Daily Thoughts from Philippians (4): Ora et Labora – Philippians 1:9-11

A fascinating book has been published called When Helping Hurts.  The sub-title is “How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor…and Yourself.”  The authors’ blurb about this book is, “Poverty is much more than simply a lack of material resources, and it takes much more than donations and handouts to solve it. When Helping Hurts shows how some alleviation efforts, failing to consider the complexities of poverty, have actually (and unintentionally) done more harm than good.”  They know God’s love in us reaches out to the poor but they challenge our less than wise way of helping the poor.

Paul is facing somewhat the same situation at Philippi and giving the same answer.  Their love for him has needed more wisdom.

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9–11, ESV)

Paul has reported how he prays for the Philippians with joy and in confidence of their genuine faith, expressing how much he loves them.  Now he expresses what his actual prayer request for them is.  This request reflects how Paul sees the problem at Philippi and what he sees as the solution.

We have jumped ahead some and defined the problem at Philippi as conflict over whether to send Paul financial support.  It might seem like a no-brainer to send Paul money but Paul lets us know in 2 Corinthians 8 that there was a financial crisis of some sort in Macedonia, Philippi’s province, that caused extreme poverty in their area (2 Corinthians 8:1,2).  The churches of Macedonia (Philippi, Berea, Thessalonica) had contributed to the offering for the Jerusalem saints that Paul took to Jerusalem.  There he was arrested and was transported to Rome where he is now and writing to Philippi.

We can imagine that as much as they love Paul it would give some pause to come up with another gift for his aid when they are suffering so much financially themselves.  Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4:2) have taken different views on the necessity of helping Paul and the conflict has spread to the whole church (indicating these two women are leaders in some capacity).  An offering has been sent via Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25) so we might say the faction arguing for this view won, though not everyone may have participated in the offering.

Paul’s prayer shows his answer to the problem.  The Philippians need to add knowledge to their love.  Their love has moved them to want to respond to Paul’s need but that love needs to abound in more knowledge and discernment, to make a more excellent choice that leaves them pure and blameless.  What follows after this prayer (1:12-18) is the knowledge that Paul wants them to have that will enable them to make a more discerning choice in such matters.  It will be knowledge pertinent in all matters related to being the church, not just in a matter like an offering.

If God makes known to them the highest priority in all their decisions and they act on that priority in their love, they will be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ and they will bring praise and glory to the Father.  This last part of the request is speaking to a related issue the church is facing and will need to be in unity about.  False teachers will advocate the need to keep the Law of Moses as a means to becoming righteous, but righteousness does not come that way.  It comes through Jesus Christ and his work on the cross and through his continuing work within us that is completed at the Day of Christ when the resurrection occurs.  We are tempted to believe that we are capable of producing this fruit on our own.  But that would not bring glory to God, even if we could.  It would bring glory to us.

Paul is praying for the Philippians and then is doing his part to make that prayer request be fulfilled.  He will be sharing the discerning knowledge the Philippians need in his next few words, but in prayer asking God to make it real to them and bring them to obedience.  Our prayers don’t lead us to passivity but to action in anticipation of God doing a great work. 

I remember years ago being outside and seeing my next door neighbor working in his yard and feeling compelled to talk to him about Christ.  I asked for boldness and none came.  Finally I realized I needed to act and not wait for boldness.  Turns out he was a believer and that I had made the right choice in regard to my prayer.  In teaching Latin to homeschoolers the textbook advocates learning famous Latin phrases and one Latin phrase is “Ora et labora,” which means, “Pray and work.”  That’s what Paul did!  Prayer and work are not either/or but both/and.

Discussion Questions for Small Groups

1. If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?
2. Based on what Paul has said, how do you think he would answer this question?
3. Why do you think our love needs knowledge and discernment?  Can you give an example?
4. Where do you need to pray for more spiritually knowledgeable and insightful loving in your life?
5. What would help your love abound in that needed knowledge?  What obstacles would you need to overcome to get it?