Paul’s heart of concern, not of fear

Philippians 4 contains a very well-known passage. It says, “6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

The other day I read how someone was puzzled about how the Apostle Paul could write this passage when he was filled with anxiety himself. So the question raised does the bile contradict itself. After all, Jesus also experienced some form of anxiety in the Garden of Gethsemane before the day broke for His crucifixion. So if Jesus and Paul suffered anxiety, is Philippians 4 even feasible or is it merely fantasy?

Let us remember when Paul says, “do not be anxious about anything” he's referring to anxiety that overwhelms and consumes. Not a general worry or care. It is like the difference between sin and iniquity, where iniquity is holding on to a sin that one knows is wrong yet keeps on repeating intentionally. In his letter Paul commends Timothy for being anxious over the welfare of his people (Philippians 2:20). In 2 Corinthians 2 we read, “12 Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, 13 I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia. 14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.” We also read of Paul’s state of mind in “Colossians 2: For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh.”

Paul evidently speaks of his anxiety for all the churches because he intensely desires them to remain faithful to Christ and he fears the consequences of their not being faithful. The consequence of the churches not remaining in the faith is that they would be "accursed and cut off from Christ." Paul knows what he would feel if this happened because it has already happened to some that he loves. We see this in Romans 9:2,3, where Paul says "I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart for I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen by race." This is what Paul feared, the damnation of those he loved and the anguish of his own heart that accompanied it.

Paul’s anxiety stemmed not from personal worry or stress but was a deeply settled concern for the state of the church. Paul was not displaying unhealthy fear or stress, he was rather portraying the heart of God for God desires all mankind to be saved (John 3:16). Paul’s anxiety is not fuelled by a selfish obsession with himself and his own wellbeing. This will contradict what Jesus taught in Matthew 6 about not worrying. Paul was genuinely distressed because he feared so many will be lost to eternal damnation.

The true heart of a disciple is the heart of Christ, and Paul displayed such a heart. He wanted Jews and Gentiles to know the goodness and richness of Christ’s mercy and grace. He was certainly not fearful about tomorrow regarding his own life. His anxiety existed because he wanted his fellow soldiers and believers in Christ to be glad. Paul was like a father to all those with whom he served. His anxiety would be lessened when he knew that the people were glad and encouraged by one another in Christ.

When it comes to unnatural fears, personal worries, or stresses, what Paul said in 1 Thessalonians holds true when he writes, “5:16 Rejoice always," and in Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice," and in Ephesians 5: 20, "Always and for everything give thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father." This is a man who endured countless of hardships (2 Corinthians 11), but he remained content in Christ. He certainly did not fear poverty, the devil, the threats of man or the potential persecution at the hands of a dangerous Roman Empire. He just wanted people to be saved!

We read of Paul’s passion to save the lost in “Acts 18 1 After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. 3 So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. 6 But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.”

At times Paul was proud of his work (Romans 11:13). Yet he was also constantly concerned for the welfare of the churches he planted (Acts 15:36). Such deep concerns was a “daily pressure” that weighed him down. At one time Paul was so anxious for the church in Corinth that he was unable to preach in Troas (2 Corinthians 2:12-13). On another occasion he stranded himself in Athens to send Timothy to see about the Thessalonians who were under the persecution for the gospel (1 Thessalonians 3:1-8). Paul lived with anxiety yet it was not unhealthy, for it spoke of the true heart of a disciple!

As mentioned, Paul’s anxiety wasn’t related to personal deprivation, hardship or being disliked. He wasn’t worried about his clothes, or if he fitted in, or if he was cool. He was not concerned about his happiness, for his joy was settled in Christ. These days it seems as disciples we display more the unhealthy kind of anxiety, for we are more concerned about the tangible, the temporary, our personal welfare and happiness instead of being concerned about the eternal, the state of the church and the state of the heart of believers. It seems we are more concerned about people’s opinions and the pressures of the world than living a life holy and pleasing unto God.

Philippines 4 and other Scriptures like Matthew remains as a reminder that in Christ we are supposed to find our strength, hope and joy. The Bible does not contradict itself. It is the eternal word and if we walk by it then we shall discover it is truly yes and amen. We just need to believe, trust and have faith in a mighty and glorious God. Yet we must also have the heart of Christ like the Apostle Paul, which speaks about being passionate to a point of being anxious for the spiritual welfare of all people on this planet, including our family and friends. Colossians 3:15 is our pursuit: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”