Joy in Labor: Philippians 2:14-18

We have discussed, the past few Sundays, how we should conduct ourselves in order to live a life that reflects the gospel of Jesus Christ. This discussion has spanned several weeks, and will continue to grow as we flesh out Paul’s command found in 1:27, where he wrote “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

We have observed that this life of worthiness is demonstrated through humble unity. That is, unity that is based on our positions in Christ (2:1). I offered a helpful definition from Pastor Tony Evans last week that I want to mention again,

“Unity is not uniformity, nor is it sameness. Unity can be defined in its simplest of terms as oneness of purpose. It is working together in harmony toward a shared vision and goal.”—Tony Evans

This is the unity of which Paul is writing. Now, we have considered how to have joy from this union. We have also observed how we are to grow, not only in this unity as presented in 2:12-13, but in the greater framework of God’s redemptive purposes for our lives (“for his good pleasure”).

We come now to another dimension of this joy from unity. This dimension is placed within the framework of our lives’ work, or to put it in the word that Paul uses, our labor.

Have you ever considered how the whole of your life will be described? We have all been to funerals where the life of the individual is summed up. Typically, glowing remarks are offered. “He was a good man who loved his family.” “She was a remarkable member of the community.” “She was selfless.” “He was a giver.” The list goes on and on.

However, while we certainly desire to have good things spoken about us (origin of the phrase eulogy), this should be a goal under a greater goal: a life of labor for Jesus Christ. That is, our lives should be lived under the rule and reign of King Jesus.

As we see this morning, one of the ways that we can experience joy is through laboring (i.e., working, ministering) for Jesus (16-18). How, then, do we get this Joy in Labor? Paul tells us, and if we are to have joy in our labor in this life, we must labor as children of God.

I. Children of God Live a Specific Life- Phil. 2:14-15

Philippians 2:14–15 ESV

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

A. Children of God are commanded not to grumble or argue

We start with a prohibition this morning. As children of God, we are commanded not to grumble and argue. Now, the word choice Paul uses here harkens us back to the wilderness journeys of Israel. If you are familiar with that account, you know that at almost every turn, Israel complained.

They needed water, so they complained. They needed food, so they complained. Moses married an Ethiopian woman, and Miriam and Aaron complained. They grumbled. It is like a child who, after being told to perform a task, begins to mumble under their breath.

Or, it is like a fellow worker who, upon receiving instructions from the boss, grumble and complain behind the boss’s back. Paul commands us not to do this. Now, in our context we are dealing with humble unity. Though a specific instance is not mentioned (with the exception of Euodia and Syntyche, 4:1). Apparently, though, the Philippians were, not unlike the culture around them, fighting for prestige and honor.

The other word Paul uses is “disputing.” We could easily render this word debate. It it a form of thinking out loud, and this word is used in a variety of ways in the New Testament. With that said, it is frequently found in a negative sense. For example, as Paul is describing the depraved individual he mentions their thinking in Romans 1:21, “they became futile in their thinking.”

If you are on Facebook or Twitter, or if you have a television or listen to the radio, there is absolutely no shortage of disputing. If you have kids you know that there is no end of disputing. If you have relationships with people you know this! It is axiomatic.

What Paul tells the Philippians is that these two things (grumbling/complaining and disputing/arguing/negative thinking) have no place in the child of God’s conduct. We are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, while simultaneously doing all things without grumbling and disputing.

Can this be said of our lives? As we labor, can we honestly say we do so without grumbling and arguing? I confess to you this morning that this is an area in which the Holy Spirit needs to work in my own heart.

B. Children of God will be blameless and innocent

The result of not grumbling and disputing, Paul tells us, is that we will be blameless and innocent. Paul often uses a variety of words to communicate his message, and this is one of those examples in which he uses multiple words to describe the same thing.

When a child of God does not grumble or argue, he or she sets his or her self apart from the unbelieving world. The child of God demonstrates, by a vastly different lifestyle, who’s child he or she is. It is like my son Soren. One does not have to guess whether or not he is my son. He looks like me and acts like me. That is the result of Soren being my son.

Likewise, when Christians refuse to grumble and argue, they demonstrate who their Father is. They are blameless and innocent. While not implying all of life will be happy and pain-free, Paul reminds us that our quality of life, when lived in a manner worthy of the gospel, will reflect a state of innocence and holiness. As a result...

C. Children of God will always stand out

Paul describes these children of God, living in the midst of a pagan culture, as “shining as lights in the world.” Imagine, brothers and sisters, if the way we talked to one another in the church, and the way we engage people outside the faith, reflected this heart attitude.

Our engagements with other churches and one another would reflect that we are children of God. Our engagements with the world would reflect that we are children of God.

Let me offer one brief example before moving on. Consider the cultural shift our country has experienced. It is astounding. We are shocked, and in unbelief we ask, “How in the world did this happen?” Then our next response is to seek to have everyone in the country live like a Christian. We push for moral laws to be in place (a point that I do not necessarily disagree with). But I want you to think about the absurdity of this.

We are expecting people who are dead in their trespasses and sins, who are walking and following the mold of this world, who are under the prince of the power of the air, to behave like the children of God. It would be the same as going to a Prisoner of War camp and expecting the prisoners to act like they were free. It is humanly and spiritually impossible.

Yet is this not what we do? Do Christians not become angry over gay rights, gender issues, and other “hot topics” in our culture today? Brothers and sisters, let us throw off grumblings and disputes, and let us walk in innocence as we behave like children of God and shine as lights in this dark and depressing world. Perhaps, as Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy, “God may perhaps grant them repentance, leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”

Children of God live a different life, they live a specific life that sets them apart from the world and reflects their Father who is in heaven. But if we are to have joy in labor, we must also note that Children of God Love the Word of Life.

II. Children of God Love the Word of Life- Phil. 2:16

Philippians 2:16 ESV

holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Paul tells us how to live in this world: hold on to the Word of Life. What does this look like? How do we hold on the Word of Life? Do we simply walk around and hold our Bibles?

Obviously this is not what Paul is telling us. What Paul is saying is hold on to God’s Word. Grip it, consume it, meditate on it, immerse yourself in it, become so enraptured with the Word of God that your speech and thoughts and actions reflect an intense love for, deep appreciation of, and life demonstrating the dearness with which you hold God’s Word.

Paul is referring to God’s Word as whole. That is, he is telling us to hold on to the Word of God. Now, I want to remind you that Paul and these Philippians were living in a world no dissimilar to ours. At times we can forget how wicked all generations are. 1st Century Rome was a terribly wicked place. To offer you one example, one form of worship was to go into a pagan temple and engage in intercourse with a temple prostitute. That was how some of the people “worshiped.”

Paul calls this a “crooked and twisted generation.” These are people who not only do wickedness, they seek to spread it to every facet of creation. These are the people of whom Paul wrote in Romans 1:32,

Romans 1:32 ESV

Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Do you think we live in a different world? No, all generations are comprised of wicked and depraved humans. What should be our response? How do we live as lights in this darkness?

By holding to the Word of God.

A. Holding fast implies reading

Psalm 1:1-3 we read this,

Psalm 1:1–3 ESV

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

It is implied in this idea. We regularly read the Word of God. We have all experienced watching shows or listening to music and how it changes us. We may act like a character or hum a song, but that is because we have listened or watched it repeatedly. That is the thought here.

B. Holding fast implies studying

It is not simply by reading the Word of Life that we display blameless and innocence, it also involves studying. Ezra serves as a personal challenge to me and a testimony to us all in Ezra 7:10,

Ezra 7:10 ESV

For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

In other words, Ezra held fast to the Word of Life.

C. Holding fast implies memorization

That is the thought of David in Psalm 119:11,

Psalm 119:11 ESV

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Jesus, when tempted by the devil, quoted Scripture (see Matt. 4:1-11). If the perfect Son of God memorized Scripture, how much more do we need to! You fight sinful temptations and anxious thoughts, you wage war against prideful imaginations and deplorable discouragements, through the powerful Word of Life. Memorize it!

D. Holding fast implies meditation

We have already ready Psalm 1, but let me remind you that the blessed man is the man who meditates on the Word of Life. It consumes his thoughts.

E. Holding fast implies action

James teach us this truth. He writes in James 1:22,

James 1:22 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Jesus tells us that if we love Him we will keep His commandments (John 14:15). We must hold fast the Word of Life, our lives and our souls depend upon it! If we are to have joy in our labor we must hold fast to the Word of Life.

Do these characterize our lives? Can people look at us and say we hold fast to the Word of Life? Do others identify us as children of God because we are so immersed in the Word of God? Brothers and sisters, let this be said of each and everyone of us!

These two points are the foundation for our last point.

III. Children of God Experience Joy in God-focused Labor- Phil. 2:16-18

Philippians 2:16–18 ESV

holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Now, we come to the last portion of our section of Scripture this morning. Beginning in the last half of verse 16 onto verse 18, Paul describes the focus of his life and the resulting joy. All of this, of course, comes from a life that lives in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (1:27) as Paul worked out his own salvation with fear and trembling. The result is that Paul experienced joy, and hoped that the Philippians would rejoice as well.

A. They experience joy because their life served the greatest purpose

Paul anticipated the Day of Christ, this day of judgment upon which he wrote in 2 Cor. 5:10 and 1 Cor. 4:1-5. In the first epistle Paul describes his work as a steward. While we could look at this in more detail, let us simply summarize our lives are something over which we have stewardship. We do not own our lives, they are God’s, and as such we should live for God.

In the that second epistle, Paul describes the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10). This is a judgment of works, not of salvation. It is a judgment for reward (or no reward, as may be the case).

How does this tie into our passage in Philippians 2? Paul is referring to his labor of ministry in the Philippian church. He planted and pastored this church, and he wanted to ensure that his labor produced eternal fruit.

He wanted to look at the fruits of his life with a sense of pride (not a sinful pride, a satisfaction that comes from a job well done).

B. They experience joy regardless of what happens

Paul says, “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith.” In other words, even if I am martyred, or killed for the faith, I want my life to count.

Now, this in no way implies that pain is nothing for the Christian. We go through incredibly difficulty and deeply pain situations. We feel pain because we were created to experience emotions. It is not that we go through life as stoics. No, we serve a higher purpose, and thus even pain is seen within the gracious workings of God (see Rom. 8:28, for example).

His response to the possibility of martyrdom: “I am glad and rejoice with you all.”

When our lives, our labor, is aims at God’s purposes for our lives, we experience joy regardless of what happens.

C. They experience joy with others experiencing joy

He ends this section with the wonderful truth that we receive joy, or our joy is increased, when others experience joy!

Think about a child laughing. At times our kids crack themselves up and begin that laughing fit. It is infectious. Within a few minutes, we are all laughing. Why? Joy is contagious!

Now this joy is fleeting and based on odd things (think like a child). The joy we receive and have with others comes from the eternal purpose of serving God.

Conclusion

Do you have this joy? Why or why not? What needs to change? What needs to stop?

We have discussed several aspects of how we receive joy in labor. The Lord will point what needs to be changed or intensified.

Perhaps you are not a Christian, and you desire joy in life. You need the Gospel of Jesus Christ.