Whatever weighs upon the spirit at the moment, whatever fills us with dread and foreboding as we think of the morrow, all is to be poured into the ear of God.
Spreading all out before the One whose love is as great as His power, we are assured that instead of fretting under some trying circumstance, or being burdened with anxious care, our hearts will be kept by the peace of God which passes all understanding. The trial may not be removed, nor the request granted but, having poured out our anxieties into the ear of God He will pour His peace into our hearts.
So Hannah found in olden days when wearied by a trial that made her fret and weep. There came a moment when we read, she "poured out her soul before the Lord," with the result that, though her circumstances were not at the moment altered, nor her prayer answered, yet she went her way "in peace" and was "no more sad" (1 Samuel 1:6-7, 15-18).
Moreover, let us remember that all this grace is ministered to us "through Christ Jesus". Does this not imply that He is in the presence of God for us as our Great High Priest - One who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities, and Who ever intercedes on our behalf?
(6) Christ in all His moral loveliness, our resource in the presence of the defilements of this present evil world (Vv. 8-9).
We are passing through a defiling world characterised by that which is false, and mean, and wrong; by things that are unholy and unlovely, and things that are of evil report and to be condemned. These things face us at every turn; they are retailed in the press, placarded in the streets, and form the chief topic of the conversation of the men of the world.
How then is the believer to be kept from the defiling influences of such a world? Only by having the mind occupied with
Things that are true,
Things that are noble,
Things that are just,
Things that are pure,
Things that are lovely,
Things that are of good report,
Things that are virtuous, and
Things that are praiseworthy.
These moral excellencies find their perfect expression in Christ. To have these qualities before us is to be occupied with the loveliness of Christ. Thus Christ becomes our resource to lift us above the defiling influences of the world. The character is largely formed by what the mind feeds on. Hence the importance of the exhortation, "Think on these things."
Thinking on the things that are lovely - the things of Christ - will lead us to do the things that are pleasing to Christ. Thus the exhortation to think of things that are good is followed by the exhortation to do the things that we have learned and received, and heard and seen in the Apostle.
Alas too often, our words and acts clearly show how little the mind is occupied with the things that are lovely, for "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Moreover, the Lord warns us that it is possible to call Him "Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say" (Luke 6:45-46). How important, then, to remember the Apostle's exhortations to "think” and to "do". And the right thinking must precede the right doing. Thus thinking and acting rightly we shall be preserved from the defiling influences of the world and find that we have the God of peace with us to support us.
(7) Christ our resource for the daily needs of the body (Vv. 10-13).
The Assembly at Philippi had sent a gift to the Apostle to meet his daily necessities, and he is delighted at this expression of love and care on his behalf. But this care, he traces up to the Lord, for he can say, "I rejoice in the Lord." Behind the care of the saints, he sees the care of the Lord. The love of others, providential means, the labour of our hands, and the varied callings of life, may be used to provide things honest in meeting the daily necessities of the body; but, good for us to look beyond all means and see the Lord's care in providing for our needs, and thus "Rejoice in the Lord."
In our pathway through this world we may, like the Apostle, be tested by seasons of adversity or times of prosperity. In adversity we may be tempted by the devil to lose confidence in God and question His ways of love. In prosperity we may grow self-confident and forget God. Thus Job was tested by adversity, and David by prosperity (Job.1:20-22; 2:9-10; Ps. 30:6).
Paul, speaking from his own experience, could say, "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” Further he tells us the secret of his strength, for he adds, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." He had proved by experience the support of Christ in days of need as in days of plenty.
Thus Christ is the unfailing resource of all His people in all that they may have to meet as they pass through this world, whether it be the opposition of the enemy, the dissensions among the people of God, the sorrows of life, the insults and affronts, the cares of life, the defilements of the world, or the daily needs of the body.
Good for us if, in the presence of all these changing circumstances we,
"Stand fast in the Lord,"
"Be of the same mind in the Lord,"
"Rejoice in the Lord.” and realise that,
"The Lord is near."
Thus walking according to these exhortations, we should gain such an experimental knowledge of the Lord's personal interest in us that we shall each be able to say in our little measure,
“I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me!”
“O LORD, we would delight in Thee,
And on Thy care depend;
To Thee in every trouble flee,
Our safe, unfailing Friend.”