Gleanings From Philippians 4

by J. Drain | Category: Gleanings From Philippians 4 | Aug 1958

PEACE OF MIND

Job said, "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble" (Job 14.1). For most people life holds experiences of perplexing sorrow, of frustrating trouble, of discouraging disappointment. The mind is attacked by disturbing and distressing influences which exploit these very experiences. A troubled mind does not help us to stand fast in the Lord. What is the answer to the troubled mind? Some would say that man possesses tremendous powers which need only to be recognized, set free and developed, and then man becomes master of himself and of his circumstances. By this theory man himself is the answer to the troubled mind. This is not the teaching of the Scriptures. We ask again, what is the answer to the troubled mind? God Himself is the answer.

Paul said, "In nothing be anxious." The Authorised Version renders, "Be careful for nothing." The word refers to distracting, harassing, anxious care. This is indeed a pernicious thing. What is the remedy? "In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Philippians 4.6). God is the answer. Access to Him is guaranteed to His children. We can speak to Him with reverent boldness. What are the things which are causing the state of anxiety? "Take them to the Lord in prayer." We can talk to Him. We can pour out our hearts to Him. We can ask Him specifically about things. Is something tending to make us fret and worry? Are we anxious about some course in life, about a career, about a companion, about our children? God's infinite knowledge takes in all; and yet He encourages us with trustful hearts to inform Him. May we thank Him for the privilege.

It is perhaps easy to exhort others and say, "In nothing be anxious. Paul practised what he preached. Who had more cause for anxiety than he? Yet he must have known the remarkable and desirable result of leaving his life with all its problems in the hands of God. Then follows, "And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus." One has said, "Mere reason cannot find a way out of perplexity." For the trusting child of God there is the peace which passeth all understanding. "Where reason fails with all her powers, there faith prevails and love adores."

The peace of God is powerful for protection. Like a reliable garrison it encircles the heart and the thoughts, and shields from the intrusion of hostile and disturbing forces. Faith reposes in God and finds refuge. " Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee" (Isaiah 26.3).

DEVELOPMENT OF MIND

The mind is a functioning organ and its functioning will be determined largely by the nature and extent of its development. The child of God needs to be very careful as to what enters into and engages his mind. In him there is the flesh as well as the divine Spirit. Paul wrote,

"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8.5, 6).

It is very clear that our minds may develop along lines which show the working of the Holy Spirit or along lines which manifest the activity of the flesh. What we hear, what we read, what we see will all have an influence upon our minds and will affect their development. Wisdom will instruct us therefore to be cautious about what may have contact with our minds.

In this connexion we think particularly of television. Here is something which is a remarkable example of human achievement. That such an invention could be used for perfectly legitimate and innocent purposes is unquestioned, but the fact is that it is being used for purposes which constitute a most serious menace to the mind of the child of God. It is very dangerous in its corrupting influence. The published reports of widespread investigations prove that in a general way television is having a detrimental effect upon the minds of old and young. It has even been observed that an increase in particular types of crime has followed the showing of certain programmes on television. Solomon said, "A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil" (Proverbs 14.16). The disciple of the Lord Jesus will do well to listen to these words.

What kind of things should engage our minds? What will furnish and develop them with desirable thoughts and purposes? In Philippians 4.8 Paul enumerates certain things and he says concerning them, " Think on these things." These are things for serious meditation, things to be taken into account in reckoning true values, things which will determine the lines of godly reasoning and conduct. Let us examine the kind of things which Paul recommends.

Whatsoever things are true. This does not refer merely to things that are true as opposed to false. Certainly we should keep falsehood far from our minds, but some things may be true and yet most undesirable. Things that are in agreement with the revealed will of God are true and such things should fill our minds.

Whatsoever things are honourable. It is desirable that the mind should be exercised by serious and dignified thoughts. Things which are entitled to veneration should occupy our minds.

Whatsoever things are just. It is important to have before us the standard of things which are right in the sight of God. There are things which are right and there are things which are wrong. The mind of the child of God should seek what is right in relation to God and man.

Whatsoever things are pure. Sin is a defiling power and it has fouled the whole stream of human thought and the course of human action. In the experience of regeneration we have known a complete cleansing, but with the flesh still resident in the body the child of God can suffer the effects of impure thought. Impure thought can lead to impure activity. Apart from what the flesh within us will produce there is available to our adversary Satan a vast store of defiling stimuli. Paul wrote to the church of God in Corinth,

"I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ" (2 Corinthians 11.2, 8).

How very careful we need to be that the test of purity is applied to what feeds our minds, whether moral or doctrinal.

Whatsoever things are lovely. There are things which have the evidence of divine loveliness, things which are amiable and which provoke unto love and good works. Pleasant and friendly and grateful is the mind wherein are things which are Christian and consequently lovely.

Whatsoever things are of good report. " Of good report" has been defined as "commendable, laudable, reputable," "fair-sounding as implying essential worthiness."

We might enquire where such things as Paul speaks of can be found. In Proverbs 8 Wisdom says,

"Hear, for I will speak excellent things

And the opening of My lips shall be right things,

For My mouth shall utter truth;

And wickedness is an abomination to My lips.

All the words of My mouth are in righteousness;

There is nothing crooked or perverse in them." May we receive such instruction and knowledge!

If we are thinking on things which are true, honourable, just, pure, lovely, of good report, we shall be found doing things which have these same characteristics.

SYMPATHY OF MIND

It was a cause of deep joy to Paul that thought for him had revived, or bloomed afresh, in the minds of the Philippians. Paul suffered much in his faithful service for the Lord and often his experiences must have been very trying and perplexing. It was a source of strength to him to realize that there were those who had thought for him in his trials. They had fellowship with him in his affliction.

As we pass through life it is good that we should feel for others and have thought for others. How easy it is to become self-centred! Paul wrote, "Not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others." There are lonely hearts to cherish there are burdened minds to ease ; there are drooping spirits to raise. What a large and important sphere of service lies open to us ! May God grant to us sympathy of mind so that we shall think about others and feel for them! Paul wrote, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." Many a burdened heart has been relieved by the evidence of the sympathetic thought of others. Perhaps many a heart has been grieved by the thought that nobody cares.

CONTENTMENT OF MIND

Paul was a man whose life held a remarkable variety of experiences. At times he was abundantly furnished with the things of this life. At other times he was in want. There were times when he was filled. There were occasions when he knew the pangs of hunger. Describing some of his conditions he wrote, "In labour and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness" (2 Corinthians 11.27). Whatever his circumstances were, favourable or unfavourable, there was one constant feature of Paul's condition he was content. He had learned a great and important secret, the secret of abiding contentment of mind. In all his experiences he regarded his circumstances as being in the will of God for him and his circumstances satisfied him. Doubtless he makes known the secret when he says, "I can do all things in Him that strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4.18).

There was never a time when men generally had so much of the material things of this life and so much leisure as at the present time. It is also true that there never was a time when there was so much general discontent. Contentment of mind is rare. There is disclosed in human nature the weakness that the more men receive the more they want. The more benefits are extended the more favours are claimed. And thus the terrible disease of discontent works its way.

It is a matter of urgency for disciples of the Lord Jesus that in the circumstances of present day discontent they should be exercised to learn the secret of contentment. Are our minds disturbed by an agitated striving after more than we have? Do we fret for circumstances of life different from those which have been our lot? The secret which Paul learned enabled him to write,

"Godliness with contentment is great gain: for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out; but having food and covering we shall therewith be content (or satisfied) " (1 Timothy 6.6-8).

A godly man is a contented man. This does not mean that he is not diligent and spiritually ambitious. It does not mean that he will not be prosperous. It does mean that whatever be his circumstances in the will of God he will be content with his lot.

As we reflect upon the foregoing matters in relation to standing fast in the Lord we can perhaps hear the injunction, "Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2.5). If this is fulfilled then it will be true that in thought and motive, in disposition and action, we shall be in the will of God.

J. Drain | Aug 1958
Gleanings From Philippians 4