Philippians Chapter Four
4: 1-23
In his commentary on Philippians: Be Joyful, Warren Wiersbe writes that worry is the worst thief of all. How many people have been robbed of peace and fulfillment because of worry? In fact, worry even has physical consequences. And while medicine can remove the symptoms, it cannot remove the cause. Worry is an “inside job.” You can purchase sleep at the drug store, but you cannot purchase rest. If Paul had wanted to worry, he had plenty to worry about. He was a political prisoner facing possible execution. His friends in Rome were divided in their attitudes about his case. He had no mission board supporting him and no Legal Aide Society defending him. But in spite of all these difficulties . . . Paul didn’t worry!
These, then are the four thieves that rob us of our joy: circumstances (to see link click Ai – Philippians Chapter One); people (see Ar – Philippians Chapter Two); things (see Be – Philippians Chapter Three); and worry here in Chapter Four. How do we capture these thieves and keep them from taking away the joy that is rightfully ours in Messiah? Worry is actually wrong feeling (the heart) and wrong thinking (the mind) about circumstances, people, and things. Ours is a battle of the mind and heart, the Ruach Ha’Kosesh inspired Paul to tell us: Don’t be anxious (worry) about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present [our] requests to God. Then God’s shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Messiah Yeshua. Therefore, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable; if anything is excellent of praiseworthy – think about such things (4:6-8).
Chapter 4 describes the spiritual resources we have: ADONAI’s peace (4:1-9), ADONAI’s power (4:10-13), and ADONAI’s provision (4:14-23). With resources like these, why should we worry? We have the peace of God to guard us (4:7) and the God of peace to guide us (4:9). The peace of God comes to us when we practice right praying (4:6-7), right thinking (4:8), and right living (4:9). This is God’s secret for victory over worry.161
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