Love: A New Commandment - a Journey in PhilippiansSample

The secret is out

“The secret”, or something similar, has been the title of millions of bestselling books in our day. It was also the topic of the presentations of many travelling philosophers in Paul's world. Paul grew up in Tarsus where philosophy was a big thing. Throughout the Roman Empire, there were travelling philosophers that told people about some or other secret they could know so that they could find contentment in life. Usually, after a talk, the “hat was sent around”. People paid for this secret they now had the privilege of knowing.

In today’s reading, Paul rejoices about the gift people gave to support him, but he doesn’t just come out and say thank you, as we would expect. It may seem strange, but money and church have always been complicated. He also didn’t want to be in the same category as those travelling philosophers. Paul had a different category in mind for what their support meant to him. More about that in the next section.

Paul believed there was a secret to life, but that the secret is out. And anybody can share in it. He should know because he was trained in this secret. Some of the translations don't really catch on to what Paul said. He has been trained through different circumstances in this secret to life. In life he’s had more than enough, and, at other times, barely enough to eat. He had found contentment, not in what he had, or didn’t have. The secret to life is Jesus. “I can do all things through the King who strengthens me,” he wrote.

That’s why he didn’t just say, “Thank you for the gift”. There’s more to this life. While he rejoiced because of the gift they gave, he reminded them of the gift from God he shared with them. The life in Christ. Everybody and anybody can know this secret because it’s out. Remember, you are in Christ and the King will sustain you, certainly also to keep growing, loving and giving.

Reflection Question:

How content am I in life?

Prayer:

Thank you, God, for the gift of life in Christ. Thank you, King Jesus, that you will sustain and strengthen me. Guard my heart and mind not to seek life and sustaining power in what I own. Amen.