Excerpts from a four-part Philippians series from this weekend’s WCC 20s ladies retreat.
Philippians 1: To Live is Christ (how we relate to our life)
Philippians 2: Christ our example (how we relate to others)
Philippians 3: Christ our goal (how we relate to the past and future)
Philippians 4: Christ our peace (how we relate to the present)
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Thankfully, filling out the relationship portion of my Facebook bio was easy. I am Married (check the box) to Jeff Patterson (type in J-e-f and watch his name and pic pop up). Done.
But there’s another box on there that I think is funny, but also very accurate for describing many people’s relationship status. After boxes for single, in a relationship, engaged, and married, there’s the box titled It’s complicated.
It is complicated sometimes, isn’t it? Not just Facebook relationship profiles, but life. Life is complicated, and sometimes I would do anything to be able to check a box and place all the confusion neatly within the boundaries of four right angles.
Life feels complicated. And, in my opinion, especially life during the college and early career time of life. Early 20s. Out of parents’ house, but not married. Sort of suspended between youth and adulthood. Old enough to vote and drink, perhaps, but not quite ready to settle down. The idea of a minivan and Mom-jeans is still a nightmare, but you wouldn’t mind if Mr. Wonderful came along and plopped a big diamond on your finger. That seems like it would simplify everything. As it is right now, it’s all just very very complicated.
I remember feeling like that when I was in the 18-23 window especially. Guys were complicated. Classes and homework and school decisions were complicated. Friendships felt complicated. Family felt complicated. Huge decisions for my future and career felt complicated. Even church felt complicated. For crying out loud, even what to eat felt complicated! SO MANY considerations, all the time.
You know what the result is of having all those considerations? From having life become so complicated? The result is a complete absence of JOY. Complications steal our joy.
I believe this is especially hard during these young years of being single and making decisions that set the course of our entire lives. We aren’t grounded by the simplicity of knowing our role as wife or mother (although I assure you that that brings with it a complication that is a whole new beast). We see all decisions based on how they affect one person: me. And yet, somehow that one-person is infinitely complicated isn’t she? You see, living in a constant consideration of oneself is the most stressful, exhausting, and draining way to live. That is complication. And that is lack of joy.
The Apostle Paul was single. And yet, he knew the secret to de-complicating life. He knew the secret to simple living. And, as we’ll see throughout Philippians, he knew the secret to true joy. He shares this secret in verse 21 of chapter 1:
For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Well, that pretty much settles it then.
Of all of life’s considerations and concerns, life and death are the greatest, yes? All the other worries of relationships, finances, future–they all come in secondary to the greatest human instinct which is survival.
Paul was in a situation where he wasn’t sure what the outcome would be: life or death. There were certainly considerations–we see that in verses 22-26. He had work to do, people to take care of. He had the gospel to preach. But really, it all just came down to this: Whatever will glorify God the most, that’s what I seek. For to me to live is Christ.
So it’s all settled. Not easy to live out, I assure you, but it can be settled once and for all.
To live is Christ. So, do I date this guy? Well, does dating him help me to glorify God more than ever before? Does he make me want to grow with Christ? Does he challenge me to love God more? Does he challenge me to stay physically and emotionally pure? Does the aim of his life line up with the aim of my life, to serve God in all that we do? If so, sure! If not, don’t.
Should I move out on my own? Will that enable me to trust and rely on God more? Is the desire to move out based on my selfishness or immaturity, because I haven’t matured to the point that I can submit to the authority of my parents? Do I sense God leading me to move out by faith, so that I can grow in my relationship with Him?
These are all healthy considerations, because they are all variations of ONE consideration: Christ. It doesn’t mean that everything becomes easy, but it does make everything world’s simpler.
This means that we work at our jobs for Christ. We budget our money for Christ. We go to college for Christ. We make friends for Christ. We spend time with others for Christ. We make decisions about our futures for Christ. He is it. For us, to live is Christ.
The one reason why this will remain a struggle for us, is that we haven’t yet encountered the greatness of God in such a way that we cannot help but live for Him. Because Christ is the most captivating, brilliant, and awe-inspiring being, the more we know Him the more we will love Him. So, are we struggling with our ability to say that Christ is our life? Get to know Him a bit more. That’s why we’re spending these 3 days studying the whole book of Philippians. Because in it we see who Christ is. And when we see Him we can’t help but proclaim that we truly do want Him to be our life.
*What are you wrestling with right now? How can you apply this, to live is Christ, to your situation right now?