Peace and Joy in all circumstances: (chap.4)
How to win over worry: (4:1-9)
Paul was quite old and nearing to his death and anxious about his release from the prison. But he finds that 2-of his church members (ladies) were not in terms. They are Euodia and Syntyche. We have no idea what Euodia and Syntyche were disputing about, but whatever it was, it was bringing division into the church. Apart from this, Paul had to face division among the believers at Rome (1:14-17). Added to these burdens was the possibility of his own death! Paul is requesting the loyal yokefellow (may be Epaphroditus, the bearer of this letter) to help Euodia and Syntyche to come to terms.
Although these 2-ladies have different grounds for dispute, Paul was urging them to come on a common ground in Jesus Christ and simply told them to have the mind of Jesus Christ. But when we look at Paul, he had a good excuse to worry for all that was happening, but he did not! Instead, he took time to explain to us the secret of victory over worry. It may appear strange that a man in prison would be telling a church to rejoice.
- Antidote for worry: (4:4-5) Worry strangles a person and pulls him apart. In fact, worry has definite physical consequences: headaches, neck pains, ulcers, even back pains. Worry affects our thinking, our digestion, and even our coordination. Worry is a wrong thinking of the mind and wrong feeling of the heart. It is the greatest enemy of joy. The antidote to worry is the secure mind. “And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (4:7). When we have the secure mind, the peace of God guards us and the God of peace guides us. Paul’s letter portrays his inward attitude rather than his outward. Several times Paul urged the Philippians to be joyful, probably because they needed to hear this. Then why should we worry?
Conditions to conquer worry: (4:6-9): We can be anxious about anything. He lays down some of the conditions conquer worry and experience the secure mind, we must meet these conditions in order to rejoice in God regardless of our conditions, situations and environments.
- Right Praying: (4:6-7): It seems impossible of not being anxious or never worry for anything. We all have worries on the job, in our homes, at school. Here Paul is advising that whenever we feel like worrying, just stop and pray to God. God will grant us His Peace, which surpasses all understanding. God’s peace is different from the world’s peace (Jn. 14:27). God’s peace not only surpasses all worldly people, even the believers would not be able to comprehend God’s peace. True peace is not found in positive thinking, nor in the absence of conflicts, nor in good feelings. But it comes from knowing that God is in control of each and every situation. Our citizenship is in heaven and our destiny is set already and so we can have victory over sin. Let’s ask the Lord to grant His peace and security in the midst of anxious moments.
- Right thinking: (4:8): What we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words and actions. Paul tells us to program our minds with thoughts that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. If we have any harmful thoughts, or impure thoughts coming into our minds through TV, books or day dreams, replace them with wholesome material by focussing our minds on God’s word and prayer. We can see God’s help even to focus our minds on the right thoughts by prayer and petitions. It requires determination and strength which comes from God.
- Whatever is true: Satan is the liar and he wants to corrupt our minds with his lies and deceived Eve (Gen. 3:1ff). The Holy Spirit controls our minds through truth (1 Jn. 5:6), but the devil tries to control us through lies. Whenever we believe a lie, Satan takes over!
- Whatever is honest and just: This means “worthy of respect and right.” There are many things that are not respectable, and Christians should not think about these things. This does not mean we hide our heads in the sand and avoid what is unpleasant and displeasing, but it does mean we do not focus our attention on dishonourable things and permit them to control our thoughts.
- Whatever is pure, lovely, and of good report: “Pure” probably refers to moral purity, since the people at that time and even now are constantly attacked by temptations to sexual impurity (Eph. 4:17-24; 5:8-12). “Lovely” means beautiful, attractive. “Of good report” means worth talking about, appealing. The believer must major on the high and noble thoughts, not the base thoughts of this corrupt world.
- Whatever possesses virtue and praise: If it has virtue, it will motivate us to do better; and if it has praise, it is worth commending to others. No Christian should never have such attitudes can cause stumbling blocks or tear him down or others if these thoughts were shared.
If you will compare this list to David’s description of the Word of God in (Ps.19:7-9), we can see a parallel. The Christian who fills his heart and mind with God’s Word will have a “built-in radar” for detecting wrong thoughts. “Great peace have they which love Thy Law” (Ps. 119:165). Right thinking is the result of daily meditation on the Word of God.