Lets be Reasonable

Philippians 4:4-7, "rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Traditionally the concept taught from this section would zero in on verse 4 “rejoice in the Lord always…,” and verse 6-7, do not be anxious about anything, pray, and the God of peace will sustain you. However there is this small phrase that is often neglected yet is SO important in the context of God’s peace guarding your hearts. It is the concept of a) our reasonableness and b) the knowledge of the Lord being at hand. Today we are simply going to look at the concept of our reasonableness being known.

Our reasonableness, what does that even mean? How does that apply or fit into the context of anxiety? What could God possibly mean by putting the phrase sandwiched between these two phrases we use without a second thought every time something negative occurs in our lives? Insight into these questions I would argue is given by starting at verse 2 of the same chapter. Paul writes to the “true companion” to work with two women and laborers in the church to agree. But that agreement must be centered on and glorifying to the name of God. It is not a trite mentality that states we will merely “agree to disagree” rather he is saying find your agreement and the solution to your argument in the Lord. Seek His guidance and direction in the process of the decision being made, and by all means be willing to sacrifice your thoughts, feelings and devotions to a false notion at the altar of the Lord rather than to stubbornly and foolishly sacrifice your reputation and Christian testimony over something that is not God honoring.

What we see is because of a misplaced devotion, because of misplaced thoughts, praises, and rejoicing we quarrel and fight doing more harm to the mission and the work of God than helping it. Because of our selfish pride and in reality our unreasonable attitudes the ministry is hindered, the work is stalled and the task that God has appointed is going neglected. Paul’s encouragement is this…

1) Agree in the Lord: Submit to God and His word and direction over your own personal stake that you have claimed. God has shown repeatedly that He is not pleased with a quarrelsome, contentious people. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians that the church of God is not to be known for its contentiousness amongst each other but rather its agreement in the Lord. The church is not to be characterized by divisions that are in the end dishonoring to the name of Christ but are to be perfectly unified in the Spirit of God and in the bond of peace. The people of God ought to agree in the Lord.

2) Rejoice: The rejoicing is however in the Lord once again, it is a mind-frame shift that we must accomplish. It is a focus on God and His will rather than our will. When we focus our thoughts and attentions on the Lord rejoicing ought to be a natural outpouring. If God is chiefly concerned with His glory and His name then our focusing on Him will automatically cause rejoicing. It will cause us to rejoice in the Lord at the difficulties we face as well as the pleasantries that we experience. This is why Ecclesiastes warns us, in the day of prosperity take joy but in the day of adversity consider. Has not God made both (paraphrase mine). God wants us coming to Him and finding our utmost joy and rejoicing in Him and His work and plan.

3) Let your reasonableness be known to everyone: Reasonableness, being in accordance with reason, not extreme or excessive. Reasonableness is what ought to define the Christian. We are not to be those who are riddled with concerns and worries about things like judgment day (May 21st or October 21st), anxieties, stubbornness on things that are not of God and not glorifying to God. We are not to be those who cannot even be spoken to because of our excessive behavior; we are to be reasonable in our decision making,in our discussions, in our actions. We are not those who have lost control of themselves and have been given over to every fleeting emotion or passing fad that comes across our path. We are to be those who in the context of the body of Christ can communicate and be reasonable with one another, who can take into account the thoughts and concerns of others, those who seek to maintain the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We are to be reasonable people, competent and focused on the task that God has assigned.

So as we approach the throne and mind of God in our desire to walk with Him and serve Him, ask yourself, am I being reasonable? Is God directing me to do this task that seems to go against His orderly character? Why do I desire to be excessive in my actions that are not bringing glory to God or magnifying His holy name? Am I offering “sacrifice” to God that in the end is nothing more than a selfish, self-centered view of extreme devotion to anything or anyone but God? Christians are to be reasonable people, approachable, and competent…this is the Spirit that God has imparted to us, this shows whether we are truly rejoicing in and focusing on God.