Reframe.

Phi 4:10-19 (ESV) I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. (11) Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. (12) I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. (13) I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (14) Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. (15) And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. (16) Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. (17) Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. (18) I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. (19) And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

At the end of his letter to the Philippians Paul takes the time to thank them for their financial support, and then uses that to encourage the Philippians on a point which he knew that they struggled. Throughout the letter we notice that Paul is stressing unity among the body, and based upon Paul’s statement in 1:27-28 we can infer that suffering and persecution seem to be the cause of the division within the church. In fact, the language that Paul uses in this letter allows us to identify at least one specific cause of this suffering as social alienation resulting in financial stress upon the believers.[1]

In that context Paul demonstrated how he had been through similar situations and how God had provided for him - even using the Philippians own gifts! Then as he closes this idea he makes the statement, “my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus”, with which he communicates to the Philippians that “my God”, or the very same God as the God that the Philippians served, will fulfill every need according to the riches that exist in glory and in Christ Jesus. Which, if we follow this idea throughout Paul’s other writings seems to infer not only financial provision but also spiritual abundance as they sought to live their lives “in Christ”.[2] Paul turns the paradigm of providing on its head by declaring that God would provide for the Philippians, even though their neighbors would not have any social or economic interaction with them, if they (the Philippians) would submit themselves to a life lived “in Christ”.

Today we don’t experience anything near the social and economic discrimination of the Philippians, though we do live in a culture and society inundated with the necessity of being or becoming financially successful. However, according to the way Paul is instructing the Philippians to live, centering our lives around our finances is antithetical to focusing our lives around the person and work of Christ.

I think that as Christians we understand intellectually that we are not to concentrate our lives around our material affluence and yet, too often, I observe Christians ordering and re-ordering their lives around their occupation or profession. But if we live “in Christ” as Paul challenges us to, then I submit that Christ will become our occupation and that serving Him will be our profession. And if this is the case, then perhaps we ought to begin to organize our lives around our church bodies instead of our jobs. It would be a radical thing to turn down a superior job offer in a different state for the sake of maintaining the integrity of the local church body: yet maybe this is the kind of radical thinking that framed the way that Paul lived and preached.

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[1] The social alienation of the Philippian believers likely would have evidenced itself to some extent economically as local merchants refused to do business with the local Christians. With no way to buy or sell goods the economic situation for those in the local church at Philippi would have been very stressful, especially for those who had to provide for a family. This hypothesis is supported by the use of financial and economic language throughout the letter, such as in Phil. 1:5-6; 3:7-8; 4:10-19 and by II Cor. 8:2-3 where Paul mentions the Macedonian church’s (which is commonly thought to be the Philippian church according to geographical standards and Phil. 4:15) giving even “in a severe test of affliction… and their extreme poverty”.

[2] This idea of living “in Christ” occurs often throughout Pauline thought. It carries with it the idea of being crucified, dying, and rising with Christ, essentially conveying the idea that our Christian experience should reflect the experience of Christ himself. Further, as we live “in Christ” we will be able to experience His blessings and riches. See Rom. 6:3-6; 8:1; I Cor. 4:17; II Cor. 1:5; Eph. 1:3; 2:7; Phil. 1:26.