Skip to main content

Philippians 4:14: It Was Kind Of You To Share My Trouble


Philippians 4:14
[14] Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. (ESV)

Christianity is a team sport. There are many who think that they do not need the church to be a Christian. There are those who think that all they need is a Bible and they can learn all that they need to know without being around those other "hypocrites" that the church is full of. But, if that same person would truly read the Bible he would find that it is filled with commands to live out this Christian life with "one another."

The Apostle Paul was a man who God had used in powerful ways to spread the Gospel all over the Roman Empire. He had endured incredible amounts of suffering. Yet, he was not a lone ranger. He had been blessed by the Philippian believers whom he loved. They had sent money, food, and encouragement in the form of Epaphroditus.

Paul could have said that he appreciated the gifts and sent Epaphroditus quickly home. Paul did no such thing. Epaphroditus was there with Paul for some time to share in his suffering and to be an encouragement. Paul was grateful. He says to the Philippian believers, "It was kind of you to share my trouble."

One of the greatest demonstrations of kindness that we can offer is to share another's trouble. You cannot be a lone ranger and demonstrate this kind of kindness. It requires you to be physically with someone who is hurting. I can think of many times I visited someone in the hospital. I did not have all the right words to say, but the person in the hospital room was so grateful that I simply spent the time with them in their time of need.

We all need each other. There is no lone ranger Christianity. Do you know someone in need? Find a way to share their trouble. God's kindness shines in those moments.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co