October 9, 2011
Philippians 4:2-9
It’s stewardship time. Like it or not, it comes every year. It shouldn’t be a surprise. As our Reformed heritage reminds us, one of the key tenets of being a follower of Jesus is to remember that all we have belongs to God, it is only entrusted to us and, if we are faithful, we’re to use what God gives us to bring him glory and to do good in the world.
At another church, the preacher had a hard-hitting message on stewardship on Sunday. She highlighted all the needs in their church and within a community. The message hit one family very hard. On the way home from church, they talked about all the needs and how they might be able to help. It must have been a really good sermon for instead of watching the Lions play on the afternoon televised game, as they ate lunch they continued the conversation and decided to do something. After lunch, they went through their home and collected stuff they no longer needed, piling it up in an empty garage bay. An extra bed in the basement was to be donated to the homeless shelter, toys that were no longer played with were collected for children staying at the domestic abuse shelter, old clothes were stuffed into bags to be carried by those from the congregation who were heading on a mission trip to Guatemala, and the excess food that was nearing the expedition date was boxed up for the local pantry. When they were finished and had hauled everything out to the garage, they were amazed. They realized it’d take them many trips to haul it all away in the family’s station wagon. But they felt good about what they’d done… That is, until their six year daughter looked at the accumulated pile and remarked, “I see, giving means getting rid of all the stuff we don’t want anymore.” [1]
“A child will lead them,” Isaiah writes.[2] If we listen to what they say, we can probably learn as much from our children as they do from us—especially about generosity. God hasn’t given us handouts. God has given us the best, from creation to his son. Our giving must be in response to what God has done for us. That’s why the Bible talks about us giving to God from our first-fruits, a tithe, a portion of what we have, instead of just giving back to God what we don’t want, don’t need, or what’s left. [3]
Today, as we were last week, we’ll be in the letter to the Philippians. This week we’ll examine the final chapter of the book, where Paul gives us some good advice about how we are to live as Christians. A lot of it is about our attitude, how we approach life. Are we optimistic? Are we gracious? Do we trust God? Our attitude goes a long way toward how we live our lives. Listen as I read… Philippians 4:2-9
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At the beginning of this letter, we learn that Paul’s circumstances are not ideal. He’s writing from prison.[4] There is a guard checking on him regularly, making sure the cuffs are snug, the chains secured and the door bolted. Guard duty for a soldier was the pits. It’s boring work. And the Romans didn’t tend to be too kind to guards who had prisoners to escape under their watch,[5] so they made sure their prisoners weren’t going anywhere. If you were to write a letter under these circumstances, what would you say? How would you end your letter? I’m not so sure I could end my letter as Paul did, rejoicing in the Lord. Instead, expect to receive a letter from me begging for your help in getting me out, or in raising my bail, or maybe requesting that you slip a file in a cake and bring it to me…
Paul is attempting to calm the Philippians who seem to be stressed out. There is some bickering within the church in Philippi as we see in the beginning of this passage; there’s also some confusion as to what to believe as we saw last week. Over all, this is normal stuff. Someone is not happy about something, someone else is stressing out over something else… Paul wants them to take a deep breath and then to joyfully continue the work they’re supposed to be doing…
This week my daughter had a homework assignment to write a paper on stress. It was stressing her out and I suggested that one stressor she could write about is homework. In this class the teacher called for a “stress-free day” in which they did nothing, nor were they allowed to do anything (like homework). Leaving the class at the end of the period, Caroline told the teacher that the “stress-free class” was the most stressful class she’s had. I think that was part of the point. We don’t avoid stress by doing nothing and I think that’s one of the things we see from Paul in this letter. Keep doing the good work, keep rejoicing, and don’t let the circumstances get you down. Even though things may be bad in Philippi, at least they’re better off than Paul, whose chains rattle as he writes to the congregations he loves so much.
There is a quote that has remained with me for most of my adult life—I read it in my mid-20s. “It is not stress that kills us. It is effective adaptation to stress that permits us to live.”[6]
Paul begins this section of the letter mentioning several people who had been helpful in his ministry in Philippi. It seems they’re in a bit of a snit. They’re fighting, they’re arguing, struggling to get along and Paul tells the good folks of Philippi to step in and help out. They need to be “of the same mind in the Lord.” In other words, their focus needs not be on their internal struggles with one another, but on what God is doing in their community. When we focus on ourselves, we take things personally, but when we focus on the larger picture of what’s God’s doing in the world, there’s a lot all of us can get excited over. We should want to be a part of it!
Back in July, I was in Ulan Bator, Mongolia. Twenty years ago, it was an atheistic country and there were only a few underground churches meeting in homes in a city which at that time was approaching a million people. Today, there are over 200 churches! God is active in our world and calls us to join in and participate with him to make this world a better place. If we only focus on our own needs, we’ll miss a golden opportunity to be a part of something much greater than of which we’re capable by ourselves.
Paul provides the Philippians with a number of suggestions as to how they’re to live the Christian life. First of all, they’re to rejoice in the Lord and as they do this, they’re to let their gentleness be known. You know, it’s hard to be praising God as you abuse others. Instead, if we lift up our hearts to God, we should also be led to deal gently with those around us, for we know from where our blessings come and to whom the future belongs. So take delight in God. Stand in awe of God’s wonderful creation, look to see God’s image in those around you, praise God in song and in prayer, with others and when you are alone.
Next, they’re told not to worry. Good advice, but how, we might ask. The Philippians probably asked the same question, and then they thought about Paul and his tribulations. “If Paul ain’t worrying, why are we?” Instead of worrying, Paul encourages his readers to take their needs to God, the one who holds the world in his hands. I am going to spend more time next week on the topic of not worrying, for I suggest it is one that we Christians need to learn. Of all people, those of us of faith should not worry, but we all do. As followers of Jesus, we should be bringing a calming approach to our society, but I don’t often see that. We should do better.
Paul goes on to say that the Philippians need to focus on that which is true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent and worthy. Verse eight is beautiful. Paul knows that if those who are bickering focus on what’s important, things will work out. Problems arise. However, when we get sidetracked, what should be minor irritants grow and if left unchecked can become a full-fledged war. Too much of what we fight and argue over is trivial—whether it is in our relationships and family, in the church or in our community, in our nation or between nations. If we only could focus on that which is good and pure and honorable instead of trying to always be seen as right, we’d be a lot better off. (By the way, whether or not we are right is another whole topic.)
Finally, Paul lifts himself as an example. Keep on doing those things you’ve learned from me, that which you’ve seen me doing. Again, Paul is writing this in chains and, by his demeanor, he’s setting an example for the Philippians and for us.
Ask yourselves: are you always rejoicing? Are you gentle with others? Are you worried? Do you always do what is right? Is there room for improvement in these areas? If so, how might you recommit yourselves to be like Paul, to take a step to live a Christ-filled life?
Consecration Sunday is coming up. In two weeks, on October 23, there will be one service at 11 AM. On this day, we’ll all crowd in here to worship, followed by a nice luncheon. Before then, I encourage you to pray about your response. Generous giving is only one aspect of what it takes to be a faithful Christian. But generosity comes from a heart that is right with God. Ask yourself: as a follower of Jesus and a member or friend of our fellowship, “how will I respond to the love God has shown us? How can God work through me to do his work in the world?” Amen.
©Jeff Garrison and First Presbyterian Church, Hastings, MI
[1] Adapted from a story by David Hoffman found at: http://www.luthersem.edu/stewardship/resource_detail.aspx?resource_id=1022
[2] Isaiah 11:6
[3] See Exodus 23:19, Leviticus 27:30-32, Malachi 3:8
[4] Philippians 1:13
[5] See Acts 16 :27.
[6] Melvin Konner, The Tangled Wing: Biological Constraints on the Human Spirit (New York: Harpers, 1982), 259. Konner is quoting Jean MacFarlane, as quoted by George E. Vaillant, Adaptation to Life (Boston: Little Brown, 1977).
