Verse by Verse Devotional on Philippians by Pastor Jack #207

Sharers in My Struggle

4:2-3a I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel ...

Euodia and Syntyche, the two women Paul exhorts to be reconciled, are not nobodies in the Philippian church. They are women who have participated with Paul in the ministry of the gospel. They "have shared [Paul’s] struggle in the cause of the gospel." I see five lessons here for us:

First of all, this shows us that even mature Christians need help. These two godly and highly respected women had trouble in their relationship. We are all sinners. We all sin. We all need the help of the body of Christ. There is no such thing as a person who is so godly that he doesn’t need help from brothers and sisters in Christ. Some may appear to be that godly, but no one is.

The second thing we see here is that though Paul did not allow women "to teach or exercise authority over a man" (1Tim.2:12), he invited their participation in the work of the ministry in other ways. We don’t know exactly what these ladies did, but they played an important role in Paul’s mind. There are other examples of this in the NT as well.

A third thing to notice here is that Paul saw the work of the gospel as a struggle. This may be obvious to anyone who has read 2Cor.11:23-33 (and elsewhere), but it is important that today’s western Christians, living in a culture addicted to comfort, realize that God calls His children to give up on worldly comfort and popularity in order to toil for the sake of Christ’s kingdom. God wants His children to stand ready to sweat, weep and bleed, to be rejected, ridiculed and resented in their service for Christ. The cause of the gospel is a struggle, not a picnic.

Fourthly, we see Paul in this verse praising the very women he is rebuking. Just because they are sinning in one way (not living in harmony with each other), it doesn’t erase all the good they have done. Paul recognizes this and sweetens his rebuke with praise. This is one good way of speaking the truth in love. It is important that we don’t let another person’s short-comings drown out their virtues in our minds.

Fifthly and finally, we see how Paul asks his friend (the "true companion") to help these women in such a way that makes it clear that he wants them helped lovingly and respectfully. It is as if he is saying, "They are precious to me and to the Lord, even though they are in sin. Treat them with dignity; cherish them as I would if I were there." What a marvelous example this is to us with regard to building God’s people to each other and encouraging each other to speak the truth in love. Paul doesn’t rebuke his "true companion," yet he makes his message clear.

Thank You, Father, for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me to love them with the same love Christ has shown toward me. Help me to cherish them and treasure them even when they sin. Give me courage to help them, even to rebuke them when necessary. But help me to do it always in love, and help me to make that love obvious. Please use me to show Your love to Your people.