Philippians 4: True Joy

How do you feel about all the holiday cheer we’re starting to hear? Does it put you in the Christmas spirit; or does it sound a little flat this year?

For many people, happiness is entirely circumstantial. When times are good, they feel good. When times are bad, they feel bad. But the Gospel offers a different kind of happiness. It’s called joy. Joy transcends circumstances because it is founded on the reality of a relationship with Christ—a relationship that is unshakable and enduring.

Philippians 4 shows us at least four ways to keep our joy even when circumstances conspire to take it away.

First, be agreeable in the midst of conflict. Euodia and Syntyche were two important women in Philippi who clashed. Paul calls them to be like-minded and agreeable because the Lord is near. He is in each of them, and in their fellowship, and that’s cause enough to come together.

Second, be prayerful in the face of problems. Turn your anxiety into piety. The fact that God hears and draws near when we pray will settle your heart, maintain your peace of mind, and preserve your joy.

Third, be virtuous in a world of wickedness. Verses 8-9 address our “thought-style,” which should be pure and noble. While degraded living is built on degraded thinking, a positive and joyful life consists largely in keeping these virtues in the center of your imagination.

Fourth, be content in changing circumstances. The assertion that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” is not a mantra for the ambitious, but a reality for the anxious. When times are tough; when we face scarcity and adversity, it’s tempting to despair. But Paul reminds us that we live in Christ, and Christ lives in us, and therefore we can endure all things through Him. And we can do it with joy! After all, if Christ could endure the cross “for the joy set before him,” we can endure whatever comes our way in the same spirit.

Posted by Greg