Philippians 1

Written in February 2012

Whenever I had read Paul’s epistles, I skimmed the first portion of the first chapter. I assumed that Paul is just saying “hello”, and that there wasn’t much to that. But when I began memorizing Philippians, I saw more than a casual “hello”. Paul lets the Philippians know that he comes as a slave of Christ. He comes as a servant. From verses 1 to 11 he shows much affection. He gives thanks for them, he prays for them, he is joyful over them, he is hopeful for them, he cares for them, he seeks their best, and he desires God to be praised. “For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” (v. 8).

The second greatest commandment God gives is to love our neighbors. We know love is not just a feeling or warm fuzzies. It’s action, it’s all of 1 Corinthians 13, it’s the way God demonstrated His love on the cross. Paul did not just say “I love you guys” but he demonstrated it with what I listed out. He trusted that God would sustain them. I wonder if I can write a letter to my fellow brethren with these words. I am far from such an affectionate love. My “love” is selfish, wanting to be loved back maybe. But Paul doesn’t ask for that from them. He does in the later chapters desire to be encouraged by them, but all due to God’s glory.

How can I have such a love?

Having gone to EBCB for 4.5 years, it can get routine. Occasionally there have been new faces, but the passionate love that we see in Philippians can be a huge fire compared to a little spark that easily fades away in me. Take advantage with the people you’re with now. We shouldn’t wait until they’re gone or we’re gone to express our affection. But when we are away or people are away, as Paul expressed his love, we can do the same and always entrust others to God. God doesn’t want us to be indifferent towards His people, but to love and pray with affection for them.  B.B. Warfield said, “Self-sacrifice means not indifference to our times and our fellows… It means not that we should live one life, but a thousand lives,—binding ourselves to a thousand souls by the filaments of so loving a sympathy that their lives become ours.”