Philippians 2:1 - Let's get dirty!

”If therefore [there is] any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any sharing of spirit, if any inward parts and mercies...”

-these are all strong ‘heart’ words in the greek.  encouragement is paraklésis.  consolation is paramuthion.  paul also mentions agapé, koinonia, splagchnon and oiktirmon.  these are some very strong words, full of meaning.  and despite the fact that paul leads with the conditional ‘if’ clause, he is not suggesting these concepts are improbabilities for those who are in Christ.  they are very real, and they are powerful.  their conditional nature rests in the fact that they have Christ as their source, and thus they must be drawn from Him.

-paraklésis is God’s comfort.  He is the God of all comfort (2Corinthians 1.3, 2Corinthians 7.6, 2Thessalonians 2.16-17).  the Holy Spirit is in fact the paraklétos (John 16.7), the One God sent to empower and encourage and comfort and help His people (John 16.7, Acts 9.31).  and God also is quite pleased to send and use His people to minister and pass on His comfort to those who need it (2Corinthians 1.4, 2Corinthians 7.7, 1Thessalonians 4.18, 1Thessalonians 5.11, Philemon 7).  in this case, paul is saying that paraklésis is available for those who are in Christ, and that in abundance, as it is meant to be shared.  everyone has a story to tell, something they have gone through or are going through.  our world is broken, and life is full of challenges (cf Genesis 3.17-19).  indeed for many, even getting food is a daily struggle.  and those who follow Christ are meant to be there to help one another keep going.


-encouragement is giving someone support, confidence, hope, giving someone helpful words or resources that stimulate them to do or to continue to do something.  it says to someone, ‘i believe in you!’ talk about a way to keep someone going!  paul says IF there is encouragement in Christ.  you know what, there should be no if’s, and’s, or but’s about it.  this should be a no-brainer.  too often we are critical or complaining or just silent, withholding encouragement, often without even realizing it.  God’s people should be at the ready and over the top in this area, ready with words that affirm and build up and do not tear down, words that reinforce that which is good, words that bless and give life, words that express appreciation or sympathy.  in this sense, we are not just the hands and feet of Jesus but also the mouth.  WE are the ones He most likely intends to use to encourage and comfort His people.  in our roles as parents, spouses, children, bosses, employees, leaders, followers, teachers, students, customers - words are powerful things.  use them carefully.  use them generously.  encourage the ones closest to you.  encourage those who work hard for you.  encourage people in what they like to do.  encourage, help, comfort - this is a powerful way to minister to others, and there should be no if’s about it.

-paramuthion can also be comfort.  we see it given particularly to people who are grieving or fainthearted (John 11.19, 1Thessalonians 5.14).  in this case, the comfort is delivered on the wings of love, agapé love which has its source in God as well.  this giving, selfless love which reaches out to those who are hurting comes only from God and is seen (or should be seen) in the lives of those who are walking with Christ.  it is certainly able to provide whatever consolation is needed for those who are hurting or struggling in any way.

-koinonia, that sharing and common-unity which is produced by God’s Spirit as His people gather together, is both rich and intoxicating (Psalm 55.14, Psalm 133.1-3).  but it requires that God’s people actually spend time together, pray and study God’s Word and worship together, do life and ministry together.  the root idea is that something is dirty because it has been shared.  it means that God’s people get dirty together, sharing the dirt of life and of their souls with one another, carrying each other’s unbearable burdens (cf Acts 2.42-47), etc.  it is not just having a meal together every once and a while, altho those times can be very enjoyable.  it takes more than just a semi-regular Bible discussion.  it is an ongoing journey of joint perseverance and giving and caring and celebration.

-splagchnon and oiktirmon are both feeling words, the former specifically refering to the bowels or inward parts, and the latter describing the feeling one has (or should have) on seeing the misery of another.  these words together signify feelings of affection and caring and compassion for others, for their needs and struggles, and in this case particularly for others in the body of Christ.

-taken together these words form a powerful description of caring and loving relationships within the body of Christ.  they clearly have God as their source, so when ongoing fellowship with the Lord is lacking, of course these qualities will also be lacking.  but paul knows that these things are readily available to the believers in philippi, and he has something in mind for how they are to be used, as we will see.  the question for me is, do i see these qualities in my life and am i using them with fellow believers?  am i aware of how others in the body of Christ are doing and feeling?  do i even take the time to stop and ask them how they are really doing and listen to their answer?  do i validate their feelings and really want to do something that will comfort them?  do i even care or am i too busy or too caught up in what is going on with me?  and then do i even get the dirt of their souls on mine?  am i willing to get dirty with folks who are different from me or with whom i don't get along?  do i actively pursue and engage with my fellow Christ-followers in ways that help them get up and keep going, or do i initiate with them only because i am supposed to or when i need something from them?

i have a long, long way to go... but God's is good and His grace is sufficient!