Love God Love People | Philippians 4:1-9
God has given us Christians the Church. The church is a called-out people, not a place or a specific building/ denomination. Christ is building His church, calling His people back to Him, working in their hearts and lives, Christ is building His church. The church is Jesus’ family and with family, with a gathering of people, with a community of humans we will have hardship, friction and even times of disagreement.
Paul concludes his joyous letter by addressing the conflict that could potentially fragment this church. The entire letter has built up to this moment. Paul writes this conclusion with so much love and desire for this church to work through this current conflict between two women within the church. As Christians, we are called to love God and to love people.
“One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, ‘What commandment is the foremost of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.’”
--Mark 12:28-31
To Love: ἀγαπάω agapáō to love, to be beloved, to regard the welfare of others.
- We cannot escape conflict. Deal with conflict, work through it, and love each other.
Paul’s opening lines to the conclusion of his letter to the church in Philippi is filled with love. You see, Paul loves this church because he worships and loves God. His love for God is now spilling out into the love for His people.
“Therefore, my believe brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. I urge you Euodia and I urge you Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.”
--Philippians 4:1
How is Paul addressing this conflict within the church? He is urging them to look at themselves, look within, and be reminded of why you are in this church in the first place—to worship and love God together.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”
--Matthew 7:24-27
Jesus is the cornerstone that was rejected. Jesus is the rock. Stand firm! Look at the context of Matthew 7.
--Do not judge without looking at the log in your own eye, do not give pearls to swine (Matt. 7:1-6)
--“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt. 7:12
--The way is wide that leads to destruction, the narrow way leads to life. (Matt. 7:13-14)
--“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits…“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” (Matt. 7:15-23)
Paul is not naming this conflict, he is not picking sides, rather he is reminding these two women in conflict of the greater purpose, the greater mission they are a part of. Work through this with understanding, take your eyes and focus off yourselves and think of the other person. It isn’t about falling in line with a brand, or doing what the Pastor says because it is his vision, it is about falling onto the rock of Jesus—follow His commands! Read the red letters of your bible, humble yourselves like Christ humbled Himself on the cross, it isn’t about you! It is about Christ and what He did for you so you can be in His church.
Harmony: φρονέω phronéō, to have understanding, be wise. To have an opinion of oneself, to exercise the mind and think of oneself, to be modest, not let one's opinion (though just) of himself exceed the bounds of modesty.
“Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.”
--Philippians 4:3
“Avoiding offenses is impossible, living offended is a choice.”
--Shane Pruitt
“Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, reprove a wise man and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
--Proverbs 9:8-10
“We can contrast the brief mention of Euodia and Syntyche with the brief mention of Clement. If you had to have your whole life summed up in one sentence, would you like it to be summed up like Clement or like Euodia and Syntyche?”
--Enduring Word Commentary
- A healthy church community worships God together and is obedient to God’s command and truth.
A healthy community does life together. They worship God together on a weekly basis and sometimes more than that. A healthy community finds harmony not in political sides, or a certain pastor rather they find harmony in Jesus Christ.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
--Philippians 4:4-7
Koine Greek Definition of Gentle: ἐπιεικής epieikḗs, suitable, moderate, equitable and fair.
Modern Oxford Definition of “Gentle”: calm and kind; doing things in a quiet and careful way
A better translation is: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your considerate spirit be known to all men.” (Legacy Standard Bible). Or “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” (KJV).
“…and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
--Hebrews 10:24-25
Pray for your fellow Christian family members who are committing sin…
“If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.”
--1 John 5:16-17 (LSB).
Approach and correct your fellow Christian family members who are committing sin…
“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”
--Matthew 18:15-18
The Christian who abides in Christ will become less anxious. They will be filled with Christ’s peace, they will not fear tomorrow and regret the past. They will rejoice in the present even if they find themselves in a time of hardship, suffering or offense/ conflict.
- Obey Jesus. Love God. Love people. Confess your sin, repent and focus on God, the giver of everything good.
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
--Philippians 4:8-9
What is good? What is pure? What is worthy of praise? Yes Paul is reminding this church of how far they have come in their ministry but he is also reminding them of the author of their celebration, of their good. The better question is Who is good? Who is pure? Who is worthy of Praise: Jesus Christ.
“This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
--1 John 1:5-9
“I get to play baseball with 30 of my best friends; I have been crying for like an hour, but I wouldn’t have traded this for anything else.”
--Ernie Clement
“My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; For length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. So, you will find favor and good repute. In the sight of God and man trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.”
--Proverbs 3:1-8