Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.
Summary: Paul’s comment about the Philippians sharing in his troubles provides an interesting insight into how God uses trials and comfort to “temper” our steel.
God’s Word is eternal, as is God. At the same time, it is very personal. It is personal because it touches each of us where we are in our journey.
Perhaps some people have gone through life without much trouble or suffering, but for those of us who have suffered in this life, we know the value of someone who cares.
Paul’s words, “Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles,” speak to that human need.
Maybe “need” is the wrong word.
Paul has just explained that he knows the “secret” of contentment in any situation (vs 12). The secret to surviving pain and deprivation is Jesus.
“How does that work?” you ask.
The answer is rather simple, although I warn you — it will not satisfy what Paul calls our “body of death” (Romans 7:24, ESV). The way it works is this: Paul knows how to keep his eyes on Jesus.
Instead of focusing on what his physical “self” wants (freedom from want or pain), he focuses his attention on what Jesus wants (God’s will to be done).
That is difficult for us mortals to do!
In fact, it is a kind of “test.” Suffering is a way of checking where we have our eyes focused. If we are feeling sorry for ourselves, I can guarantee that the “self” we are feeling sorry for is not the “new self” that Paul has taught us to put on (Ephesians 4:20-24).
Yet, even though Paul is practiced at putting on the “new self” and keeping his eyes on Jesus, he wants his brothers and sisters in Philippi to know that their concern was not wasted. It was good of them to share in his troubles!
Do you know why?
The answer is quite simple: Testing is no fun! It also risks pushing someone past their breaking point.
Of course, this is where God’s omniscience and providence come into play. As Paul famously wrote in his letter to the church at Rome, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
We also know from James that testing produces perseverance (James 1:2-4). To put it another way, testing toughens us up. If we think of ourselves as God’s tools for sharing his love with the world, then think of testing as the process of heating and tempering those tools.
To properly temper metal, it is heated and then cooled. This is exactly the process Paul is describing. He is feeling the “heat” of his trials and the “cooling” of the help provided by those who shared in his trouble.
Application: Keep your eyes on Jesus.
Food for Thought: How does sharing in someone’s troubles benefit those who do the sharing?
Acts 20: 34 – 35: You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
In this passage Luke is quoting Paul who at the end quotes Jesus. Paul says that as he has worked hard to help others he has received the greater blessing (at least that is how I understand what he said). It feels good to help others. We know we are following Christ’s example when we help others. There is an inherent joy in helping others and sharing in their trouble. It is something God has put in us, especially if we are followers of Christ.
Brother Rich,
Simply put and very well said! Thank you!