Living a Life of Genuine & Generous Friendship, part 1
A Generous Friendship
This week we will finish up our series on Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Over the last few weeks, we have been exploring the connection between Christian joy and suffering. Paul’s letter to the young church in Philippi is inspired teaching for us about how to go through tough times.
Do we have a theology for suffering? Where are you at when you see or experience suffering and loss and trials and tribulations? I’m not asking if we can explain it philosophically - philosophy rarely helps people who are facing trials and tribulations. Instead, I am asking whether we, as followers of Jesus, can go through hard times and still show Jesus to the world.
This is the subject of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. It is the Holy Spirit speaking to us about finding joy in Jesus, through good times or bad.
This week, we will look at the fourth and final chapter of this great letter. Our topic is Learning How to Deal with Tough Times by Living a Life of Genuine and Generous Friendship.
As we look at this fourth chapter, we’ll be looking at four points on the benefits of living in generous relationship with one another, followed by three additional points about how to take action: We can discover the beauty of a life of generous friendship!
As we begin, let’s read a larger portion of this chapter and then break it down:
Philippians 4:1–9 “So then, my dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown, in this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! 2 I urge Euodia (Yo-dia) and I urge Syntyche (Sin-tik-ee) to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the Gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers whose names are in the Book of Life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through 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 minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy — dwell on these things. 9 Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, or seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you” CSB.
Continued tomorrow
