The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 164

instruct<.'d;" "I have learned the secret." This Christie.n eelf-sufficiency comes from the teeching of God the Holy Ghost; it is a secret which he alone can tee.eh. "'l'he secret of the Lord is with th~m that fear him." The soul in its converse with God learns many myi;te:ies of spiritual experience, myste,;es of grace, mysteries of eelf-renuncia- ti0n. myster,e8 of i:elf-consecratton. St. Paul had been initiated into all. Lona training under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, bad led him through all the deep"and holy m~s~ries of. the Ii f~ that is hid with Christ in God. We must 11.Sk the same Holy Spmt to guide us into all truth. 4. He was strength~ned in Ghrist. Here is tho ~ource of Christian self-sufficiency. It is only in Christ, in spiritual union ,vith Christ that the Christian possesses strength. Without him we can do nothina: in him w~ can do ali things. His strength is me.de perfect in our wee.kness. Therefore the Christian must not be discouraged; he must not shrink from the battle against evil in himself and in the world. He is indeed weak and helpless, but he has the presence of Christ, and in the strength of that presence he can do all thinJ!;s. "We are able," said the sons of Zebedee. We may in all humility say the se.me if we do verily believe in Christ. All things are possible to him that belicveth. God giveth us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. LESSONS. 1. It is easy to say, "Thy will be done; " it is very bard to work that prayer into our lives. St. Pan\ did so; so may we by the grace of God. 2. It is a. secret to be learned only of God the Holy Ghost. 3. ']'bat teaching can make us con- tented always, self-sufficient through the strength of Christ. Vers. 14-20.-The sympathy of the Phi1ippians with St. Paul. I. THEIR GIFTS. 1. They had fellowship with him in his ajfiiction. They made it their own; ibey sho\\"ed the reality of their sympathy by their gifts. They were themselves in a great trial of afflictions, in deep poverty. They did not make their afflictions or their poverty an excuse for not aiding the apostle; they assisted him again and again. They did well, he says. Christian sympathy is a beautiful thing; it sweetens the cup of sorrow; it is one of God's most precious gifts. St. Paul felt it deeply. He did not seek their alms; that, indeed, helped him in his trouble. Bat he could have done without it, be hacl learned the great lesson of cont.entment. But the sympathy of Christian love was very precious to him; he yearned for it; it was bis cbiefest comfort next after the presence of Christ. He prized it for their sake as well as for bis own; it proved that bis labours had not been in vain. It was good for them too; it we.s good for them to show sympathy, as it was for the apostle to receive it. Christian sympathy, like mercy, is twice blest-" it blesseth him the.t gives and him that takes." 2. They gave readi1y, spo'flianeously. It was "in the beginning of the gospel ; " they bad but just become Christianli; St. Pe.ul had but just left them. He was at Thessalonica, the chief city of Me.cedoniJL The Pbilippie.ns did not leave the duty of ministering to the apostle's wants to the Thessalonians; they sent once and again, the little town to the great city, unto his necessities. They were the first, it seems, to have the great privilege of supporting St. Paul in his apostolic labours. They did not wait to see what others would give; they set the example; they gave what they could, and that at once. 3. They were ,,-,ot weary in well-doing. They sent again and again, twice at least, to Thessalonica; a third time, when St. l'aul departed from Macedonia. "Brethren from Macedonia" supplied bis wants at Corinth (2 Cor. :xi. 9). "The Churches of Mace- donia" abounded in their liberality towards the poor brethren at Jerusalem (2 Cor. viii, 1, 2) ; and now they sent EpaphrodituB to relieve t~e apostle'~ wa~ts in bis Roman imprisonment. 4. They gar,e tMUUked. St. Paul did not desire gifts; he was even unwilling to receive assistance from other Churches. "I seek not yours, but you,'' be said to the Corinthians. But the Philippians loved him for bis work's sake and for bis own sake. They gave freely out of love; they gave gladly, for they had learned of the Lord Jesus Christ, the great Teacher, that "it is more blessed to give than to receive." Ii. DT. PAUL'S FEELINGS ON RECEIVING THEm CONTRIBUTION, 1. Hi, sensitiv6 '11,(1,ture is deefJly touched with the evidence of their love; but he shrinks from appearing to inviu, furtLer liberality. It is not the gift, he sayH, that he seeks. He is pleased, be rtjuices, but not for his own i;ake; it is for the givers, for the sake of the Philippie.ne, that bt. Paul's htart is touched with holy joy. It is good for them to give; be knows OB, IV, 1-28,] THE EPISTLE TO THE PIIILIPPIANS. lll5