Philippians 4:4-13
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; (Don’t worry about anything.) but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.
King James Version
The apostle Paul wrote these touching words to the church at Philippi. We know a number of things about this church which might not even have come to be had God not sent new instructions to him in a dream. Paul had been planning an evangelization trip to northern Galatia, but it seemed that nothing was working out and he had a vivid dream while he was still at Troas. In this dream, he saw a man from Philippi who beconed to him to come there. He wasted no time in making preparations and boarding a ship sailing there.
All who trace their origins to Europe should be thankful that he did, for this was the very first church to be planted in Europe. The first converts were Lydia and her staff followed a few days later by the Jailer and his household. From this small beginning grew a church which flourished; a church which apparently remembered Paul for the rest of his life, sending time and again to his aid when they had the opportunity. Note his words, “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.” In another Place Paul speaks of sending greetings to the church which met in Lydia’s home. These people cared, and shared that others also might be blessed.
Paul blesses them for their “moderation.” They were not carried away to extremes; not fanatical at one moment, and neglectful at others. In other words, they were not led by their emotions, but by the Spirit of God, who works from the heart to change the whole being. This whole portion of his letter is a praise and thanks giving for the genuine way in which they are showing the faith that dwells within them. This is what the Lord wants us all to be like.
These were not like the Corinthians who battled with many problems, and this letter is not at all like the letters that Paul wrote to them. We need both letters, one to encourage us in how we should live, and the other how not to live.
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