by Pastor James Lee
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:4-8)
Thinking well will mean thinking reasonably, gently, and patiently. After all, that’s a manifestation of growing Christlikeness, which is a fruit of contentment, as verse 5 says, “let your gentle spirit be known to everyone.” One translation says “sweet reasonableness.” It refers not just to an outward gentleness, but a genuinely gentle spirit. If we’re thinking after Christ’s thoughts, we’re going to resolve to be gentle, patient, and reasonable. But if we’re not thinking to honor Christ, we’re not. Even if life seems to be coming apart at the seams, reasonable thinking will remind us that God is sovereign and in absolute control, and nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God! We think, “Come on, don’t you remember God is still on His throne, and He’s for you, not against you.” It’s irrational to think otherwise. And so you’re gracious and forgiving and lending careful thought to what’s in your heart. You’re thinking how to properly relate to others, not merely reacting out of the flesh, but responding by the Spirit. Reasonable thinking remembers God’s call upon His children to love as He loves us, to forgive as He’s forgiven us.
Thinking well means thinking reasonably as it pertains to our hearts. For example, the actual cause of discontentment and depression is not people or circumstances, it’s us, it’s our response. We’re not victims in this. The reality is that no situation automatically produces a result inside you. And if it did, then there are three blasphemous consequences: (1) then we can blame God who is in control of all situations, (2) call God a liar declaring that 1 Corinthians 10:13 wouldn’t be true, and (3) so that there is no hope for contentment. We might convince ourselves otherwise, but it’s our response to adversity that’s the difference. So it’s never the circumstances. And if it’s never the circumstances, then we can have joy in any situation.
Adversity can build character, or it can break it down into something ugly. It’s how we respond. Ideally, we would like to respond well from the start, but I’m speaking ultimately too. It reveals where we put our trust and satisfaction and worship. We can allow it to make us better, or we can allow it to make us bitter. For example, sometimes if I’ve had a difficult day, I come home from work or a painful meeting, and I sadly take it out on my wife and kids. Even though what might have angered me is so trivial and inconsequential, or plainly not even wrong. Either way, I’ve sinned against them. It might be that they didn’t clean up their toys, or that they’re too loud… but, then I sinfully get upset. And then I react with a blameshifting, unloving heart. Why? Because of my wife and kids? No. The real answer isn’t that. So, why? Because of me, because of what’s stirring violently in my heart and painfully entertained in my mind. But hopefully and thankfully, I come under the Spirit’s conviction… and my wife Sandy’s godly correction helps a bunch too. And God’s Word drops like a hammer on my proud heart. And reasonable thinking recalls God’s grace. Therefore, I’m looking for the kids to ask them forgiveness, I hope, in bearing fruit in keeping with genuine repentance. Daddy is confessing his sin, and giving them hugs and kisses, serving them with affection, because I treasure my relationship with them. Reasonable thinking puts on joy and self-giving, and puts off anger, arrogance, aloofness, anxiety, apathy, as being contrary to a life that is saturated in the glories of the gospel.
Sadly, that wasn’t happening in verse 2 with fellow believers Euodia and Syntyche, so much so that their stubborn rift had to be publicly addressed. With a gentle spirit, we’ll discover that there is no façade, no posturing, no insecurity, no anxiety about what people think of us, because God knows the worst of us and sent His Son for us!
Make sure that your character is free from greed, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,” so that we confidently say, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?” (Heb 13:5-6)
If we believe that, then we’re going to seek to be soft, winsome, vulnerable, healing, a relational red carpet, an attractive spirit, an inviting haven, not self-protecting, not fearful of getting hurt, but one that reaches out to the hurting in a spirit of humility and service. Otherwise, our bitter discontentment with God becomes both self-destructive and other defiling.
Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.” (Heb 12:14-15)
Unaddressed, people start walking on eggshells around us, wondering what little thing will set us off like a truckload of C4. Then feeling guilty when it does happen, we withdraw even more, and we deepen our suffering, becoming more bitter and more lonely. It unleashes a cascade of sad consequences, until we lose our witness, lose friends, and lose our bearing. But the good news is the sufficiency of Christ that undergirds right thinking that leads to joy!