Gospel Driven Work During Covid 19

Gospel Driven Work During Covid 19

Philippians 1:1‭-‬30 GW

From Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus. To God’s people in the city of Philippi and their bishops and deacons —to everyone who is united with Christ Jesus. Good will and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are yours! I thank my God for all the memories I have of you. Every time I pray for all of you, I do it with joy. I can do this because of the partnership we’ve had with you in the Good News from the first day ⌊you believed⌋ until now. I’m convinced that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it through to completion on the day of Christ Jesus. You have a special place in my heart. So it’s right for me to think this way about all of you. All of you are my partners. Together we share God’s favor, whether I’m in prison or defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. God is my witness that, with all the compassion of Christ Jesus, I long ⌊to see⌋ every one of you. I pray that your love will keep on growing because of your knowledge and insight. That way you will be able to determine what is best and be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. Jesus Christ will fill your lives with everything that God’s approval produces. Your lives will then bring glory and praise to God. I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what happened to me has helped to spread the Good News. As a result, it has become clear to all the soldiers who guard the emperor and to everyone else that I am in prison because of Christ. So through my being in prison, the Lord has given most of our brothers and sisters confidence to speak God’s word more boldly and fearlessly than ever. Some people tell the message about Christ because of their jealousy and envy. Others tell the message about him because of their good will. Those who tell the message about Christ out of love know that God has put me here to defend the Good News. But the others are insincere. They tell the message about Christ out of selfish ambition in order to stir up trouble for me while I’m in prison. But what does it matter? Nothing matters except that, in one way or another, people are told the message about Christ, whether with honest or dishonest motives, and I’m happy about that. Yes, I will continue to be happy for another reason. I know that I will be set free through your prayers and through the help that comes from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. I eagerly expect and hope that I will have nothing to be ashamed of. I will speak very boldly and honor Christ in my body, now as always, whether I live or die. Christ means everything to me in this life, and when I die I’ll have even more. If I continue to live in this life, my work will produce more results. I don’t know which I would prefer. I find it hard to choose between the two. I would like to leave this life and be with Christ. That’s by far the better choice. But for your sake it’s better that I remain in this life. Since I’m convinced of this, I know that I will continue to live and be with all of you. This will help you to grow and be joyful in your faith. So by coming to you again, I want to give you even more reason to have pride in Christ Jesus with me. Live as citizens who reflect the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come to see you or whether I stay away, I’ll hear all about you. I’ll hear that you are firmly united in spirit, united in fighting for the faith that the Good News brings. So don’t let your opponents intimidate you in any way. This is God’s way of showing them that they will be destroyed and that you will be saved. God has given you the privilege not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him. You are involved in the same struggle that you saw me having. Now you hear that I’m still involved in it.

Isolation through imprisonment was not a part of Paul’s plans. 

At first glance, his imprisonment must have looked like a disruption to his attempts to spread the gospel through his work as a tentmaker and preacher. But Paul stated very clearly that “what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel” (Philippians 1:12).

How? As Philippians 1:13 makes clear, the gospel was able to shine precisely because it gave Paul an opportunity to show that, regardless of circumstances, he was ultimately “in chains for Christ,” willingly shackled to the sovereignty of God.

That hope in the context of Paul’s circumstances must have seemed otherworldly to “the whole palace guard.” Thus, they too came to understand the hope of the gospel.

What application can we draw from this text as you and I work and live in relative isolation? We, like Paul, have unique opportunities to demonstrate the hope of the gospel, not in spite of our circumstances, but preciselybecause of them. How?

By showing we are concerned, but not anxious. Do we have grounds to be concerned about coronavirus? Of course. Do we have grounds to be anxious? Absolutely not, because we have “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding” because of Christ and his promise to redeem us and the world (Philippians 4:7). In this time of great insecurity, our ultimate security can make the gospel winsome to our co-workers, customers, and friends.

By demonstrating uncommon care for those around us. Now more than ever, Christ-followers should be the ones demonstrating extraordinary concern for the people we work with, beyond what “value” they provide to our companies or teams. This is a moment in which asking more personal questions about family and health is not only acceptable, but sensibly humane. Let us be the co-workers known for caring deeply for the “whole persons” we work with each day.

By sharing our hope explicitly. The two suggestions above can serve as hints to the gospel as our ultimate motivation to love our neighbors, but at some point, we must share the gospel with our words. Now is as good of a time as any. The people in our virtual offices and neighborhoods are craving hope more than ever before. Hope for the world. Hope for their work. Hope for themselves. As Christians, we have the spiritual vaccine that can provide that hope forever. Let us be bold enough to share it and “proclaim the gospel without fear” (Philippians 1:14)!

2.) Scripture

Philippians 2:1‭-‬5 GW

So then, as Christians, do you have any encouragement? Do you have any comfort from love? Do you have any spiritual relationships? Do you have any sympathy and compassion? Then fill me with joy by having the same attitude and the same love, living in harmony, and keeping one purpose in mind. Don’t act out of selfish ambition or be conceited. Instead, humbly think of others as being better than yourselves. Don’t be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others. Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Be conscious Of Others & Their Needs

 Paul’s commands in the anchor Scripture is to “value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

It’s easy to pay lip-service to this ideal when the world is relatively healthy physically and economically. It’s an entirely other thing to live out expressions of the gospel in times like the moment we’re living in today.

How practically can we value others above ourselves during this time? The answer to that question will of course look different for each of us based on our vocational roles and financial situations. But here are a few ideas.

Stay at home. Most of us are under orders or strong advisement from government authorities to self-distance from others. “Value others above yourselves” by following these directives, volunteering to sacrifice some personal freedoms for the well-being of your neighbors. 

Volunteer to take a pay-cut in order to save the jobs of others. Very few people can afford to do this, but the ones that do have the privilege of preaching the gospel through dramatic action.

Give more generously than usual.Last week, I spoke with a friend who runs a digital marketing agency. While his business has not been hit hard yet by the current crisis, he has reason to believe it could be. But after a lot of prayer, he decided to step out in faith and pay the rent of his favorite local coffee shop that was tinkering on bankruptcy. Actions like these may look foolish to some, but to those coffee shop owners, it looks like the gospel in action.

What I’m suggesting here is hard. But you know what was unfathomably harder? Paying for the penalty of our sins. We are called to model the self-sacrificial life of Jesus. Let us all look for creative ways to model his gospel as we work through this crisis.

3.) Scripture

Revelation 21:1‭-‬5 GW

 I saw a new heaven and a new earth, because the first heaven and earth had disappeared, and the sea was gone. Then I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, dressed like a bride ready for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “God lives with humans! God will make his home with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There won’t be any more death. There won’t be any grief, crying, or pain, because the first things have disappeared.” The one sitting on the throne said, “I am making everything new.” He said, “Write this: ‘These words are faithful and true.’”

The Lord Almighty is in Control

Everything [is] under his control” (Philippians 3:21). What a glorious truth to cling to today.

God is in control of our health.

He is in control of our economy.

He is in control of our work.

And while we may not know or understand his plans, all throughout Scripture, he has proven himself to be faithful and sovereign, working all things for his glory and the ultimate “good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28).

One day, we will see the ultimate culmination of that good on the New Earth where Christ will reign as king forever. But until then, the King has called us to work as His vice-regents, toiling to extend His control and agenda for redemption of every square inch of creation.

Doctors are working around the clock to bring COVID-19 under control.

Government leaders are working to bring our way of life under control.

Entrepreneurs and other culture creators are working to bring the economy under control.

All of our work should be aimed at the redemption of what’s broken in our world today, in-line with the agenda of the One True King. But whether we fail or succeed, all our attempts at redemptive work have the opportunity to serve as sign-posts to the ultimate redemption of all things through Christ.

On that first Easter morning, Jesus showed us that he has the power to “transform our lowly human bodies” into something redeemed, perfect, and “glorious” (Philippians 3:21). But as Scripture makes clear, when Christ returns to rule forever in the New Jerusalem, he won’t just redeem our bodies. He will redeem the whole of creation. Because everything is ultimately under His control. 

One day, all of our attempts at redemptive work will be made perfect. Until that day, let us work heartily (Colossians 3:23) to point to the future hope for our world.

4.) Scripture

Philippians 4:4‭-‬8 GW

Always be joyful in the Lord! I’ll say it again: Be joyful! Let everyone know how considerate you are. The Lord is near. Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.

Be Joyful In The Lord

I’m not sure about you, but until recently, I always heard Philippians 6 and 8 as separate, largely unrelated commands. But as we see in today’s Scripture reading, they are back to back, separated only by verse 7. Could that be because part of the solution to our anxiety is found in what we’re choosing to think about?

Based on common sense and our collective experience working through the COVID-19 crisis, I believe the answer to that rhetorical question is a resounding “yes.” Paul is commanding us to take control of our thoughts so that the Lord can free us from our anxieties.

Our current moment provides a compelling testimony to this truth. 

The news today is not lovely or admirable. Far from it. Today’s headlines are filled with fear and anxiety. 

Of course we need to be informed about critical things going on in the communities we live in and the industries we work in. But that doesnot mean that we need to be reading, watching, or listening to the news for hours on end.

If you listen to my podcast, The Call to Mastery, you’ve likely heard me talk about the fact that I consume virtuallyzero news: No cnn.com, no Twitter, no newspaper, no MSNBC or Fox News. Nothing.

But for obvious reasons, I recently started checking news websites for information about self-distancing directives, school closures, etc. This information was highly relevant to my life and work. 

But in the search for that important information, I stumbled into the quicksand that is most modern news services, scanning headlines from the ridiculous (“Hulk Hogan: ‘Maybe we don’t need a vaccine’”) to the fear-inducing (“U.S. Death Toll Nears 10,000”). Of course, this news (while marginally entertaining and informative) does not impact my life or work one bit.

After a couple of days of my return to regular news consumption, I was experiencing a level of anxiety I havenever felt before. After a bit of reflection on the verses above, the culprit became clear to me. Rather than filling my mind with more of God’s Word and reminders of his promosies, I was filling my mind with largely irrelevant, anxiety-inducing news.

You and I can be the ones our anxious coworkers and friends look to for hope during these trying times. But not if we ourselves are anxious and forgetful of the hope we have in Christ. May we be the ones filling our minds with things that are “true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, [and] praiseworthy” so that the hope of the gospel can shine to those we work and live with.