Poured Out as a Drink Offering


2:17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.


This is a difficult verse. Though my tendency at first is to think it means that Paul is pouring out his life in order to establish faith in the Philippians, when all things are considered it seems that Paul is saying his life is being sacrificed to God along with theirs.


Though some of the particulars are hard to sort out, this verse depicts Paul and the Philippians involved together in the offering of a sacrifice. Though all of their life efforts to spread the gospel are probably included, the present sufferings that both are experiencing are probably in the forefront of Paul’s mind.


There are two striking features of this worth noting:


1) The willingness of the sacrifice


When a person offered a sacrifice, it was an act of worshiping God. It was a gift being given to God in adoration, gratitude and praise. This is now being used to portray the service of Paul and the Philippians in their ministry of the gospel in the world. Just as a true OT worshiper was willing to give up his animals and grain and wine in order to worship God, so Paul is saying that he is willingly pouring out his very life in gospel ministry as a means of worshiping God. (And obviously, since he includes the Philippians in this, he does not mean that it is only in full-time Christian ministry that one can do this.)


Paul’s self-giving spirit is reflected in 2Cor.12:15 as well where he says to the Corinthian believers: "I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls."


He calls us all to do the same: "I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." (Rom.12:1)


2) The joy of the sacrifice


It is one thing to sacrifice yourself willingly, it takes it a step farther to do it joyfully. And yet, Paul’s joy in his self-sacrifice is unmistakable. "But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all." And then in calling the Philippians to rejoice in the next verse, he calls us to rejoice as well: "You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me."


How foreign it is to the modern Christian mindset (at least in the USA) to joyfully sacrifice our comforts and pleasures (much less our safety and security) for the cause of Christ in the world. It’s not because our pleasures are more attractive than Paul’s. It’s because our Christ is not as big nor as glorious as Paul’s.


Holy God, enlighten the eyes of my heart to see the glory of the Christ, so His service might seem delightful to me and so all worldly pleasures will look dim in comparison. Forgive me for how I feel sorry for myself and how I draw attention to myself when I have to sacrifice something. As Christ willingly gave Himself for me, and as Paul willingly gave Himself for the Philippians and the Corinthians, help me to willingly give myself for the sake of my wife, children, and all the others You have placed around me or under my responsibility. Help me to joyfully invest my life in the cause of Christ.