July 25, 2010

Dr. Ron Sumners

Philippians # 10

God’s Definition of Success

Philippians 2:19-30

What would you like to be on your tombstone? I know that was a line from a commercial a few years ago, but I am not referring to pizza toppings this morning. What would you want to be said of you when your life is over? The answer to that question is dependent on a simple idea and question: how do you define success? Is success measured by titles or degrees? My brother and I both have doctoral degrees. His is in Political Science and mine in Ministry. We are every Jewish momma’s dream; two doctors in the same family! The only problem is that I am educated far beyond my intelligence level and nobody knows what a Political Scientist does. The degrees only prove that we were willing to go to school for a long time!

Is success measured by the size of a bank account? Is success measured by the size and address of your house or the car you drive? I bought a used Volvo for my wife a few weeks ago. If was four years old and I got it for a good price. New, the car is more expensive than I would ever consider purchasing. Someone intimated that we had purchased the car because of the status the car brought us. I almost went and traded the car on the spot. To even consider that I would buy a car for status irritated me. A car is for transportation not status! There are not five people in this church whose car I could recognize. I really don’t care what model or price car you drive. Actually, I am much more impressed with you if you drive a $5,000 car rather than a $50,000 car!

What you think makes a person successful, largely determines your satisfaction and fulfillment in life. To the extent your criterion does not line up with God’s definition of success you will experience frustration and disillusionment. What are God’s criteria for success? In light of His definitions, how can we be successful people? That is what we will explore today.

Far too often we define success with status, achievement with attainment. Erma Bombeck once said, “Don’t confuse fame with success. Madonna is one, and Helen Keller is the other.”

The key in defining success is to be sure that our greatness is not determined by the value of our wealth, but rather by the wealth of our values!

In Philippians 2:19-30, Paul describes two successful men. Their success is measured by the quality of their character; by how they lived their faith.

The world called J. Paul Getty a success. He was one of the wealthiest men in the world. For many he epitomized success. But with his family, he was a tyrant. His children literally hated him. They hated him so much they did not even want his money! He changed his will 21 times to punish family members who crossed him. Finally, most of the children said, “Keep your money! We don’t want anything from you!” When his 12 years old son died he wrote in his journal, on the day of the burial, “Today was the day we buried darling Timothy, sad day.” But then he went on to outline various stocks he intended to trade that day.

When you think of philanthropist you might consider John Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Cornelius Vanderbilt or even Bill Gates. You probably would not think of J. Paul Getty; and for good reason.

Scripture is clear that over the long haul, relationships are more valuable than things. You can be successful in everything else but if you have no compassion you’re a failure. Paul describes Timothy as a man of compassion. It was Paul’s intention to send Timothy to encourage the church in Philippi and then to encourage Paul on his return.

Verse 20 paraphrases the original when it says that Paul has no one else like him. Literally, the word is isopsychos, “equal-soul.” This means Paul and Timothy were on the same page; they had one mind. On what were they agreed? The Philippians’ well-being was the interest of Paul and Timothy. The term Paul uses for “genuine” is a reference to a child born to a married couple; he is legitimate. Timothy is the “real deal.”

When our definition of success ignores compassion our choices become selfish. But Timothy is different. Paul says that Timothy is the only one he knows that really cares. He is compassionate.

Timothy’s compassion was evident to Paul. His compassion for others was evidenced in his life’s agenda as he put other’s needs ahead of his own. Timothy proved himself.

To “prove” refers to a testing of one’s character. Timothy’s name in Greek means “he honors God” and Timothy lived up to his name. He did not cave into pressure, for to be proved is to be tested over time and under pressure. It has been said that people are like teabags … you never know how strong they are until you drop them in hot water. Timothy’s consistency is evidenced as he has worked like a son with his father, serving together to see the good news of Christ go out.

The trouble with consistency is its demanding repetition, its day after day monotony. But that is the test of character; we are proven, we are tested not in the extraordinary challenges of life, but in the ordinary chores and routine. Consistency becomes extraordinary in the ordinary, being faithful in the things that usually escape notice.

If you were to take a helicopter tour on New York City and flew over the Statue of Liberty, you would notice that Lady Liberty’s hair has the same intricate detail as the rest of the statue. Think about that – when the statue was built there were no planes or helicopters, so the person who molded that part realized that no one would ever see it. It would be easy to cut corners. But their workmanship needed to be consistent whether anyone ever saw it or not!

A nice personality will make a good first impression but success over the long haul is built on character, not on image. The person of integrity will not be afraid of what is going to be found out. Is your private life consistent with your public image?

A man in Southern California went to a KFC to get some chicken for himself and a young lady with him. In a careless error, the store manager handed the man a box which contained the financial proceeds of the day. He had the money disguised in a chicken box. It worked; it fooled even him! The man and woman drove to the park for a picnic lunch and they discovered the money. He took the box back to the KFC and the manager was overjoyed. He even suggested that they get a photographer and make a picture for the newspaper to show the man’s unusual honesty. The man refused. “Why not?” asked the manager. The man replied, “I’m married and the young woman with me is not my wife!” The man was definitely not consistent in his honesty!

Success means putting cooperation before competition. Paul writes this section in his letter in order to explain what is happening. Some time before, the church in Philippi sent money to Paul by way of the messenger named Epaphroditus. They wanted Epaphroditus to stay with Paul so that Timothy would be free to come and see them. You can imagine the church’s surprise when Epaphroditus came back to them.

They might have wondered if Epaphroditus had failed in his mission, if Paul did not want him around or if Paul and Timothy no longer cared about the church in Philippi. So, Paul writes this letter of explanation. Timothy will come soon, but Paul believed that it was important for Epaphroditus to go on home. Paul tells them that Epaphroditus did not fail in his mission. He should be welcomed back with open arms. Paul gives a glowing report about Epaphroditus.

Epaphroditus, whose name means charming, or beautiful, was cooperative in Paul’s work. Paul describes him as “my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier.” Paul identifies three traits or qualities of cooperation that are a mark for success in the Christian life,

133 times in the New Testament Paul uses the word “brother” to describe the relationship between Christians. The term becomes meaningless through overuse, but in the ancient world this close knit connection was rare. The culture at that time was polarized between Greeks and Romans, slaves and free, Jews and Gentiles, aristocrats and plebeians, citizens and slaves. Into this world came the Gospel, and with it, the idea of brotherhood. This change of relationship with God as Father meant a new relationship with one another. Our ability to work together, to cooperate is predicated on the understanding that we are related to one another because of the work of Jesus Christ.

The Christian Life is a fellowship. There is no sense of competition here, but working for the same goal of establishing the church, seeing people come to faith in Christ; honoring God with their lives.

The Christian life is a fight. Paul again pictures the necessary cooperation. On the battle field cooperation is a matter of life and death. Epaphroditus was one Paul could stand shoulder to shoulder with in the cause of Christ! In the ancient world, combat was hand-to-hand. The battle was won by soldiers standing their ground together; each protecting the other.

Who is there in your life that fills that role for you? Who would you call a brother, a fellow worker and a fellow soldier? Can other Christians use those terms about you? We, too often, build walls of antagonism rather than avenues of cooperation!

Two men were riding a bicycle built for two up a steep hill. It took a great deal of struggle for the men to complete the difficult climb. When they got to the top the man in front said, “Boy that sure was a hard climb!” The fellow in the back replied, “Yes, if I hadn’t kept the brakes on all the way we would have surely rolled backwards!”

Are you helping this church climb to the pinnacles God has for us or are you riding the brakes? I have heard that geese can fly 72% further when they are flying in formation as opposed to flying by themselves. It is a principle of organization that when we work together we can get much more accomplished.

The one who is a success puts the cause of Christ before comfort. Paul said of Epaphroditus, “He is your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.” The people in Philippi heard that Paul was in jail. They took an offering and Epaphroditus was chosen to take it.

He had to have been a trusted and respected member of the church. The journey was not an easy one. He had to cover a rough 800 miles that took about six weeks. He became ill and almost died. He was sick when he got to Paul and could not stay with him.

Paul uses a technical term to describe Epaphroditus. It is translated, “You sent him to minister to my needs.” He was to be Paul’s minister. Are you a minister for Christ and Meadow Brook Baptist Church? I know that we have a professional church staff that is paid by the church. But, we do not do your ministry. That is yours; given to you by God; are you doing it?

To be successful means putting service before security. We talk a lot about security today. From home security systems to retirement investments; we are constantly bombarded with our need for security. We even have to buy systems to give security to our identity. I could never imagine anyone wanting to be me, but all that has changed in an age when people can use my identity to steal and defraud!

Epaphroditus was a man who was more concerned with his mission for Christ than he was his own security! He put his life on the line; risked and almost lost his life in order to serve. We have a generation of Christians who are not willing to give an hour a week much less risk their lives.

In the days of the early church there was an association of men and women called “the gamblers.” It was their aim to visit the prisoners and the sick, especially those who were ill with dangerous diseases. In AD 252 plague broke out in Carthage. The non-Christians threw out the bodies of the dead and left the sick and fled in terror. Cyprian, the Christian Bishop, called for the gamblers to come together to bury the dead and minister to the sick and dying. In so doing, many were saved. Christians should have the courage to gamble with their lives to serve Christ and people!

Are you playing it safe, maintaining a protective strategy to keep from failure or too much commitment? Are you willing to set safety aside and see what God really wants from your life? There is no such thing as a risk-free faith!

Charles Hood, a Southern Baptist Missionary to Columbia, was shot and killed over a decade ago in front of his home in Bogota at the age of 44. He left his home one afternoon to go to the bank. His wife Becky said that she heard a gunshot and a shout. When she ran from the house she saw a man speeding away on a motorcycle. The murderer was never found.

Jerry Rankin, president of the International Mission Board, said, “There is no place in the world where the safety of a missionary can be guaranteed. But missionaries follow the call of God wherever it leads, even into dangerous places, because they value making Christ known and bringing the lost to salvation…Charley, however did not die when he was gunned down in Bogota, Columbia, but years ago when he died to self and committed his life to follow Christ.”

Such a man was Timothy. Such a man was Epaphroditus. May my life and your life be such a success!