Rejoice Always?
Paul admonishes the church in Philippi to “rejoice in the Lord always.” For good measure he adds, “...and again I will say, ‘Rejoice!’” (4:4). What makes his encouragement so much more interesting is knowing that he was writing this, and several other books, from imprisonment. Paul’s imprisonments ranged from shackles and chains inside an inner prison (Acts 16:24) to a more relaxed house arrest in Rome (Acts 28:1-31). However, even being under a relaxed house could have a miserable effect. I hate when I am sick for an extended period of time and I’m forced to stay in one room or only in the house. That can take a toll on your body and your mind. Yet, in Philippians, Paul writes more about joy than any other place. He also informs us of the things in which he rejoiced that we can all find joy in as well.
Rejoice in the Family of God
Several times in the letter Paul references the joy he has in the church at Philippi. “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy” (1:2-4). He spoke of being cheered by hearing good news about them from Timothy (2:19) and knowing that the church there will have joy in being able to see their friend Epaphroditus again (2:28-30). He speaks of the church being his “joy and crown” (4:1) and how he rejoiced because of their concern for him (4:10). The unity we have in the family of God completes the joy (2:1-5) because it means we have become more and more like Jesus.
Rejoice in the Message of Christ
Paul also spoke with great joy about his opportunity to see the word of Christ spread -- even in his difficult circumstances. There were even those who preached out of “envy and rivalry” with “selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment” (1:15-17). It would be hard for me to be happy in that. I would assume that would frustrate me and cause great discouragement. However, Paul understood that the gospel wasn’t about Him, his comfort, or his ego. It was about Jesus. “Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I will rejoice” (1:18). He also realized that his imprisonment opened up the door for more people to learn about Jesus -- from the guards (1:13) to the family of the Caesar himself (4:22).
Rejoice in the Final Outcome
On the surface this one can be quite difficult. Hebrews 11 speaks to those who conquered kingdoms, sent foreign armies running, and accomplished great things by faith (11:1-34). Yet it concludes with much more difficult results including people being mocked, imprisonment, put into hiding, and even dying for their faith (11:35-40). So the physical final outcome could be very different from one person to the next. Paul says in Philippians 1:18-26 that he doesn’t know with certainty how his imprisonment will turn out. He wants to continue to do the work of Christ on earth, but he also desires to depart and be with Christ. Being with God’s people brings joy, but being finally united with Jesus would be the absolute blessing (1:21). And on that day, he will have joy in knowing that his labor wasn’t in vain because the work he did among them will have saved a great many souls (2:14-18).
So it is these things, among many others I’m sure, that made it easy to find joy in both the battles and blessings of life. Paul could live with a lot or a little and he could handle being exalted and being humbled...because in Christ and the strength He provides, He could do all things. And he could do all things with joy.
Ben