I Entreat

Philippians 4:1-2

Have I mention the fact that I grew-up in small Baptist churches?  Often, Jan and I will laugh when passing a small Baptist church that has a name like harmony, and it is down the street from a larger building called First Baptist.  Could it be that they did not have harmony?  Could it be that they had a Euodia and Syntyche and at some point these two pillars of the local church came to a disagreement? 

You can bet your Aunt Beulah’s silver teapot, that the disagreement is about the most frivolous of things, like when and where flowers are to be placed in the sanctuary or what color the new cushions will be, and this will be trouble if it is not dealt with in a timely manner.

That is what Paul is addressing in these verses, he is doing it in a letter to the church, and this is what he wrote: “I entreat (ask someone earnestly or anxiously to do something) Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.  Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.”

This fellowship of believers were very dear to Paul, I am sure he found little pleasure in addressing this issue.  These two women may have been at the river with Lydia the first time Paul and Silas spoke to them about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  In this church was the Philippian jailer and his family, and many who are not addressed in the Scriptures.  We are not told who is being named as true companion, but some believe it may have been Silas.

We must not lose sight of this fact, when we have more than one person we will look at things in a different light.  When we desire to have our own way in most matters we are not being controlled by the Spirit.  If we are seeking first the kingdom of heaven, as ordered by our Lord, then we will be kingdom focused and not trying to build our own kingdom.  It is a sad day, when we have two men or women who once labored side by side for the kingdom of Christ, they should never let anything bring division in the body of Christ.

This has happened so often in the Baptist church that outsiders have made jokes about it, and that brings shame on the name of Christ.  Anytime we find division in the local body, the Church, we have moved from the gospel, we have become worldly-minded, and we will bring shame on the name of our Lord.  The enemy comes only to kill, steal, and destroy, but Jesus said, I have come that you might have an abundant life.  Be on your guard, the enemy is looking for anyone to be part of a disagreement in the local body.

From the Back Porch,

At Bear Creek, CO.

Bob Rice