Corporate Grumbling, Corporate Joy


2:14-18 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. 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. You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.


Paul begins this section with the command to stop grumbling and disputing. He ends it with a command to rejoice. The theme of the whole passage is how God’s people are supposed to live while they are in the midst of a dark world. And the instructions Paul is giving are more than just directed to the Philippian believers as individuals. They also pertain to the church in Philippi as a body (one person can’t dispute alone).


As a believer, I am supposed to rejoice and not grumble. As a believer, you are supposed to rejoice and not grumble. But it is important for us to see that this command also relates to the church: the church is supposed to be a place of rejoicing, not of grumbling and disputing. The church must prove itself blameless and innocent in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, the church must shine like a galaxy of stars in the dark sky, the church must hold forth the word of life. If the church is not a place of joy and holiness, then how can we expect the world to flock to its doors?


The environment of the church has a profound effect upon its members. A grumbling church is a nest of the devil. (Think about the Israelites in the wilderness.) A church must inspire its members to be joyful in the midst of this world of suffering. A church ought to send its members back out into the world with "Glory to God!" on their lips.


Each of us has a part to play in this. But the important thing is to remember that we must not merely feel responsible to be joyful and pure in our own lives, we must do what we can to help the church be joyful and pure as well. Through our example, through our instruction, through our encouragement, through our exhortation, we must labor to make the church what it should be: a place of love and purity and joy.


Heavenly Father, forgive me for all the ways I have, because of my lack of faith, failed to shine joy into the lives of Your people when they so desperately need it. Forgive me for all my sin which entangles my feet and prevents me from running the race like I should be running it. I know Your church ought to be a place of rejoicing, Lord. Help me to be a source of joy to Your church. Help me to water Your church with the testimony of a joy-filled life and a Christ-like manner which moves others to joy. There is nothing like this in me , dear Lord. But I know I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.