Finding Joy in Philippians
Background: For the next three weeks, we will be studying the Book of Philippians, another of Paul's letters from his Roman prison. In Philippi, men were using Paul's imprisonment as proof he was not genuine and seeking to undermine his authority. Many in the church were shaken at the fact that the Apostle was imprisoned. He wrote the letter to explain his imprisonment and to encourage his readers to walk in joy despite all the evil in the world.
Philippians is not nearly as easily outlined at Ephesians was - it is much more personal and exhortational compared to the theological intent of Ephesians. Philippians was the church that was founded when Paul received the vision of the Macedonian man saying, "Come and help us."
As often as time allows, the reader is encouraged to read the entire book - it will not take more than a few minutes. Each day we will work our way through the book passage by passage.
Today's Reading: Philippians 1-4 Focus Passage - Philippians 4:2-3
I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life.
Through the Bible Readings: Jeremiah 37-38, Philippians 4:2–23, Psalm118:18–24, Proverbs 25:12–14
If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.
Devotional: Winning by Unity
Two women were fighting in Philippi. There's nothing strange about that, is there? Women fight. Men fight. I've pastored churches for nearly 40 years and there has seldom been a time when someone was fighting against someone else. This one must have been a doozy because Paul addressed the situation and he named names.
It is those names that may be the key to understanding this conflict. Of course, it is possible that I am reading more into these names than I should. There are two ladies, one named Euodia and the other named Syntyche. Each name is a compound word in Greek. "Eu" is the Greek word for good and "odia" means way, road, or path. Euodia means the good road or perhaps, "the right way." Syntyche is a bit tougher. "Syn" means with and "tyche" means fortune or perhaps fate. The name seems to imply that someone who lives by good fortune.
Again, I may be overinterpreting these names, but I"ve seen this kind of conflict many times during my ministry. One person thinks things have to be done "the right way." It could be a certain set of doctrines or church traditions, or programs - the specifics change but the attitude doesn't. "This is the right way to do things and we have to do things the right way. Other people just let things happen as they happen. They are more concerned, perhaps, with people's feelings, or they are willing to roll with the punches. Both think their way is better. The Euodias think the Syntyches lack standards and propriety and the Syntyches think the Euodias are rigid and sometimes uncaring.
Paul did not choose sides. He didn't say one person was right and the other was wrong. He just begged them to "agree with one another." That means they should put first things first - agree that getting along is more important than getting your way, that unity is a higher priority than we usually give it.
He asked an unnamed man, perhaps Epaphroditus, to help them come to an understanding. Sometimes it takes another party to help. The key here is that we need to see unity in Christ as a priority, high enough that we would be willing not to get our way, not to win the argument. We must prefer one another to prevailing in conflicts.
Father, help me to be a man of peace.
Think and Pray:
Which of the two lady's personalities describes you better? Are you more of a Euodia or a Syntyche?
Do you put a higher priority on unity or on winning?
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