Sermon by Pastor Robert Green, Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church, W.E.L.S., Harrisburg, PA,
7th Sunday after Pentecost, 7/7/13, Yr. C, No. 1011, based on Philippians 4:10-20
Like Paul and the Philippians, do you rejoice in sharing in God’s Kingdom work?
One of the key words in the Letter to the Philippians is the word rejoice, which means to be glad or to be delighted about something. God wants you to rejoice most of all in the Lord your Savior for he is your complete Savior giving you the sure and certainty of forgiveness and eternal life in heaven. Paul captures that thought in the words just before the reading for today saying, Philippians 4:4–7 (NIV84), “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Rejoicing always in the Lord drove Paul to follow Christ and serve him all of his life in good times and in bad. Indeed, at the time he wrote the letter to the Philippians Paulrejoiced in the Lord though he was under house arrest in Rome because of a false accusation. After his third missionary journey Paul returned to Jerusalem and Jewish leaders accused him of desecrating the Temple bringing in a Gentile to the area of the Temple reserved for Jews. A riot resulted and the commander of the Roman guard intervened placing Paul under arrest. The trial and incarceration lasted over two years and in the end Paul exercised his right as a Roman citizen to have his case heard before Caesar and so the Roman governor sent him to Rome for trial. Once in Rome, Paul was under house arrest and though chained with a light chain to a guard, Paul was free to carry on ministry, including writing the Letter to the Philippians..
Paul established the congregation in Philippi during his second missionary journey and understandably the Philippians became very close to Paul. Throughout his ministry, from time to time,the Philippians gave gifts of support to Paul, though they were poor and struggling. The reading for today comes from a part of his Letter to the Philippians, in which Paul thanked the congregation for a financial gift given to him while he was under house arrest. In his written thanks, we get a sense of Paul’s great joy in receiving the gift from the Philippians, not so much because he needed the gift, though he could well use it, but because the giving of the gift reflected on the Christian character of the Philippians. “Like Paul and the Philippians, do you rejoice in sharing in God’s Kingdom work?
Paul speaks of his joy in saying, “I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.”Paul was grateful that the Philippians put their concern into action by way of a gift, but take to heart that Paul’s joy arose not so much for the actual gift, but because that they had been concerned for him all along. When the Philippians had the opportunity to show their concern for ministry they sprang into action. Like the Philippians, if we are concerned about supporting or engaging in ministry when we do not have the opportunity, will we not be ready to engage in ministry when we gain the opportunity?
Paul was not one that would seek gifts and funds from fellow believers. Indeed during his ministry he refused to accept regular support, rather choosing to support himself by making tents. He did this because he never wanted to be accused of doing ministry for money. Paul did not want the Philippians to think his letter and thanks were merely a disguise for asking for more money. That is why he went on to say, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.”
Paul found himself not to be in need, but not because he had found wealth nor that he had everything he needed, but rather because whatever he had was enough, for he had “learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” To be content is to be satisfied with what one has.Why would anyone be content whatever the circumstances, whether or not he or she were in need or had plenty?Paul explained why he was content whatever the circumstances in saying,“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.13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
What is the secret to being content whatever the circumstances? Paul explains the secret saying, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” A more literally translation would be to say, “I am strong in all things in the one empowering me.” Paul’s point was that in whatever circumstances he found himself in, good or bad, he had the strength to be content and to be strong in his faith. This strength comes from God through faith, for through faith God empowers us to be content, to serve him.
Thus, as for Paul, the secret of our contentment is not found in material things or the circumstances of our life, rather such contentment comes from and through faith in Christ. That will happen when we, like Paul, value our salvation greater than anything this world has to offer, for then we will be content whatever the circumstances. Have you learned the secret of being content in all circumstances? If not, take time to reevaluate the riches of God’s salvation he freely bestowed upon you through faith in Christ.
Paul’s contentment was so great that earlier in the letter he said that for him to live or die would be gain, for if he died he went home to the Lord and what could possibly be better than, but if he lived he could go on serving the Lord and that was a good thing. Consider that though Paul was under house arrest chain to a guard he was content and in that contentment he witnessed to all the soldiers who guarded him. He found joy in his service to God as a witness for Christ whatever the circumstances. Like Paul, we too can be content in doing works of service for the kingdom whatever the circumstances when we remember the ultimate purpose of serving is to share the Gospel that another soul might be saved or strengthened in faith. So,“like Paul and the Philippians, do you rejoice in sharing in God’s Kingdom work?
Though he was content, Paul still appreciated the help of the Philippians and so told them,“Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.” It is interesting that Paul would acknowledge that the Philippians where sharing in his afflictions or troubles by sending the gift to him. When you reach out to help somebody you are also sharing their troubles. Sharing someone’s troubles is a wonderful gift because it reminds that person that he or she is not alone, for you care about him or her. Sharing someone’s troubles can include helping resolve needs, but often it means to simply be friend who listens and cares. That means a great deal for those suffering afflictions and troubles.
Paul reflected on how the Philippians had shared in his troubles before saying,“Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.”The support from the Philippians was profound for we know from Scripture that the Philippians, part of Macedonia, suffered great poverty, yet those poor believers made the effort to share with him and others above their means. They shared in the matter of giving and receiving.The Philippians received the gospel and they were willing to share it, not just among themselves, but by supporting the spread of the gospel through Paul. It is a sad commentary that they were the only church to do that.
Though he acknowledged their help in the past, Paul wanted to make clear to them that he was not buttering them up for another gift. Therefore he said, “Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.” The expression “what may be credited to your account,”is more literally translated “I seek the fruit to be credited to your account.” Paul was looking beyond the gift toseek what the gift said about the givers. The gift reflected the Christian character of the Philippians, thus, having a Christian character to do ministry was credited to their account. When you serve the Lord, whether it might be cleaning the church, cooking, sharing the faith, or offering gifts of time talents and treasures, it speaks about your Christian heart and character.
Paul went on to say, “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.” Take to heart how Paul described the gift as being, “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” God looks upon your gifts of service in the same way. Your works of service, your efforts to do the work of the kingdom, are fragrant offerings acceptable and pleasing to God. That means your offering placed in the plate on Sunday is acceptable and pleasing to God whatever it might be. Whatever you do as a Christian, as a faithful parent or a loving child or putting in an honest days of labor or helping someone in need, are all acts of service that God finds to be fragrant offerings pleasing to him.
Then Paul said something that should warm every heart saying, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Paul certainly is not saying that God is going to give you everything you want because you do works of ministry. He qualifies how God will meet all your needs in saying it will be according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Whatever need you have, he will met it in Christ, for in Christ he has blest you with every spiritual blessing and meets all of your spiritual needs, leaving none lacking. That is why we can be content whatever the circumstances of life may be.
So, “like Paul and the Philippians, do you rejoice in sharing in God’s Kingdom work? To be sure, there are times that are works of service may seem more like drudgery, that few people even recognize or appreciate, and it may seem that no matter how hard we work we see little in terms of measurable results. That is when we would do well to remember our acts of service “are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.”So, dear brothers and sisters, be content in all things and serve the Lord with gladness!
No wonder Paul closes by saying“To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” What a wonderful way to end a day of service by remembering why we serve and whom we serve by saying“To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen!”