READ: PHILIPPIANS 

It has become a tradition around here to encourage our listeners and readers to join us in an exercise of reading through the book of Proverbs in the month of May: A Proverb a Day in May. There are 31 chapters in Proverbs and 31 days on the calendar, so the challenge is straightforward: read the chapter that corresponds with the day.

In lieu of this series, I thought it might be interesting to consider one of the most popular and frequently sighted Proverbs everybody knows. Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of my favorites and I think that it offers itself as a guide to the rest of the book.

True happiness is the fundamental topic at the heart of the Book of Philippians. The Apostle Paul was in prison in Rome. The Church in Philippi had sent a financial gift with one of their members, Epaphroditus, to help support Paul in his imprisonment. Something in their conversations about how the Church was doing caused the apostle to think that they needed a lesson on joy: what it is, where to find it, and how to express it.

If we have ever found ourselves wondering if living for Christ would truly make us happy, or we wound up spiritually depressed and discouraged in life’s circumstances, the Book of Philippians will help us discover the pathway to true happiness and will leave us declaring that it is worth it in the end. 

TO LIVE IS CHRIST

The city of Philippi was a Roman colony on the Greek peninsula. Many of the residents had served in the Roman military, earned their Roman citizenship, and settled in Philippi as their retirement plan. They were fiercely loyal to the emperor. It must have been a difficult position for them to side with Paul while he sat in a prison in Rome. 

This is why the apostle explains that some people had supported him while others were jealous and tried to tarnish his reputation. But Paul had a firm belief that he was exactly where God wanted him to be. 

The big idea that opens this letter is found in Philippians 1:6, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” This is a gospel confession, a theological statement, and a testimony of God’s love. Our salvation is based on God's grace. Our future is secured in the promise of God’s Kingdom. Therefore our present circumstances are all a part of God’s plan. 

When Paul says, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (1:21), he is acknowledging that the greatest reward comes when we are united with Christ. That is one of the sources for our present joy, but there are many other ways that we can experience true happiness as we live for Christ. 

WALK WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL

Paul first addresses one of the major culprits that robs us of our joy: pride and selfishness. Like any Church I have ever been a part of, there was conflict amongst the believers in Philippi. 

Paul encourages them to walk in a manner that is worthy of the Gospel by having the same mind and spirit (1:27). To illustrate this point, he references their military background to express the importance of unity. He instructs them to stand firm, side by side (1:27), to not be frightened (1:28), and to suffer for the sake of the cause (1:29). All of this would have resonated with the tough military veterans because they had been trained in the tactics that made the Roman army so formidable. Each unit would be linked together, arm to arm, holding their ground with a wall of shields surrounding them and above them, defending them against any attack from their enemies. As long as they were courageous and stayed in formation, they were safe. Many of them had fought valiantly for the sake of the Roman empire, now Paul was telling them to suffer for Christ. 

An army that doesn’t have the same mind and spirit is quickly defeated. If they are disorganized, they will break formation, and they will lose their distinct advantage in the heat of battle. But where do they find their unity in the same mind and spirit? It doesn’t work for each soldier to follow their own orders. They need a general. 

That is why Paul tells us to have the same mind as our leader, Jesus Christ (2:5). Jesus is not only our savior, He is the example that we must follow. Jesus humbled Himself, took on the form of a servant, and gave His life as a sacrifice for us. Now, He is exalted to the highest position in the Kingdom of God (2:6-11). 

What I love about this phrase, “Worthy of the Gospel,” is that it requires us to consider what that gospel is and preach it into all of the scenarios of our life. If we want to resolve a conflict with another person, we have to first consider what Christ has done for us. That is the primary source of true joy in the Christian life. 

REJOICE IN THE LORD

Joy might be the most referenced attribute in the Book of Philippians, but Paul also addresses love and peace. In fact, these are the first three fruits of the Spirit. The apostle is not content that we simply know about these attributes of God, he wants us to experience them for ourselves. He writes, “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more” (1:9). Later he tells the reader to pray so that they will experience, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (4:7). 

The problem with finding happiness in Christianity is not due to biblical restrictions, but our own selfishness. Believing that we deserve better or more will always lead to a heart that is ungrateful. We will be envious of what other people have and we won’t be able to celebrate their successes. Holding onto our earthly treasures will only make us more anxious. So the Apostle Paul tells us that we need to entrust everything we have into the hands of God in order to experience true love, deep joy, and surpassing peace. 

The path to true happiness is humility. Jesus demonstrated this, but the apostle also gives us his own testimony as an example. Based on outward appearance, Paul was in a terrible situation: he had been a prisoner in Rome for several years. Yet his outlook was optimistic. He had been witnessing to the imperial guards who were chained to him 24 hours a day (1:12-13). His time in prison had caused him to press into Christ even more, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead” (3:10-11). Furthermore, he declared, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (4:11-13).

You and I would never willingly seek out persecution of imprisonment. We would see it as something to pray against, rather than something to find contentment in. However, Jesus told us that there is a blessing for those who are persecuted in His name (Matthew 5:10-12). 

This wasn’t the first time Paul’s imprisonment turned out to be for something good. In fact, the Church in Philippi started with Paul in prison. Read Acts 16:16-34. Paul’s first visit to Philippi got him thrown in prison for preaching the gospel. All night long he and his companion, Silas, sang songs, worshiped God, and witnessed to the other prisoners. Then God caused an earthquake to break their chains and open the prison doors. When the jailer arrived, ready to take his own life out of fear that everyone had escaped, Paul reassured him that they were still there. The jailer then asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And the Apostle Paul led him and his whole family to Christ. Some of the readers of Paul’s letter were likely the jailer, his family, and the other prisoners who responded to the gospel that night. 

PRESSING ON TOWARD THE GOAL

I have to admit that I still struggle with contentment. There are so many things in this life that I want and I worry that God doesn’t want the same things for me. My heart is still focused on what I think will make me happy. As a result, I don’t give everything over to the LORD for fear that I might not get the answer that I am looking for. 

However, the Apostle Paul assures us that Christ intends to finish the work he started in us. Sometimes that means that He has to take us to uncomfortable places in order to learn how to trust Him with all of our heart. The path to true joy is humility. God will humble us if we won’t humble ourselves. In the end, we will find that living for Christ is the true source of joy, and it is worth whatever discomfort we may face. 

Paul tells us to imitate him and keep our eyes on those who are walking in a manner worthy of the gospel (3:17). Then we will observe people who are truly happy and content. Let’s continue to, “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (3:14), so that we can be examples to those who would observe our lives and demonstrate to them that we have found the true source of love, joy, and peace.