This is the second in an eight-part series entitled “Guarding your Heart.” Check out part 1 here.
PHILLIPPIANS 4:5a..LET YOUR REASONABLENESS BE KNOWN TO EVERYONE.
Recently, my wife decided to celebrate my birthday by surprising me with a scavenger hunt reminiscent of The Amazing Race. If you are not familiar with this reality show, teams of two race around the world and perform various tasks. Eventually, teams are eliminated until one wins. The action is fast, the tasks stressful, the drama hilarious, and the locations magnificent.
In the race my wife created, one clue required us to drive to a gas station, purchase the largest size ICEE-type drink and finish it before moving on. Big shout out to the Kum N Go on the corner of Shiloh and Central for only having coffee-flavored blended drinks (Yuck!). Of course, we were racing and not about to leave in search of a fruity alternative, so my partner and I filled up a 44 oz. cup with this caffeine-infested, ridiculously sweet, twitch-inducing concoction. After multiple brain-freezes, a small spill onto my partner’s shorts (Bro, I’m so sorry about that), and resorting to unsightly methods of drinking, we finished it feeling just short of terrible before opening our last clue to head to the finish line.
Disclaimer: Yep, I spilled some and no I didn’t go back in and fill it back up to where it was. Who are you, the judgment police? Second, another team was there before us and left shortly after we arrived. And, we took fourth (ok, last)…for the contest…for my birthday celebration.
It’s my party and I can cry if I want to!!
I’m good now.
These days though, the thought of actually desiring, purchasing, and drinking a 2lb. 8oz. (!!!!!) cup of frozen French vanilla-flavored coffee is completely (*almost*) repulsive to me. In my younger days, I probably would not have batted an eye at something like that. But now that I’m into my fifth decade of life, I have standards.
Or I’m getting more crotchety (MS Word suggested ‘crotchetier’; agree to disagree).
The coffee ICEE sparked my thinking about our culture and how there are so many tantalizing options available to upgrade, enlarge, and supersize. Our culture is fat-phobic, but indulgence-rich. Big slams, big gulps, biggest buddies, giant, monster, king-size, grandé, all-you-can-eat buffets, and buy-one-get-ones permeate our society. And for what?
Is it true that anything good can only be better if there is more of it?
Bugs are good, sunshine is good, food and drink is good, sleep is good. But are all these things good in excess?
Nope.
“It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory. A person without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” (Proverbs 25:27-28)
So, what does this have to do with Philippians 4:5?
Moderation.
Reason.
Logic.
Self-control.
Principles that are increasingly rare. Missing. Gone.
The first part of verse 5 reads like this, “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.” “Reasonableness” (ESV) is translated several other ways: “considerate” (NLT), “graciousness” (CSB), “moderation” (KJV), “gentle spirit” (NASB), “gentleness” (NIV). The original Greek word also includes ‘fairness’, ‘equitable’, and ‘mild’.
This word is rich, vigorous, and full. A robust word with a moderate meaning and challenging application.
I think this broad definition is really helpful in light of the context. Perhaps we can read verses 4-5a like this, “Rejoice always in the Lord. Seriously, rejoice. But don’t be obnoxious, don’t be outlandish and harsh, and don’t fake it til’ you make it. Instead, be rational, truthful, loving, moderate and normal in light of the circumstances through the lens of God and who He is. Seriously, tell people why are so full of joy!”
In my last post, I wrote about rejoicing in the Lord always. You see, we don’t simply rejoice in circumstances or in spite of them. We rejoice in the Lord. Period.
He is good. He is gracious. He is merciful. He is present. He is loving. He cares. He is.
But I think the point of this next phrase is to temper your rejoicing in the reality of who God is with an eye on the circumstances. In other words, your rejoicing should not make people seriously question your sanity.
God says whatever we do should be for His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Our rejoicing is to be purposeful, well-thought out, intentional, under control, and definitely for the glory of God.
Your rejoicing in the Lord might look different depending on the circumstances, but it is all rejoicing in the Lord nonetheless. Because of who He is. Because of the hope and freedom we have in Him. And His love for us. And His glory.
Questions:
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- In what ways have you rejoiced in the Lord inappropriately?
- Where do you see a need for reasonableness, moderation, and self-control in our current times?
- Go ahead and tell us about something you are rejoicing in the Lord.