Philippians: What to Do With Worry

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From Philippians 4:2-9. What can we do with our worries? Well, our worries may hold us captive, but we also hold the key. 🗝 More on that in this week’s sermon from the book of Philippians.

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Short Clip

Screen Time, Worry Time

Late last year I left team Android and joined team iPhone. I was quite excited. And if you have an iPhone, you know that there was an update still somewhat recently that added a feature called, Screen Time.

It has a lot of functionality, but the baseline purpose is to show you how much time you spend on your screen.

For those of you who have iPhones and you heard about this feature… Were any of you also worried like I was about seeing your results?

There’s something about seeing that report every week that serves as a nudge—hey, you don’t need to be on your phone as much as you’re on it!

But I wonder… What if there was an app for something different…

What if there was an app that didn’t show you your screen time, but it showed you your worry time?

I wonder how many would download it. I’d be too worried to see how much I worry that I would probably avoid downloading it. Anyone with me?

But think about that: if you could see a weekly report of your worry time, what would it look like?

Top Worries

We all have different things we worry about:

1. Money (and the future)
2. Job security
3. Relationships
4. The past
5. Health
6. Gossip
7. Work
8. Aging
9. Death
10. Safety
11. Comparison

For those of us who are parents, we worry about:

1. Survival
2. That our kids would follow the Lord
3. That they won’t shut us out
4. Their friends
5. Their choices

One of My Major Worries

Beyond the basics, one of my major worries, or maybe one of the things that, when it happens, causes me to dwell on it or even obsess over it is when I am misunderstood.

Reddit thread

A number of years ago, I would post articles I wrote related to Christianity and theology to a site called, Reddit. It’s basically a giant forum that has all kinds of different topics.

And I would post my articles there because it would usually generate a good amount of traffic to the articles and every now and then it would spark some good discussion.

But it would also open the door to one of my biggest frustrations—being misunderstood. And it wasn’t just the fact that I would sometimes be misunderstood, it was that the misunderstanding was over the internet on a medium that required typing and attention. Or sometimes it wouldn’t just be someone misunderstanding something I said in an article, but it would be someone starting an argument because of something I said (or something they thought I said).

So instead of just letting it go and not diving neck-deep into an all-day consuming argument or debate over the internet and enjoying the day and enjoying the company of my wife and kids and going and doing something fun and rejoicing in the Lord for my salvation and focusing on those in front of me… Yes. Instead of doing that…

I would be consumed and obsessed over that Reddit thread, over those commenters who wanted to argue. I would read responses and reflect on how to respond with just the right amount of grace but also the right amount of gusto to show that I, in fact, was correct and they were not.

But then I would post that great response and just sit there, refreshing and waiting for them to respond. Yes. I would click refresh. But I wasn’t being refreshed. I was being consumed. I would dwell on it. I would worry about it.

Thankfully, I have a wife who can snap me out of those things. And from that day on, I decided to avoid Reddit.

How many of you know that Facebook and email and text aren’t good avenues for debate?!

And the church said, amen!

What to Do With Worry

Today, we’re going to see what God wants us to do with our worries, no matter how big or small they may be.

So if you’re a person who would be afraid of seeing your weekly report of worry time because you know you worry too much, lean in. And for everyone else, you should sit up and lean in too because you have a lying problem. Get it?! 😉

Philippians 4:2-9

How would you like to be called out in front of the entire church for an argument or a spat you’re having with someone else in the church?

That’s what happened with these two women. Because this letter would have been read to the entire gathering.

Let’s read that part again…

Philippians 4:2-3

² I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord. ³ Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life.

From what we can infer from this, it seems these women were having a conflict of some kind that the entire church or at least a good majority of the people knew about. And really, for Paul to call them out like this, it is reasonable to assume that this spat they were having was causing problems in the church beyond just them two.

It was so bad, in fact, that Paul identifies a third party to mediate their conflict.

We don’t know many details about Euodia and Syntyche’s argument, but we do know that it was significant and likely about some secondary issue.

Secondary issues—the content of conflict in the church…

I find it interesting that even then, the church was plagued by secondary issues being the content of conflict. Because Paul doesn’t correct either one of them or take any sides. He merely urges them, encourages them to agree in the Lord. To find their resolution in God.

Even then, people elevated minor issues into major conflicts. And sadly, we do the same today.

Philippians 4:4-7

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. ⁶ Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

The Lord is near

Notice that in verse 5? The Lord is near.

Paul just snuck that in.

They needed to be reminded that while they’re messing around arguing and worrying, the Lord is near.

And that should have given them a dose of motivation to keep the main thing the main thing and some inspiration to keep the main thing the main thing.

So rejoice in the Lord. Be happy in Him. Delight in Him. Enjoy Him. Celebrate Him. Exult Him. Revel in Him. He is near. He is alive. He is our hope. He is our comforter. He is our King. He is our friend. He is our Father. He is working in us. He is walking with us. He is strengthening us.

It’s hard to worry when you’re rejoicing. But it’s also hard to rejoice when you’re worrying. It’s probably even impossible.

Worry was holding them captive

As a church, Paul knew they were letting worry hold them captive. They were worried about the persecution they were facing, they were worried about Paul’s situation, and they were worried about Epaphroditus, one of their church members and leaders who took Paul supplies and was supposed to stay with him to help him with whatever they needed but became sick almost to the point of death.

But just like us, Paul knew that they had other worries that held them captive.

But when we worry (and are held captive), we also hold the key

But when we worry and are held captive to those worries, it’s like waking up in a dark room surrounded by bars. But when we get our bearings, we see that we’re holding the key to get out.

v.6 — Interrogate your worries and make them your prayers

Go with me here.

⁶ Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

What it looks like to me is that we’re supposed to take those worries, interrogate them, and turn them into prayers.

What are you? Why are you here? What’s your purpose? Where’d you come from? etc. etc. etc.

When we let worry settle in, eventually it destroys us.

It decays our hope.

It erodes our faith.

It cripples our resolve.

So interrogate your worries. Put them on notice. I’m gonna figure you out. I’m gonna take you to my dad and He’s going to deal with you. When He’s done with you, you won’t even recognize yourself. Because instead of being a worry, you’re going to turn into a testimony. A testimony of God’s power and His grace.

And that’s going to strengthen my resolve.

That’s going to solidify my faith.

That’s going to build my hope.

The things you’re worrying about should be the very things you’re praying about. And when we do that, something great happens.

vv.6-7 — Bouncer, the Peace of God

⁶ Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Do you see what happens when we stop, interrogate, and listen?

The peace of God will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. We’ll turn those worries into prayers and those worries won’t be let in.

It’s like outside of our hearts and our minds is a line of things trying to get in. You know, they’re waiting in line. The line is outlined by red velvet rope and at the front of the line is a big, powerful bouncer with a clipboard.

And you know who’s in that line?

Your worries. They’re waiting to get in.

But when we interrogate those worries and turn them into prayers, it’s like our God is standing at the front of that line with the clipboard and He’s checking to see if these people in line are on the list.

Hey, what’s your name?

“Hope Decayer” — sorry, sister. You’re not on the list.

Hey, what’s your name?

“Faith Eroder” — sorry, sister. You’re not on the list.

Hey, what’s your name?

“Resolve Crippler” — sorry, bro. You’re not on the list.

Paul goes on…

Philippians 4:8-9

⁸ Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. ⁹ Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Bouncer continued

Back to the line…

Hey, what’s your name?

“Honor” — come on in.

Hey, what’s your name?

“Justice” — come on in.

Hey, what’s your name?

“Purity” — come on in.

Hey, what’s your name?

“Lovely” — come on in.

Hey, what’s your name?

“Commendable” — come on in.

Hey, what’s your names?

“Excellence and this is my wife Praiseworthy” — come on in.

4 Antidotes to Worry and Bitterness

In this passage, I believe we see 4 antidotes to worry and bitterness. Because I don’t think Paul is addressing worry only, but bitterness too. Remember, this is in the context of him urging two women to agree in the Lord.

It’s likely that they had let their conflict and dispute take root and grow into bitterness. So to address that and the general worries of the entire church body, we see these 4 antidotes.

1. Rejoice in the Lord

We can’t lose sight of the character of God. We can’t lose sight of what He has done. We can’t lose our gratitude toward Him.

This is the foundation. Rejoice in the Lord always. Not sometimes. Not only when things are great. Not only when things aren’t and you’re trying to get away from your worries. Always.

Build a rhythm around rejoicing in the Lord. Listen to music that will propel you to rejoice. Think back to who you used to be before He grabbed you and rescued you. Rejoice. Think about those who you’ve seen be transformed by Him. Rejoice.

2. Let your gentleness/graciousness be known by everyone

This can be a tough one.

Many of us know how to let our gentleness and graciousness be known by those around us who aren’t closest to us.

You go to work. You’re conscious of the need to be gentle and gracious.

You go to school. You’re trying.

You have a family over for a meal. You’re on your best behavior.

But Paul doesn’t say just let your gentleness be known by some people. He says everyone.

And where this is often the hardest is at home.

Let your gentleness be known by your parents.

Let your gentleness be known by your spouse.

Let your gentleness be known by your kids.

Oftentimes, we need to slow our pace at home. Our schedules are full. Chores need to be done. Dinner needs to be cooked. The kids need to get to practice. Homework needs to be done.

Busyness often breeds stress and stress doesn’t breed gentleness.

What does, though, is slowing your pace enough to be mindful of the Holy Spirit’s nudges and comfort as He builds gentleness in us, a flavor of the fruit of the Spirit.

3. Pray (in everything, with thanksgiving)

As I’ve been saying, we must take our worries and interrogate them. Because when we do that, we’re setting up for a pivot from worry to prayerful requests.

And the reason this is so important is that we’re taking our hands off whatever is causing us worry and we’re handing it over to the God who has the power to deal with it.

In everything, with thanksgiving.

You know, not only can we pray *in everything*, but we can also thank God for handling our worries before we feel that worry leave us.

Why? Because He’s got this. And the only reason it’s a burden for me still is because I’m still trying to carry it.

If you’ve got a boulder on your back, let go of it and let Him carry it. He can squat more than you can.

4. Dwell on what is excellent and worthy of praise

Instead of dwelling on the worries of this world, we need to dwell on the character of God. We need to dwell on Him.

You might ask yourself, what is honorable? what is just? what is pure? what is lovely? what is commendable? what is morally excellent? what is praiseworthy?

And to that, I say, Jesus.

As the Hebrew writer said, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author, and perfecter of our faith.

Dwell on Jesus. Dwell on what would bring Him glory. Dwell on what would please Him.

If it doesn’t bring Him glory. If it doesn’t please Him. If it doesn’t reflect His character, it ain’t on the list so ask the peace of God to not let it in.

What’s your name? In reality, He knows the names of your worries.

What’s your name? It doesn’t matter what your name is!

But here’s a bonus… Get a 3rd party

But there’s one other nugget in here that we can’t miss.

In all this… Get a 3rd party. Get someone who can come between you and that person you’re in conflict with and speak the gospel into your conflict.

Get a 3rd party you can get real about your worries with and let them pray for you.

Get a 3rd party. Don’t go through life alone. Invite people to walk with you as you—and they—walk with the Lord.

Screen Time, Worry Time

Can you imagine getting your weekly Worry Time report and seeing it being 10, 20, 30, 70% lower than it was last week?

What if that Worry Time report weren’t a source of worry, but it was a prompt to praise and rejoice in God?

Stop. Interrogate. And Listen.

It can happen.

But we need to do what?

We need to stop. Interrogate. And listen.

We need to slow down, interrogate those worries, bring them to the Lord, and listen.