03/12/2025
Philippians 4: 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
It seems that the object of maturity is that we become appropriate in every circumstance. The accrued wisdom of decades teaches us how to always do the right thing. That is what the word gentleness means.
You see two women in the church, Euodia and Sytyche, were feuding. Therefore Paul found it necessary to correct them. Let your gentleness be evident. In the Greek text that means to be equitable and fair, to be reasonable and kind. And just to be sure they understood the serious nature of his instruction he wrote “the Lord is near.” God is watching.
That last bit reminds me of corrections I received from my parents in the months of November and December. They always said Santa is watching. However, I think this business of God being near is something else. He really is! He knows all the dumb, selfish, prideful things we do. He knows how we hurt each other. He really sees us. Paul wasn’t playing a game here. He meant that God is a witness to everything we do.
In this eighth decade of my existence I enjoy reciting my accomplishments. When you apply for an academic job, like university administrator, your resume` is the biggest brag in the world. In business a couple of pages will do nicely. In the university your vita can run up to twenty pages of bragging. After you write that thing it feels good to read it. Oh yes I am so smart. I am so accomplished. However, you just don’t include all those other stories. You know the ones. I’m thinking of the places where people weren’t so pleased with your work. Or where you were involved in some serious conflict. Or the time you made that big mistake. Who wants to think about all that, those Euodia and Sytyche moments.
I am sobered by the knowledge that when God judges me I won’t be writing the resume`.
