Paul's Love Letter from Prison
A Study of Philippians - 12
Over the past eleven studies we have been discovering together the letter of Paul to the believers in Philippi. I called this series "Paul's love letter from prison" because Paul's affection for the believers in Philippi is very evident as he writes to them. We come today to chapter 4 and verses 10 to 23, and these verses will be our consideration for this and the next study.
We shall start by discovering again the secret of Paul's tremendous achievements in his work for the Lord Jesus. Paul was always rejoicing and so he says in verse 10:
"I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed you HAVE been concerned, but you have not had opportunity to show it."
Paul is thankful for the practical love and concern that his Philippian friends had for him. They evidently supported him financially in his work as an evangelist. When he says "You had no opportunity", this was because they were having difficulty in finding a suitable messenger to carry their gift to Rome where Paul was imprisoned. We have already discovered in a previous talk that a fine Christian worker called Epaphroditus eventually undertook this important task. It is a good thing and pleasing to the Lord when God's people are able to support His work and His workers in a practical way. It both encourages the workers and ensures that the work can continue unhindered.
In verses 11 and 12 of Philippians chapter 4 we discover some important lessons as Paul writes about his attitude to the circumstances in which he finds himself. He says:
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
It has been said that God's people do not measure sufficiency by abundance, but by the will of God, which they become aware of by what happens to them. Christians are persuaded that their lives are regulated by the providence and perfect will of God.
Paul had passed through many educational experiences in his life for Christ, his Lord and Master. When he says "I have LEARNED", he is saying in effect, "I am BEING instructed". This was a continuous learning process, every day of his life. You know, dear listening friend, that we are all students by experience in God's school of life. We are told that even our Lord Jesus Christ "Learned obedience by the things He suffered." If we are to follow Him closely, as Paul did, we must be prepared to learn from everything that happens to us, whether good or bad. The cross of his Lord was ever before Paul and he applied that to everything he did. He followed the teaching of Christ that His followers must take up their cross daily as they follow Him.
Paul had accustomed himself to dwell always on his blessings, and to lay more emphasis on what he had, rather than on what he did not have. I read somewhere that Paul was a "Master of Arts", that is he had mastered the art of being hungry without complaining; the art of being full without boasting; he had mastered the art of suffering without impatience; and the art of abounding without setting his heart on the things of this world. For the Christian believer, whose life is set apart for God, to have little with God, in the material sense, is better than having much without Him. As it says in Psalm 37 verses 16 and 17:
"Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked. For the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous."
We come now to verse 13. As Paul looks back on all these experiences he is able to say: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." This was not an idle presumption or boast. Paul knew, as I'm sure you do, that we can do very little of God's work in our own strength. When he writes about doing "everything" he means everything that was God's will for him to do. He had learned that the Lord's commands are the Lord's enablements. He knew that the Lord would never call on him to accomplish some task without giving him the necessary grace to do it.
The story is told of an inhuman slave master who was in the act of whipping the already lacerated back of a half-murdered slave, when he said, "What can your Jesus Christ do for you now?". He was given the amazing answer, by his slave, "He can teach me to forgive you, master." What a gracious and noble reply from one who was a humble servant of Christ, the Master Who truly loved him!
Notice now in verse 14 where Paul says, "It was good of you to share in my troubles." He was always grateful for their fellowship in its many forms. And in verse 15 he looks back on their generosity and practical love in the early days of his ministry to them. In fact, he writes that they were the only church that supported him at that time. Let us be sure of this, that what Paul was thankful for here would certainly be recognised by the Lord. Remember what the Lord Jesus said in Mark 9 verse 41: "I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name, because you belong to Christ, will certainly not lose his reward." The Lord is no man's debtor.
There is a further good lesson for us to discover in verse 17 of Philippians chapter 4. Paul writes, "Not that I am looking for a gift, but I AM looking for what may be credited to your account." Observe here that it is not the gift that Paul covets, but the rich spiritual blessing that the gift secures to the givers. I'm sure you know the saying that "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Generous and loving giving only reflects the goodness and grace of God, Who gave His Son for us, and through Whom He freely gives us all great blessings.
Paul goes on to say in verse 18: "I have received full payment and even more I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God." The gifts of a generous church are accepted as a sacrifice well-pleasing to God and to the lord Jesus. Such giving is worship, acceptable and honouring to the great giver of all things.
We have already observed that God is no man's debtor, and in verse 19 we have this assurance: "And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." What we as believers give to God is substance well invested and which will yield a rich return - spiritual blessings in return for material gifts.