HINDSIGHT IS 20/20
Posted on October 12, 2007
Filed Under Sermons
“My God will supply all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19) It is a classic verse, though not a classic text. This is one of those verses that Christians have been extracting from its context for centuries. We’ll be abusing this until Jesus returns. It comes at the end of a long journey through Philippians. In truth it has been one of the most humbling series I have ever preached. The text keeps telling me I have not come as far as I had previously thought. It’s like falling asleep on a long trip only to wake up minutes later (when you thought you’d been asleep for hours) to discover there are endless miles before you. I know it sounds depressing. But it’s late and I’m tired and at times life makes me weary. A weariness Philippians has taught me I bring upon myself (sin, failure, stupidity and doubt, etc……).
Then came Jesus, like Kane wandering the earth in search of his brother (you had to watch the Kung Fu tv series). Of course I (we) am his brother. And he found me. The great thing about God is that his checks never bounce. Yes, the verse is classic but the text is forgotten. The text is about others (out of their poverty) helping Paul. They gave what they didn’t have. Something tells me this text is as much about faith as it is about grace or as much about giving as it is about getting.
Not that these words resolve anything. More likely only adds to the confusion. Perhaps come Sunday I can clear some of it up. Which brings me to the “hindsight” thing. Now that it’s over I feel much better equipped to preach Philippians. I think I’m finally starting to get it. In which case I grieve for you. You would die if I started over or worse yet drive a few more miles down the road. So I have to trust the Holy Spirit to make do with my insufficient words. Thank God, your destiny is not in my hands but His. He always was smarter than me. WHB
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