| Some thoughts about Paul |
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After studying Philippians and really trying to get to know Paul, I am amazed at how selfless/unselfish Paul was.
One Bible Study question was to consider what I learned about Paul this week and what trait I would like to have mirrored in my own life.
I wish I could be as unselfish as Paul was. He is the perfect example of someone who "died to self". One (of many) examples of his selflessness is found here:
1:15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 1:16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel; 1:17 the former proclaim Christ out of partisanship, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 1:18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice.
O.K. Here is where I am NOTHING like Paul, but wish I was. Here Paul is in prison simply for preaching the gospel - which is not fair -, and these people are out there trying to make matters even worse for him -- and instead of sitting in prison stewing or thinking how he could get revenge -- or even thinking how God may punish them -- he's rejoicing because even though their motives are wrong, the gospel is still being preached. Wow - talk about selflessness!
Now, for something else I found kind of funny. See, sometimes when we read the Bible, we don't take the time to realize that the people mentioned in the Bible were really people - just like us - with real feelings and emotions.
4:2 I entreat Eu-o'dia and I entreat Syn'tyche to agree in the Lord. 4:3 And I ask you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Now, as a woman, I have to wonder what these two women were fighting about. It sounds like a cat fight to me. It had to be something pretty big for Paul to mention them specifically. My imagination can really go with this one as to what they were fighting over. On top of that, imagine their embarrassment when this letter comes to the church and is read to everyone -- and these two women hear their names mentioned specifically. I imagine they were quite embarrassed and even ashamed of themselves. I know I would hate to have Paul mention my name specifically in a rebuke. But, you know, if you think about it, there are hundreds of places were it could very easily be our names written in there. Just because our names are not written like Euodia and Syntyche it doesn't make the rebukes any less personal. |
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