SERMON SERIES

Philippians is a thank-you note to a church that has partnered with Paul by providing for him financially in his imprisonment. Out of the abundance of Paul’s gratitude—even in difficult circumstances—come his offerings: encouragement and prayers. Through those offerings, Paul participates in the Good News of Jesus. We can find hope and even meaning in our suffering by offering encouragement and prayer as well.

Most of the time, to suffer is simply to endure. Paul evaluates his life not by his own comfort or even personal success, but by how far the Good News of Jesus has spread. Paul does not care at all about the motivation people have for sharing Christ; he only cares that people share Christ. We have an opportunity to reframe our lives not as something to be endured, but as an opportunity to live our purpose of spreading the love of Jesus.

Paul can’t just say something like, “To live is Christ, to die is gain,” without showing where such strength comes from. This week, we take a break from our own thinking and reframing of life to see how Jesus approached life. Jesus is a full self who fulfilled his purpose and destiny by abandoning all claims to personal power or privilege. At the end of all things, he will be proclaimed as even greater for this emptying of self. Identifying and connecting with Jesus gives us the ability to rejoice in whatever circumstances we have and leads us to a deeply meaningful life.

Paul’s spiritual resume was legendary. He had been to the right schools, knew the right things, and his heart was in it. However, he now considers those things as losses because they got in the way of knowing and depending on Jesus instead of on his own deeds. Paul no longer has a desire to prove himself; Paul just wants to know Christ and the power of Christ’s resurrection. Much of our spiritual life, and our ability to share it, is too often based on what we have or have not accomplished. Paul shows us a more hopeful way to advance through life, rejoicing in what Christ has done rather than listing off the good things we have. We are invited to rejoice in Christ’s love for us, as well, and reject the treadmill of trying to do enough and be enough.

The theme of the book is to rejoice, so this is a good moment to remember that Paul was in prison, which did not provide food, bedding, or even a dry floor. The one in the throes of difficult circumstances encourages everyone to pray instead of worry, to think about good things instead of bad things. God’s power is often released in us when we turn our eyes away from what is wrong to list and become grateful for the assets God has blessed us with.

Paul finally got around to the purpose of the letter: to thank the church for the gift that provided for his physical need. Paul is quick to tell them he is not complaining. He knows what it is like to have enough and to have not enough. The famous (and famously quoted out of context) verse 13 is not a promise to be able to jump over buildings or accomplish difficult tasks, but is a statement that Paul relies on God’s strength instead of personal comfort in every situation. It is God’s strength that allows Paul to rejoice in bad circumstances. This letter has not been an exercise in the power of positive thinking, but an exercise in accessing the power of God by rejoicing in what God can do instead of what we can do.