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- Apr 25, 2006
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Living light - Settle your differences
I plead with Euodia and... Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Philippians 4:2
My guess is that these ladies were sitting at opposite ends of the room when Paul’s letter was read out. Imagine their feelings! Unloving, broken relationships usually spell ‘pain’ for those concerned, but ‘Christlessness’ for onlookers. Interestingly, they weren’t arguing over beliefs. They’d agreed with Paul’s teaching, contending at his side in the cause of the gospel’. ‘Their names were in the book of life.’ The root of hurt feelings is often hurt pride, or inability to forgive. Pride’s in us all. It’s insidious. (Or maybe we think ‘we’re not as other men’!)
Rome had granted Philippi the highest possible status for a provincial city. Citizens were even exempt from paying land-taxes! They were ‘elite’. Paul’s letter frequently stresses humility. Perhaps he had these sisters in mind, but is this a timely warning for us too?
Let’s check ourselves and our relationships against Paul’s warning to: ‘Love! Be one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.’ (That needs thinking about!) ‘Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ...Being...God..(He took)...the nature of a servant’! (Phil.2:2-7).
If others are estranged, instead of judging them, we’re to help - humbly! After all ‘What do you have that you did not receive?!’(1 Cor 4:7)
Lord, Forgive our pride! Help us listen, talk and always forgive...while still holding on to your truth. Amen.
I plead with Euodia and... Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Philippians 4:2
My guess is that these ladies were sitting at opposite ends of the room when Paul’s letter was read out. Imagine their feelings! Unloving, broken relationships usually spell ‘pain’ for those concerned, but ‘Christlessness’ for onlookers. Interestingly, they weren’t arguing over beliefs. They’d agreed with Paul’s teaching, contending at his side in the cause of the gospel’. ‘Their names were in the book of life.’ The root of hurt feelings is often hurt pride, or inability to forgive. Pride’s in us all. It’s insidious. (Or maybe we think ‘we’re not as other men’!)
Rome had granted Philippi the highest possible status for a provincial city. Citizens were even exempt from paying land-taxes! They were ‘elite’. Paul’s letter frequently stresses humility. Perhaps he had these sisters in mind, but is this a timely warning for us too?
Let’s check ourselves and our relationships against Paul’s warning to: ‘Love! Be one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.’ (That needs thinking about!) ‘Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ...Being...God..(He took)...the nature of a servant’! (Phil.2:2-7).
If others are estranged, instead of judging them, we’re to help - humbly! After all ‘What do you have that you did not receive?!’(1 Cor 4:7)
Lord, Forgive our pride! Help us listen, talk and always forgive...while still holding on to your truth. Amen.
