Lesson 28: Joy’s ministry
Philippians 4:1-23 – www.bible.com/bible/59/php.4
14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.
15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.
16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.
A few lessons ago we learned about our focus changing from ourselves to God as we grow in the joy we find in Jesus Christ. Many years ago, a teacher taught me what the letters in the word “joy” mean – Jesus, others, you.
In our verses of today’s lesson, we learn how our focus on Jesus also becomes a focus on others. We do not lose our focus on Jesus, but as we gaze faithfully into His face we begin to see reflected in His eyes the needs of others whom He loves just as much as He loves us. Because we cannot help but love those He loves (for we love Him above all else), we want to help them too. However, if we believe WE know how to help them (give them something to meet an obvious need they have), we can hurt them while we are trying to help. We need to let His true sight show us how He knows they need help.
For example, if someone is hungry, we might want to give them money to buy food or even a meal. However, if we give money, they may spend it on something other than food and they will still be hungry. If we simply give them a meal, they may eat alone when their true need is for someone to care about them. We might give them a job to do so we can pay them regularly, when their true need is a transformed life which comes only from accepting Jesus as their Savior. WE cannot see their greatest need without letting Jesus direct us – and even then He may not tell us the underlying need. Rather, He may only tell us what to do for this person so we (as His hands and feet and heart) can touch this person to open them to hear Jesus themselves.
When we follow Jesus in joy, and minister to those He shows us, our joy increases. I call your attention to the word “partnership” in verse 15. Partnership with someone in sharing, or ministry, or even receiving, is Jesus’ purpose for His Church. Not everyone can be a doctor to heal the sick, or a cook to make food, or a pastor to help a congregation, or a teacher to teach others. But every one of us can partner with someone who has one of these ministries, through prayer or giving or listening or encouraging by a loving heart to even be a long-distance companion. Most often, the greatest need someone else has is for a person to care and listen and be an encourager to them.
*Look for someone today who needs a friend, and be a friend to them – even if just for today.