The Worthy Life: STAND-STRIVE and SUFFER
The Christian walk is not about lunches or dinners, outings, recreation or even retreats. While these are all good things when limited and kept in proper perspective. Today, I am going to show you what God tells us through the Apostle Paul in Philippians that above all things, God calls us to live āThe Worthy Lifeā-meaning that He calls us to STAND, STRIVE and even SUFFER.
The Book of Philippians is the most personable letter that Paul wrote bar none. In this letter, Paul is thanking the Philippians church for their support and addresses subtly som underlying issues the church must have been facing at that time. For Example: in Philippians 1 verses 14-19, Paul says:
āAnd most of the having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ from ENVY and RIVALRY, but others from good will.The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put there for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoiceā (Philippians 1:14-19)
MINISTRY MOTIVES
Paulās example of steadfastness and witness under adverse circumstances made others bold to witness, though not always from the right motives. Those preaching from EVNY and STRIFE were not heretics, since they were preaching Christ. But apparently they were Jealous of the attention Paul received, and they they determined to sow seeds of dissension in order to cause him trouble. āSOME preached and ministered from goodwillā, meaning that other Christians preached Christ with good motives. They thought well of Paul and of the gospel message and were dedicated to serving God faithfully.
Paul uses the words āSELFISH AMBITIONā: The motives of these believers were anything but good. The term for āSelfish Ambitionā implies that they did not preach to honor God or to help Paul but rather to gain applause, attention and followers for themselves (2:3) NOT SINCERITY. Paul believes that these preachers actually desired to cause him additional problems while he was in prison. In the end, in essence, Paul is saying āThere motives are between them and God,ā Whether preaching was done for false motives or or purse, Paul was please that the gospel was being spread.
Paul is not condemning error like he did when he called down a curse on these who corrupt the gospels in Galatians 1:6-9. The issue was MOTIVE and ATTITUDE, not doctrine. Paul says ā I rejoiceā, meaning that simply āTO BE GLADā. Regardless of the motive though (v.15), if Christ was preached, Paul rejoiced. What a contrast is his noble and magnanimous spirit. How did he rejoice rather than grow angry and vengeful? I came from focusing on Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:2).
With this backdrop and background, Paul says āLET YOUR MANNER OF LIFE BE WORTHYā (vss. 27-29).
This is a political term meaning to āLIVE AS CITIZENSā (of heaven 3:20). To do this, believers should STAND, STRIVE and SUFFER as the church at Phillips were up against those who opposed the Gospels. Paul devotes the main section of his letter to instructing the Philippians on the importance of conducting their lives as servants who have dedicated themselves to their Lord. He illustrates this teaching by referring to the manner in which Jesus Christ , Timothy, Epaphroditus, and himself lived the āWORTH LIFEā.
LIVING THE WORTH LIFE
Paul said āLET YOUR CONDUCTā the word used could refer to discharging the obligations of a citizen, Because Philippi held the privileged status of a Roman colony, itās citizens understood the responsibilities associated with citizenship.
Paul where commanded them to shift their perspective from the earthly realm to the heavenly one., They should live in this world as citizens of another world, the heavenly kingdom. And their conduct reveal and reflect their heavenly citizens.
STAND FAST: This meant that they were not stand alone in isolation but together in oneness of spirit and mind, united for a common goal-being Christ.
STRIVING TOGETHER: Means teamwork is the key concept expressed by this Greek word, which literally means āto engage together in an athletic contest.ā
āFOR THE FAITHā: Paul makesā clear that God never intended believers to be alone. His plan is that we should gather together in a church in order to strengthen and encourage each other (2:2). Paul was urging them to strive together, not just for the sake of their individual faith, but also on behalf of the truth of Christianity, their common faith.
TO SUFFER (v29): Suffering is actually a gift from God, for in the midst of suffering He comforts us (2 Corinthians 1:5) and enables us to rejoice (1 Peter4;12, 13). suffering is a blessing because it brings eternal reward (Matt. 5:1-12; 2 COR. 4:17; 2 Tim. 2:12). God sees suffering as a tool to accomplish His purpose o both in His son (Heb. 2:10) and in His children (1Peter 1:6, 7). Suffering moreover, matures us as Christians in the present (James 1;2-4) and enables us to be glorified with Christ in the future (Romans 8:17).
CONCLUSION:
Letās keep in mind that the Christian walk is not primarily about lunches or dinners, outings, recreation or even retreats. While these are all good things when limited and kept in proper perspective. Rather-God makes clear through Paul through Philippians chapter on-not only that we can, but that we SHOULD-better yet, we are COMMANDED by God to STAND, STRIVE and even SUFFER for the spread of the Gospel message-the TRUTH of Jesus Christ. And this is what it means to live the WORTHY LIFE. I trust you will join me in giving this some even deeper thought and prayer-despite where we are at in our Christian life-as live out your own Christian walk in our modern, godless age.