This blog is about pages 143-144 in the book The Smart Guide to the Bible: Paul and the Prison Epistles.
In Philippians 1:7-8, Paul talks about his affections for the people of Philippi. He holds nothing back when talking about how much he cares for them. This is something a lot of people struggle with. We live in a society where expressing your feelings isn’t the “cool” thing to do, but that’s not what God wants. He wants us to express our love for each other. You never know when a friend is having a hard time and your words are what keeps them going. I know that in my life, when I’m struggling with something that no one knows about, it always helps me feel better when a friend tells me that they care for me, or tells me of a time that I really helped them out.
Paul may have had these strong affections for the people because some of them may have been in chains beside him before. Tough times can make the bonds between people stronger. Even though it’s tempting to leave when someone is going through a difficult time, the bond you have with that person can be so strengthened by sticking with them and seeing them through their situation. I know that the people I consider closest to me are the friends who have gone through some of the hardest times of my life with me. That bond with them is useless, though, if I don’t tell them how much they mean to me. God intends for us not only to be that good friend in times of need, but to tell our friends how much we care about them.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment