Recently, in our Wednesday evening Bible class we’ve
been studying through Philippians. As
part of this study, we looked at the life of the Apostle Paul and how the
events of his life tied into many of the encouragements that are included in the
epistle. In today’s world the rise of
social media brought with it a rise in publically airing our complaints and the
day-to-day difficulties of our lives (it is likely that most, if not all, who
use social media have fallen prey to this at some point or another, myself
included). However, Paul wrote a few
things that should change our perspective as Christians concerning complaining
and the need for being content.
The book of Philippians is ripe with quotable
verses, many of which you’ll see held up on cardboard signs at football or
baseball games. For instance, “I can do
all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:8). Was Paul expressing that Christ helps
football players win championship games? No, rather he was expressing a much
deeper sentiment; tie this passage back to Paul’s plight as he was writing the
epistle. In chapter one, we learn that
Paul was in prison, that he was unaware as of yet whether he would live
(physically) through the ordeal, and that he needed boldness to persevere. There
is an important application, then, to what Paul was writing in Philippians 4:8.
Sometimes we couch complaints about our lives with
such verses. Often, it is expressed in
manner such as the following (paraphrased):
Some
days, it is good to know God exists. My A/C went out, and so did the oil pump
on my truck. My dog ran away, and my kid
has a cold (which means I can’t sleep either!).
The hot water tank leaked all over the floor and my boss has been really
hard to work with lately. I can do all
things through Christ who strengthens me!
All this really does is let everyone know how “hard”
our lives are. It is a way of
complaining that expresses the complaint, but spins it in a way that appears
godly-minded. Is it really godly, or is
it merely complaining like the Israelites in the Old Testament (see Numbers
21:5 for an example)?
If we study the life of Paul, we can glean the
deeper meaning to many of his writings.
In Philippians 4:11-13, Paul wrote, “Not that I speak in regard to need,
for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be
abased, and I know how to abound.
Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be
hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Compare this to
2 Corinthians 11:22-33 where we see the sufferings of Paul and how he endured
them (note: Paul wrote of these sufferings not to complain, but rather to
express a specific point and to refute the false “apostles” discussed in
11:13).
Remember that Paul wrote that we are to do “all
things without complaining and disputing” (the ESV uses “grumbling” rather than
“complaining” in Philippians 2:14). Grumbling
means “a mutter of discontent: complaint” (Merriam-Webster) and can easily be
connected to the previous reference in Numbers 21:5 (“…our soul loathes this
worthless bread”). In the context of Philippians
2:14, Paul was expressing that we live our lives in obedience and as lights in
this world, which requires that we live contentedly and peacefully (please see
the context). If we are grumbling over
the bad things in our lives and ignoring the blessings of God (think of how the
Israelites were freed from slavery and provided with food in the wilderness,
but complained over the TYPE of food that was given them), then are we living
as such lights? Or are we telling God that we loath the “worthless bread” He
has given us? If our concentration is on all the so-called bad things that
happen in our lives, are we meditating on all the good things God has given us
(see Philippians 4:4-9)?
Near the end of Paul’s list of his sufferings (see
above for his rationale for including such a list!), Paul wrote, “…besides the
other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches”
(2 Corinthians 11:28). In other words,
Paul wrote off his own sufferings and was concerned more for the welfare of the
church. We should echo this concern! Similarly,
in Philippians 2:25-30, Paul discussed the sickness that plagued Epaphroditus,
who worried not about being in such a plight, but cared more that the
Philippian brethren were so concerned about him. Rather than complaining, Epaphroditus focused
his attention beyond the immediate physical difficulties he was experiencing,
which mirrors the attitude of Paul himself in Philippians 1:19-26. Consider also the words of Paul in 2
Corinthians 4:16-18, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet
the inward man is being renewed day by day.
For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the
things which are not seen. For the
things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are
eternal.” If Paul could refer to a
physical death as a “light affliction” (think also of his list of sufferings in
2 Corinthians 11 again), then do we have room to complain in our own lives?
When Paul included a list of his own sufferings, it
was not meant as a competition FOR complaining.
Too often today, complaints are used to show how much worse our lives
are than someone else’s might be. “Oh,
that’s what YOU have to deal with? Well let me show you what I have to deal
with!” Such perspectives are not Christian in nature. Consider the words of Paul, who wrote, “Let
nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind
let each esteem others better than himself.
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for
the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
This requires humility, which is an attribute that needs constant
maintenance rather than viewing it as having been achieved (those who list
themselves as humble probably are not so).
Paul went on to say that we need to have the same mind as Christ, who
lowered Himself and became obedient (see Philippians 2:5-11).
Finally, let us live out the words of the Apostle Paul
in Romans 12:1-2: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which
is your reasonable service. And do not
be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Do all things, as Paul wrote, without grumbling!
“Now godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy
6:6).
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