'Living as Stewards of God's Resources' (11/3/09 Bible Study - Philippians 4:10-23)

So last night, we finished the letter of Philippians.  I think I've learned a lot and encountered a lot of new challenging material over the course of the 9 studies - as I said in week 1, Philippians is a letter about Jesus, about the gospel, about partnership and about joy ... probably in that order.  If you want to download the handouts (both the study questions and the session summaries), you can now get them on the APC Website here.

Often, we summararily ignore the last few verses of Paul's letters because, after all, they're regularly just personal things that don't necessarily have any value for the modern day church, yes?  Well, in actual fact if we do that with Philippians (or any book of the bible, for that that matter!), we miss some key practical applications to gospel workers - which is to say, all Christians!

1. Gospel workers and their situation (vv10-13)

It's worth noting that v13 is one of the most oft-quoted promises by Christians, but oh, so often, out of context - it's generally read as a triumphalist, 'God will award you whatever you want, you can walk through walls or swallow fire if you have enough faith,' kind of promise.  God's strenght becomes a bit like Popeye's ... stuff in the spiritual spinach and off you go with anvils on the biceps of your soul.  But if we think it means that, we do the context of Paul's letter a sever injustice.

Paul, remember, is stuck in prison, perhaps awaiting an execution order.  It's easy to say, 'I can be content with much or little' when we have much!  But the true test of veracity is if we can say that when we're down, when we've got little or are hungry!

No, Paul doesn't want the Philippians to be Spiritual Popeyes...rather, he's telling them that he has uncovered a secret - how to survive as a gospel worker faithfully and consistently working for the gospel, irrespective of the outward circumstances.  He's not saying that you'll be immune to hardship, or not notice it like some weird monk ... rather that our outward circumstances don't control whether or not we're faithful in our gospel ministry.

Paul unveils the secret that allows him to do this - not untapped reserves in ourselves, but in the God who will strengthen you to do what he's asked you do in the situation he's asked you to do it.  The emphasis is not on what I can do, but on the one who strengthens me.  This is not a verse about making triumphant demands of God...but of contented service of God.  We should serve faithfully in the situation we're in now, rather than spend our lives demanding a different situation tomorrow.

2. Gospel workers and their temporary resources (vv14-17)

Paul is encouraged that, since day one of their faith, the Philippians have supported his ministry (probably financially) - even when they were in the very first days of being a church (Paul went straight onto Thessalonica from Philippi ... and they supported him there), and even when Paul was something of an anathema (as he was in Thessalonica, and also currently in prison - yet they're still willing to be associated with him).

However, his focus is not on the giftst hey give as an end in themselves, but rather what their gifts can acheive (namely, the furtherance of gospel work).  Their sacrifice of their temporary resources can enable a profit that'll stick in their account for all eternity - and will keep on growing!

The important thing is to make sure we take the resources God gives us and invest them in something of eternal significance.  Giving money is not an end in itself - instead Paul gives a different measure of succes.  Has your investment returned the eternal fruit that the gospel brings?

3. Gospel workers and their God (vv18-23)

Finally, Paul points out that the gifts they have given to Paul operate also as a beautiful offering to God.  But Paul is clear that their offering is acceptable (which suggests that some offerings that look like this can be unacceptable!).  The reason that it is acceptable and pleasing to God is that it is evidence of a heart devoted to the same things that God's heart is devoted to (see 1 Samuel) - the growth of His kingdom and the honour of His name.

Gifts can be unacceptable to God if they are to further any other kingdom - especially our own kingdoms and names and reputations.  God hates unacceptable gifts.  Question: do we worship our money and what it can do, or do we worship with our money and other resources?

The Philippians are giving in such a way that they need to hear the reassurance of v19 - so sacrificially that they need to know that God will meet their needs.  They are giving beyond their means to support gospel work, and so they need to know that their needs will be met from a guaranteed bank - a bank of eternal blessings, guaranteed by Jesus' sacrifice.  Paul is teaching not prosperity, but rather stewardship.

So Paul is not focused on the need, but on God who supplies strength for the ministry. Not on the gift, but on the eternal significance it can have. And not on prosperity, but on stewardship and trust.

4. In Conclusion...

Paul closes off the letter with a few comments that allow him to bring home some central truths that have underpinned all that he's said.

• The key sign that we're on the right track is this: that God is getting the credit He deserves

• The gospel is so massively effective, it has even infiltrated into the very court of the Emperor himself!

• The only reason we can live this life is because of the mercy of Jesus

• That Jesus is both our Lord (master of the universe) and Christ (God's chosen rescuer) - so we really need him!

'A Strange Fellowship and an Uncertain World' (4/3/09 Bible Study - Philippians 4:2-9)

Almost there with Philippians...not much left in volume, but considerable depth!  Paul begins to wrap things up with three directions for the Philippians:

1. When there are divisions in the church, there is a core to keep (vv2-3)

It has often been said, 'The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing' (variously attributed, but said to me most often by UCCF staffworkers in my CU Committee days).  That is the essence of what Paul is telling the church here.  It seems that Euodia and Syntyche are Christians - they are, after all, co-workers, partners in the gospel, and the passage seems to indicate that their names are written in the book of life.  As far as Paul is concerned, they have not gone so far as to be regarded as heretics or currently destructive to the church.

However, the problem seems to be that they have allowed some issue of secondary, tertiary or lesser importance cloud out the major issue, the main thing.  That is a problem for the church - when a minor issue gets so much airtime that it distracts the church from the core issue - the progress of the gospel.

Think of it like this.  Sally and Jake go on a roadtrip from New York to Seattle - a journey of some 2400 miles.  They have consulted Google Maps, installed their SatNav, mapped out their route and take off.  Everything is progressing fine, and for days they are on target - the plan is to take a week to get there.  However, on day five, at about four in the afternoon, they decide to stop for coffee.  Sally wants to go to Starbucks, and Jake to Dunkin Donuts.  Apart from the fact that Jake is far wiser, they quickly become heated in their discussions.  So much so that they miss their exit from the interstate, and end up heading south to Salt Lake City by mistake.  Whilst they agreed on the essentials, they allowed a minor decision to cloud that goal, and so got pulled off target.

Paul tells the Philippians to 'get their head on' ... the other members should get alongside Euodia and Syntyche, in order to help them back on track, and the focus on the fact that the core to keep is the gospel - it's a helpful flag for us that if we're distracted from this task, from the centrality of the gospel, then minor issues have undoubtedly become too major!  The command for the other members to help them out rings with last week's command to walk closely with those who imitate Christ, as it's the best way to expose where we aren't thinking with the mind of Christ.

2. When the World Seems Uncertain, There is One to Trust (vv4-7)

The key truth Paul wants them to remember here is this: Jesus is not far away.  This is true in at least two senses:

• He is not unimportant or insignificant to everday live
• He is not disinterested in this world, nor will he be away long before he comes back as Lord of all creation

It might seem that Jesus' work and word are far removed from real life today, but nothing could be further from the truth.  In an uncertain world, there are two ways to go:

• Live as if Jesus is far removed from rela life, and so be anxious and uncertain all the time
• Live recognising that Jesus is significant for every feature and moment of life ... and so pray, ask God and give thanks to him with regards to all the things that would otherwise make us anxious!

How much we pray as individuals and churches show how much we trust that Jesus is significant to our lives.  How much we worry as individuals and churches shows how much we assume that Jesus is irrelevant - we can be verbal Christians and practical atheists!

the result of living in trust that Jesus is significant and involved in everyday life will mean the peace of God will set up camp all aroudn our hearts and minds to protect us from uncertainty - it will transform our affections, decision making, the things that make our hearts flutter or swell - they will all be surrounded by an impregnable wall of certainty, and so protect us not from the things that make us anxious in this world, but from anxiety itself.

3. When you become a Christian, there is a life to live (vv8-9)!

Paul sets up two features of the Philippians' lives that should be lived in a particular way:

• Think Character-forming thoughts.  The things the Philippians are to focus their minds on (compare 3:19) are not eight individual thoughts, but a character of things to think about - thoughts that will shape a type of person, a Christ-like person.  thoughts that will bring a church together, because they mark the mind of Christ.  Thoughts that will focus the church on the things of the gospel.  They are a means to an end, not an end in themselves - so fix your mind on things that will shape your character this way!
• Live the habit-forming gospel.  The Philippians have received the gospel, essentially Jesus Christ, from Paul et al - and they are to make these an everyday habit.  The gospel is passed on to transform lives, not merely produce changed status.  Again, we see the gospel is not informational but transformational.  What are our habits?  Are they gospel habits?  Do we every day attempt to put into practice the truth of the gopsel?

Essentially, Paul wants it said of the Philippians what was said once of John Bunyan: 

'Prick him anywhere; and you will find that his blood is Bibline, the very essence of the Bible flows from him.  He cannot speak without quoting a text, for his soul is full of the word of God.'

If they live this life, there is a great guarantee.  Just as the peace of God would guard them as they trust that Jesus is significant to and interested in the world, then the God of peace will be their constant companion as they live gospel-transformed lives.  What a blessing!