To Live Is to Give

If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me.  Yet what shall I choose?  I do not know!  I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.  Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me (Philippians 1:22-26).

Paul had no desire simply to remain with the disciples.  He wanted to continue with them.  The Greek word translated “continue” means “to wait beside a person to be ready to help and to help all the time.”*   It is one thing to just “stick around” with someone because it is not yet time to leave.  It is quite another thing to commit your time, energy and life to them. 

Deck the Halls

By Linda Brumley

This first appeared on Linda’s blog, "My Beggar’s Purse," which we would highly recommend to you as a source of insight and wisdom. 

Gandhi once said: “I have never been able to reconcile myself to the gaities of the Christmas season. They have appeared to me to be so inconsistent with the life and teaching of Jesus."

If Gandhi was referring to the gluttonous materialism that pervades the Christmas season, I understand his concern. If he meant hedonistic partying, he was also right in his judgments. Both of these excesses have contaminated our celebrations of the birth of Christ.

Loss, Pain and Tears

This last week we were stunned by a horrible tragedy. Tears flowed. In such a situation even some treasured Scriptures seem not to bring much comfort and may even raise questions. How, we wonder can God possibly work for good in this? How can we even think about being joyful in this circumstance? Where in this moment can we find the peace that passes all understanding?

Where do we turn when we feel like we have been hit in the stomach? What do we do when something that has happened makes no sense to us and seems to be so unfair?  We may search for a truth, a thought that will make it all better. But at such times quick answers really offer no comfort.  That is probably why the Scripture tells us in one place that there is a time to weep and a time to mourn, and in another place that we need to mourn with those who mourn. The same Bible that calls us to affirm hope and trust in God, is still emotionally realistic. The Word of God teaches us that grief is real and must be expressed and shared.

Perhaps, by the grace of God, in time, our pain will be eased. Perhaps, our wounds will be healed. But for now, we find comfort in the fact that when he was with those who grieved, Jesus, also, wept.

“This is what the Lord says: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more.’" Jeremiah 31:15  

^“Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.” Matthew 19:13-15

Work Out Your Salvation

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed¾not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence¾continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:12-13)

Are you wide awake?  Ready for a new thought?  How about this one: Paul is not talking here about personal salvation.  Keeping this passage in the context that began in Philippians 1:27 makes it very possible that Paul is referring to the corporate salvation of the Philippian church (compare Revelation 2:4-5 where the corporate salvation of another church is definitely the issue). 

The Christ Mind

     Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

(Philippians 2:5 NIV)

Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

  (Philippians 2:5 ASV)

 As a traveler in a land of rolling hills suddenly comes upon a great mountain peak, so the reader of Philippians is given little warning that he or she is about to come upon one of the Christological high points of Scripture. Unexpectedly, in the midst of the discussion of the importance of unity in the fellowship of disciples, Paul writes this powerful statement about “the mind that was in Christ Jesus.” (the literal translation).  Theologians have written volumes about this passage (verses 5-11), but what is important for us to understand is that there is to be continuity between the mind of Christ and what goes on in the minds and hearts of disciples who are part of his church.  

To Live Is Christ

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.  For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:20-21).

What is missing in so many people’s lives is a clear sense of identity and purpose.  They don’t know when to say “No” and when to say “Yes,” because they don’t know who they are or why they are here.  Paul suffered from no such identity crisis.  He knew who he was because he knew whose he was.  To live is Christ.  That summed it up.  Christ was his life.  He had a relationship with God because of Christ.  He had purpose in his world because of Christ.  He had an example to follow because of Christ.  He knew how to love others because of Christ.  He had a destiny that was secure and unshakable because of Christ.

What Does it Matter?

How might you allow someone else’s sin to affect your own efforts to live as a disciple of Jesus?

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will.  The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.  The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.  But what does it matter?  The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached.  And because of this I rejoice (Philippians 1:15-18).

           

Paul was secure in his position before God—a saved servant of Jesus Christ.  He was not concerned that he would lose importance in God’s sight as others clamored for the spotlight.  He did not fear that he would miss out on a spiritual “promotion” because he was out of the mainstream of the church’s activity.  His Lord had taught him to trust the working of the Father.  He knew that these men would either become convicted of their sinful motives and repent, or God would judge them and deal with their sin.  Whatever his reasons, he did not, in this case, condemn or mark them as heretics to be avoided by the church.  If they taught truth and people were believing and accepting truth, then the mission for which he was in chains was being carried out. Bottom line for Paul: “What does it matter?...Christ is preached.”