WWJD

Philippians 4.1-9 

Do you know what these acronyms stand for:

WWJD ‘What would Jesus do?’ 

PUSH ‘Pray until something happens’

FROG ‘Fully rely on God’

Now how about, TLIN? From Philippians 4, in the middle of the passage we have just read – The Lord is near.

Those four little words are important to Paul.  You could say they’re a little time-bomb ticking away in the midst of this passage – or, alternatively, the lens through which Paul sees life.

So, what does he mean ‘The Lord is near’? 

He’s not referring to physical distance – but perhaps a spiritual presence.  Now that might start to sound creepy – think ‘Big brother’.  Is this our view of God?  Always watching us?  Some would say that that could be a useful way of controlling our moral behaviour.  Remember WWJD.

But I think Paul was thinking of Jesus being ‘near’ in time; not so much in the past, although Paul’s own life overlapped with that of Jesus, but this refers to Paul’s expectation of Jesus’ return, for that final harvest we referred to last week.  But what does that make us think, 2000 years later? 

The danger is, that we will be blasé.  Well, Jesus hasn’t returned yet, so why should he be ‘near’ now?  We don’t have Paul’s sense of urgency.  But in his understanding, the dead and the living will stand before Christ at his return – so whether we die now or are still alive when that time comes, we will face that time.  As none of us know the date of our own death, which will be the gateway to facing Christ, it is true for us all that ‘The Lord is near’.

Is that something you ever think about?  When we take this seriously, it can become the lens through which we see our daily life.  There is an urgency in what we do.  Paul longs for the church at Philippi to understand this.  His concern for them is moving – note the affection with which he speaks, “my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown…”  MJ&C.  Isn’t that wonderful?  These are not the words of a street preacher shouting the words on his sandwich board, ‘Repent, the end is nigh!’  Paul knows these people, he considers himself attached to them.  Ministry does this, it connects us to those with whom we live and minister.  We’re in this together!  Paul’s concern is almost paternal – he is like a good parent longing for the best for his child.  I only want what is good for you.  Sometimes, perhaps, we do not care enough for the lost children of this world; if we cared more, wouldn’t we be more inclined to share this good news with them?

For Paul is absolutely clear that this is good news.  And like any good news it will make a difference.  If something good happens to you, you don’t hold it in, keep it a secret – you share it.  And others are glad because you are glad.  More than anything else we hate a miser; our literature is full of examples of miserly characters who wouldn’t share what they had – The Selfish Giant, Scrooge.  Somehow the things that bring us pleasure only really do so when they are shared.  So, if the things that enrich our life need to be shared, we should be sharing even more enthusiastically that which brings us eternal life.  The good news – the gospel – needs to be shared with one another and shared with others. 

Read any of Paul’s letters and you will find that after the theology comes the practical outworking.  So, says Paul, if this is true – if Jesus has died for you, if God has made open the way to heaven, if you are “in Christ”, having accepted this gift for yourself – then you are bound to do something about it.  You can’t just go on as if nothing had happened.  That’s the logic of Paul’s letters, anyway.

And so, Paul says here, in a very practical way, the members of the early church have to work together.  They have to learn to agree… BOTSMITL (v2) – Euodia and Syntyche have to “be of the same mind in the Lord.” – which chimes with other things that Paul says in this letter.  This isn’t about being clones, but about agreeing priorities.  They also have to support one another – rendered here simply as “H” (v3) – help.  A small word, but very powerful.  Help.  Be there for one another.  Don’t leave each other on your own – be prepared, even, to SITWOTG – “struggle… in the work of the gospel.”  Paul never says this is easy, even when we have others alongside.

And agreeing with one another isn’t always easy.  In human terms, it’s impossible.  I suspect that that’s why Paul has to underline it – and to “urge” (v2).  But those who have been willing to struggle in the cause of the gospel, draw their inspiration from the Lord and from the gospel, the good news itself.  So, when we disagree, both parties need to come back to the basic question, how does this serve the Lord, how does this serve the cause of the gospel? 

Paul also encourages the Philippians to express the good news with a positive attitude.  What we believe infects our behaviour towards others; so, he says, RITLA “Rejoice in the Lord always” (v4) 

This is an encouragement to be positive, if there ever was one.  Paul even underlines it, “again I will say, Rejoice!”  Cognitive Behavioural Therapy teaches us today that using positive language, reframing our experience in positive terms, makes a lasting impact on our mood and on our behaviour.  Being grumpy in the Lord – even ‘in the Lord’ – doesn’t honour him and doesn’t help us.  We have good news to share.  Rejoice! 

And, LYGBK2E.  Let your gentleness be known to everyone (v5).   This is the advice most closely linked to ‘TLiN’.  The Lord is near – so don’t be ambitious, arguing with each other, competitive, but be gentle.  And with that comes a lack of anxiety – DNWAA – “do not worry about anything” - and a turning to prayer, LYRBMK2G – “let your requests be made known to God.”  This things are interlinked – a gentleness and humility that enable us to come before God, knowing our need of him, leading us to pray and to trust God so that our anxiety is reduced.  ‘Do not worry’ is advice that many of us find hard to take – but offering thanksgiving and intercession is a good way of increasing our awareness of our dependence on God and finding what Paul promises – POG - (v7) “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus…”

What a promise! 

But whilst God longs to give us this peace, Paul makes it clear that we have a responsibility in all this – which is to put into our minds what we hope to get out – THJPPCEWoP - this one is worth remembering – “whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable - if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

We may suffer from intrusive thoughts, but the truth is that we have more control than we sometimes admit about what goes in through our eyes and ears.  Will your t.v. viewing tonight pass this test?  Remember THJPPCEWoP if you can, and do the test.  We have a responsibility, and we have a choice.  Where will be our focus be, as we remember that TLiN?

And here’s one more for the road, not quite from this passage, but in the spirit of it, as it were: GIN & TONIC  God is near – tell others now in compassion!