Genuine Gentleness
From Philippians 4 – 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; 7 and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus.
8 finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.
In the March 4, 2019 issue of TIME magazine's Belinda Luscombe profiles Ray Romano. Luscombe notes Romano's success and zeros in with a follow-up question that is both perceptive and brave. How someone making $1.7 million an episode at the height of his sitcom's fame can continue to convincingly portray characters for whom life hasn't worked out quite as they'd planned?
Romano, one senses, tries to keep up his comedian's shtick and still be honest. He gives more than a comeback when he notes that insecurity is relative. He used to think, he says, that the cabdriver hated him. Now he thinks the limo driver does.
He's right. That's one way to connect with people for whom life hasn't quite worked out as planned. We can assume they are bitter about our advantages. This reaction might keep us from bragging and strutting. But is this forced preoccupation with how we appear in the eyes of others really genuine, regenerative humility?
The apostle Paul would say no. In the fourth chapter of his letter to the Philippians, beginning with verse four, he says the real common touch comes from a more exalted place. The Christian can treat other people, cabdrivers, limo drivers, the passengers in them, or the owners of the company, gently for reasons that have nothing to do with our dodging the impact of their envy.
Our genuine gentleness is a result of knowing and meditating on the reality that the Lord is at hand. Accountability to Him certainly has some sobering aspects, like the fact that we will give account for every idle word. Given Paul's subsequent insistence that his readers be free from anxiety, thankful, at peace, and focused on the good, I don't think he mostly has in mind gentleness toward others because we fear the Boss chastising us for doing otherwise.
I take this verse from the same root of reassurance from which Christ memorably soothes His disciples' fear of separation. We will be together, He says. If it were not so, I would have told you. Just so, I believe Paul is putting our daily dealings and the anxiety they produce in perspective.
Soon, mustering the discipline to be gentle with people who aren't gentle with us won't seem like maintaining a glued on smile somewhere between irritating and impossible. His return, like the object in the rearview mirror, is closer than it may appear.
Whether the person we are dealing with actually presents bristling pride on purpose, or whether aspects of the interaction require our consent to make us feel inferior, neither pressure will last long. Soon, Scripture assures us, we will know as we are known. We will be with Christ, and like Him. What other people think of us, or the onus of what we imagine they think of us, won't matter quite so much. The Lord is at hand.
In fact, by grace, He is at hand even before His physical return. The Holy Spirit brings His Word to our remembrance, and in its sweet phrases, He is already present, already renewing our minds. He gives us the will to institute and maintain time in that Word and in prayer so that human impressions and suspicions don't predominate for long.
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; 7 and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus.
8 finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.
In the March 4, 2019 issue of TIME magazine's Belinda Luscombe profiles Ray Romano. Luscombe notes Romano's success and zeros in with a follow-up question that is both perceptive and brave. How someone making $1.7 million an episode at the height of his sitcom's fame can continue to convincingly portray characters for whom life hasn't worked out quite as they'd planned?
Romano, one senses, tries to keep up his comedian's shtick and still be honest. He gives more than a comeback when he notes that insecurity is relative. He used to think, he says, that the cabdriver hated him. Now he thinks the limo driver does.
He's right. That's one way to connect with people for whom life hasn't quite worked out as planned. We can assume they are bitter about our advantages. This reaction might keep us from bragging and strutting. But is this forced preoccupation with how we appear in the eyes of others really genuine, regenerative humility?
The apostle Paul would say no. In the fourth chapter of his letter to the Philippians, beginning with verse four, he says the real common touch comes from a more exalted place. The Christian can treat other people, cabdrivers, limo drivers, the passengers in them, or the owners of the company, gently for reasons that have nothing to do with our dodging the impact of their envy.
Our genuine gentleness is a result of knowing and meditating on the reality that the Lord is at hand. Accountability to Him certainly has some sobering aspects, like the fact that we will give account for every idle word. Given Paul's subsequent insistence that his readers be free from anxiety, thankful, at peace, and focused on the good, I don't think he mostly has in mind gentleness toward others because we fear the Boss chastising us for doing otherwise.
I take this verse from the same root of reassurance from which Christ memorably soothes His disciples' fear of separation. We will be together, He says. If it were not so, I would have told you. Just so, I believe Paul is putting our daily dealings and the anxiety they produce in perspective.
Soon, mustering the discipline to be gentle with people who aren't gentle with us won't seem like maintaining a glued on smile somewhere between irritating and impossible. His return, like the object in the rearview mirror, is closer than it may appear.
Whether the person we are dealing with actually presents bristling pride on purpose, or whether aspects of the interaction require our consent to make us feel inferior, neither pressure will last long. Soon, Scripture assures us, we will know as we are known. We will be with Christ, and like Him. What other people think of us, or the onus of what we imagine they think of us, won't matter quite so much. The Lord is at hand.
In fact, by grace, He is at hand even before His physical return. The Holy Spirit brings His Word to our remembrance, and in its sweet phrases, He is already present, already renewing our minds. He gives us the will to institute and maintain time in that Word and in prayer so that human impressions and suspicions don't predominate for long.
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