What does it take to live at peace with difficult family members, friends, even brothers and sisters in the Lord? Maybe you've had a certain Christian friend in your life that you trusted. You spent a lot of time with them facing a wide range of circumstances, as well as the ups and downs of life. You’ve shared exciting times, sad times, hard times, fun times etc. You made yourselves vulnerable to one another, prayed together, studied the Bible together. Then suddenly something comes between the two of you that changes things… Your individual plans cause you to drift apart and now you no longer find it comfortable to be in each other's company. You begin to feel unimportant, even betrayed. The hurt turns to anger and the unresolved anger turns to bitterness. What had once been a bright testimony of sisters walking together in unity has now become a slam to the gospel. As we cover Philippians 3:20-4:9 today, let’s look further into this “touchy” subject…
Phil 3:20-4:5 (KJV)
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour,
the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be
fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby
he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Therefore, my brethren
dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the
Lord, my dearly beloved. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that
they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow,
help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also,
and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation
be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Regardless of who they were, Paul instructed the Philippian believers to stand fast in the Lord. How is that possible? The basis of this instruction is found in the first phrase of today’s scripture: "For our conversation is in heaven". You see, ladies, we who are saved are not citizens of this world. Therefore, we need to make decisions on the basis of eternal values and not passing fads or temporal things. We need to look at life on earth and all that pertains to it from heaven's point of view! This pronouncement will afford us the proper perspective toward things going on around us every day if we remember our heavenly citizenship! Because of our divine residency, we can then stand fast in the Lord. Are you doing that today, dear lady, or are you slipping?
There is something else we can gather from verse 1 of Phillipians 4, and that is the way that Paul feels about this particular church at Phillipi. The terms that he uses are “dearly beloved”, “longed for”, “my joy and my crown”. It is evident the apostle loved these people dearly and was writing them out of a loving concern for the state of affairs of their hearts and minds. His beloved friends Euodias and Syntyche were at odds with one other and it was bringing division to the church.
At Phillipi, women were the first hearers of the Gospel and Lydia the first convert. Euodias and Syntyche may have both been among the women who resorted to prayer at the riverbank in Acts 16:13-15. If this was the case, they also may have been brought to the Lord there, and would have been with the church from it's beginning. It is possible that at this point they may have been women in leadership positions who were spiritually experienced and sufficient to disciple other women, both very capable individuals. Incidentally, these ladies did not USURP the place of man, they SUPPLEMENTED Paul's ministry! In verse 3 Paul states, "those women which laboured WITH ME in the gospel", a phrase showing that both had helped Paul in his ministry in the past and had probably been a big blessing and encouragement to him. He had observed Euodias and Syntyche working together for the Lord as a team; they had also helped him personally in giving of their substance to meet his needs. But now they had had a quarrel, which is the fruit of their flesh…
Galatians 5:24 (KJV)
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections
and lusts.
Having served the Lord with their devoted assistance, Paul took the conflict of these two women seriously! He wrote the church and addressed the two prominent workers specifically, called them out and named them, pleading with them to make things right, to be of the SAME mind. There is a never-ending list of fleshly reasons women become upset with each other, amen? Perhaps one had a more assertive nature, capturing greater publicity than the other, thereby resulting in rivalry. (That would never happen to YOU, would it??) Whatever their dispute was, it is clear Euodias and Syntyche were now at variance where harmony between them and a spirit of cooperation had once prevailed in their relationship. Paul urged reconciliation because he knew what a hindrance to the Lord's work such aloofness could be in view of the fact that the devil loves to fish in troubled waters!
How have disagreements between people affected your church, dear lady? How do you feel when you observe friction between your Christian sisters and brothers? Would you appeal to them as Paul did to make it right? Do you truly understand the proper steps to take when it comes to a resolution? It is good when we can take a heavenly perspective toward earthly problems! Christians must resolve their differences, so that unity can prevail in the house of God and the Lord's work not be hindered.
Earlier in our text, the apostle Paul had previously reminded these folk of their citizenship in heaven, of future blessings in hopes that their perspective on such earthly matters could be looked at in the light of eternity, and thus motivate them to make things right in the present. He goes on in verse 5 to remind them that an awareness of Christ's imminent return should affect their attitudes toward one another every day! "The Lord is at hand"… Is this truth affecting your mind-set in any way at all? I hope so!
1 John 2:28 (KJV)
And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we
may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
So what can Euodias and Syntyche do to be like-minded and unashamed at Christ’s coming?? What can we do to be in one accord with church family, to put an end to the conflict that enters our relationships? The Apostle Paul gives us some valuable rules for living; some themes for thought to put into practice as seen below. As always, the scriptural cure is simple! First of all, we are not to worry or despair, but rather pray…
Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)
Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of
God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.
Have you taken your disputes to the Lord, dear lady? ALL of them?? We must always take our anxiety, our bitterness, our anger, our hurt, and our disappointment over particular matters to the Lord. Better hurry before your heart hardens and you don't care to work things out at all! What wiser place could there be than to take them to the One who knows the very hearts of the parties involved? Are you concerned about clashes in which you are not involved? Better pray for them too! Pray first for wisdom in your role of helping resolve the conflict, then go and urge SCRIPTURAL reconciliation, not just emotional reconciliation. Don't waste time worrying about conflicts when you can take them to the Lord! The Bible says that Jesus Christ is able to SUBDUE all things unto Himself; He can pacify any problem. Hence, the best way to reduce your level of anxiety is on your knees! We must pray in order to have victory over worry. Prayer brings a peaceful spirit, a spirit of reconciliation. Think about it… If your spirit were more peaceful, how would the relationships in your life improve? How might your family and friends be affected for the glory of God?
Next Paul shares with us another way that we can become like-minded and that is to order our thought life aright! Yes, if we were all thinking Biblically, there would definitely be fewer conflicts occurring in our lives!!
Philippians 4:8 (KJV)
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things
are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Did you notice that TRUE thoughts were at the helm of God's thinking list? Paul knows, as we should, that if truth is replaced with a lie, then the devil has a foothold in all these other areas of our thought life! If you give Satan an inch, he WILL come in and distort your point of view. He wants to corrupt our minds with his twisted lies. Ladies, let me urge you to keep your mind girded and protected with truth!! The Holy Spirit of God controls our minds with truth, but the devil tries to control them through lies... Whenever we believe a lie, Satan takes over! However, truth preserves our thought life, and thus, preserves the relationships around us, keeping them healthy with right thinking about issues, one another, AND ourselves!
Amos 3:3 (KJV)
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
The safest person for every one to agree with is God! Perhaps you have fallen prey to the lies of the devil in your life… Have your relationships been hurt because of it? Better get in your Bible, the source of ALL truth, and get your thoughts cleaned up and straightened out! Agree with God on all points first. Replace those deceitful lies with the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!! If each of us would do this, then we'd all lay the proper foundation for harmony amongst ourselves. In spite of the fact that we all have minds of our own, God's people need to be like-minded, and the key to this is TRUTH, found only in the Word of God!
Psalm 51:6 (KJV)
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part
thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Today, ask God to make your heart tender toward those who are at variance with one another, causing you to grieve over a lack of unity in the church. Don't forget to ask your heavenly Father to make you aware of any wrong attitudes that YOU may possess that give birth to clashes with others! Is there any need of a ceasefire in your life as a Christian today? Seek foremost where it is you might have a battle with God in your heart and reconcile with Him. Then, for the sake your influence in the world for the cause of Christ, and for your own peace of heart and mind, ask the Lord to help you be an effective peacemaker. Work out the difficult relationships in your own life and then help others properly resolve their differences as well. Let's not forget that the Lord IS at hand!!
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2004
