We turn to Proverbs because it’s inspired Scripture that teaches us about the Gospel; it teaches us about Christ, who is “the wisdom of God.” Proverbs should call us not simply to know the right things, but to know the right person, Jesus Christ, who says “Come follow me.” Proverbs teaches us how to live in wisely through Christ, in a way that honors Christ.
In this particular passage, we find a wonderful theology of giving and receiving, in which everyone, pastor and member alike, should consider closely. The Philippians are models of giving, and Paul is a model of receiving. We should pay close attention to them both.
I almost entitled this section “Stuff Christians Deal With” because Paul addresses several common problems Christians face. So, do you have at least one problem in your life? How about one problem in your church? If your can answer “yes,” to these questions, then you can identify with Philippians 4:1-9! The Apostle Paul speaks about some serious struggles that Christians encounter in this fallen world. These struggles include disputes, joylessness, lack of gentleness, anxiety, and impure thoughts.