THANK YOU for being a FRIEND

 

January 22, 2025

Philippians 1:3-5;7; 9-11

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ....

7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me....

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

If you are an avid reader of the Apostle Paul’s letters in our New Testament you have no doubt observed that these letters often address controversies and disputes within the church. These letters aim to correct in adequate theologies or practices.


But Paul’s letter to the Philippians is different. Instead of addressing faulty teachings or practices, Paul writes to express his affection for the congregation in Philippi. Paul begins the letter by thanking the Philippians for the gift of their friendship, noting his prayers of joy, fond memories of their company, and their continued partnership in the work of the Gospel. Paul gives thanks for this congregation because it reminds him that he is not alone.


We should remember that Paul writes this letter to the Philippians while in prison in Rome. He is comforted by his friends in Philippi knowing they are with him in spirit, holding him in their hearts. Their friendship sustains him in his isolation.


Paul then turns his thoughts to love, hoping that the Philippians’ love might overflow in knowledge and insight; that their friendship might blossom in fullness, deepen understanding, and strengthen faith. What we see here is that Paul desires what is best for his friends. This is one of the true marks of friendship: to seek a friend’s well-being and to rejoice in their flourishing.


This passage of scripture prompted a few questions as I pondered it.

Have you given thanks for your friends?
Have you told them how much they mean to you?
Have you seen in their faces the face of Christ, who desires our flourishing?

The friendship, that the sisters and brothers of the Philippian congregation gave to Paul was a great gift indeed. The comfort he received from them kept him grounded in his calling and encouraged him to keep planting the seeds of the gospel. That the Apostle did not feeling alone in the work of Christ, but experienced from the Philippian believers, that they were in the work together. The love of Christian community does that.