ACTIONS ARE LOUDER THAN WORDS
Throughout the book of Philippians, Paul admonishes Christians to
be lights, to lead the way. In this text, he encourages us to shine
our light through our contentment. He does not ask his followers to
be bubbly, jovial, or giddy. No, what he asks is that we find
contentment in everything we do, and let it shine as a beacon to the
world. In the crooked and depraved world in which the Philippian
Christians found themselves, Paul’s message was that our actions and
interactions with others should be a light to push back the darkness
like the dawning of a new day. No doubt the concept of light was
especially meaningful to Paul as he wrote from prison.
The concept of light, particularly new or morning light, is not
uncommon to many religions. What sets Christians apart is not the
acknowledgment of Christ’s redemptive acts as much as what we, the
recipients of his Grace, do with that. Do we wait for the light to
brighten us inside, which is enlightenment? Or do we, as we go about
our daily tasks, perform them contentedly, without complaining or
arguing, and thereby let the light shine outward to the world?
It is constantly a challenge to display contentment and promote
harmony in the midst of disagreement. How often do we Christians get
caught up in conflict within and outside of ourselves, our
community, and even our congregations? In the passages preceding the
quoted text, St. Paul told the Christians in Philippi “…to work out
your salvation…” Notice he doesn’t tell them to earn it. Perhaps he
is saying to work out how your actions will show your gratitude for
the grace you received through Christ’s death and resurrection. To
work out how and where your light shines.
May our gratitude for Christ’s acts of redemption be reflected in
our contentment with whatever confronts us in this life, and the
manner in which we go about our daily tasks shine like morning light
into the darkness of the world around us. Amen
Ken Lang
