The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 43

excite o.nd employ certo.in powers of the mind, leavin" all the others in a state of decay 11nd torpor I Millions feel that the work in which they are engaged is so unworthy of their no.tures that they lack both self-satisfaction and freedom. The services make nn derno.ncl upon their powers of investigatioD, speculaLion, invention, creation, and their contro.l morn.I sensibilities; all is machinery. But in the service of Christ there is both an urgent demand o.nd an immeasurable scope for the wonderful powers and possibili- ties of the human soul. In this service men advance with every effort, not as the mere creatures of time, but as the offspring of God and the citizens of the universe. By this service we grow up into him. 3. lt is a service that ccmtr{butes to the well-being of all and the ill-being of none. In all the selfish services of time, whilst there may be o. contributing to the temporal interests of some, there is an injury inflicted on others; what one gains the other loses. What man has ever made a fortune or risen to power that has not invaded the rights and damaged the interests of others? But in this service good is rendered to all and evil to none. It is a. service of universal benevolence, a service for the common weal, a. service that goes against all the ills that afflict the race, and for all the blessings that can enrich and ennoble. 4. It is a service that ensurllS the approbation of God and of all conscience, in the universe. Does the service of the politician or the ecclesiastic or the warrior secure the approval of Almighty God? Not as such; nor do they secure the approbation of universal conscience. But the service of Christ does. He says, " Well done, thou good and faithful servant ! " and all consciences with every effort echo the approval. Policy, passion, and prejudice often conclemll the genuine servants of Christ, but their consciences never. The law of their moral constitution coDJpels them to say, "\Yell done! " to the right. 5. It is a service whQse worth is determined, not by result, but by motive. The service of a man in the employ of human masjers is estimated, not by motive, but by results. If the motive be corrupt, utterly selfish, so long as the results contribute to the interests of the master, the servant is pronounced a good one, Not so with the service of Christ. Motive is everything; though a man may effect in Christianity what may be considered wonderful suocess, prophesy in abundance, and cast out devils by hosts, he is deemed utterly worthless, only as stubble and fit for the fire. "Though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity," etc. What service, then, approaches this, ay, is comparable to this, in its sublime dignity? 'fo be a servant of Christ is to be the sublimest of prophets, the most Divine of priests, the most glorious of kings. II. THE MOST EXALTED OF ALL STATES. "To all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the oishops and deacons." "Bishop" and" presbyter" are equivalents in the apostolic Epistles, though the two terms have different origins-the one, pres- byter, or elder, a Jewish title; the other, bishop, or overseer, of heathen origin, used in classic Greek for commissioner. Deacons we find the origin of in Acts i. 6, 7. Now, while it is noteworthy that the Philippian Church had its two officers-the bishop and the deacon-these officers were spiritually in the same state as the private members. What was that state? "In Christ Jesus." The distinction between them and the others was not a distinction of state but simply of service or of office, and unless their state had been identical their office would have been invalid. A true Church and all its members must be in Christ Jesus. What does this mean? It is an expression of very frequent occurrence in the writings of the apostle. In Christo. What meaneth it? We can attach three intelligible ideas to the expression. 1. In his a_jections as his friends. When we say that a child is in the heart of its parent, or such a sister is in the heart of her brother, or such a wife in the heart of her husband, we know what it means. In fact, all that we really love live iu our hearts; they ol"ten prompt us to thought and inspire us to act. Now, Christ loves all men, and all men are in bis heart; but his love for his friends is special, deep, and tender. "Ye a.re my friend,." Every genuine disciple is in the heart of Christ. 2. In his school as his pupils. Christ is a Teacher of absolute truth, a Teacher of humanity. He has establi,d1eJ. a schoul, and to all he gives the invitation "Come unto me, all ye that labour and iue heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and le,uu of me; for I am meek and lowly in;,heart : and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and ruy burden is light." Now all who enter this school nre his disciples. What a 'l'eacher is Christ I "Never ma~ spake like this Man." \Vhat an inexpressible privilege to be in this school! S. In liis character as their Example. Without l1gure lll3.U every•  38 THE EPISTLE TO THE PHlLIPPIANS. tcu. 1. 1-30,