Philippians 4:1-5 “Get Over It”

Could you imagen the excitement a letter from Paul would bring to the Philippian church? The whole church is assembled to hear it. You can hear whispers “I wonder what he will say”, What did he think of our gift?” “Does he mention me? Am I in it?” Then they start to read and what a wonderful letter it is. Then you hear your name and you bustle up with pride until the rest of the sentence is read. These two women’s squabble over something is immortalized forever in the Bible.

This argument is not about faith matters or Paul would have given them a solution to the debate. This is something serous like what time to have the potluck, or whether the pews should be square to the front or diagonal. Something important like what color robes the choir was going to wear.

If we are honest we must admit that many more churches fail to grow, fail to carry out the work of Jesus in this world because of squabbles over personal preferences than over good or bad theology. The favorite hymn of a dead church is “Have my own way”. Paul’s answer to these squabbles is get over it. But how do we do this?

1.       Focus on the work to be done.
a. they have labored side by side with Paul for the Gospel
b. we have a job to do
c. people are lost, broken, hurting and headed for hell
d. whatever is keeping you from the work of God, get over it.
e. put it in perspective of importance.
f. stop fighting each other and start fighting the devil

2.       Your names are in the Book of life
a. isn’t salvation enough?
b. isn’t God’s love enough?
c. isn’t heaven enough?
d. we are on the same team.
e. we are both in the Book of Life!

What will our church be a year from now? Will we be doing the work of Jesus in this world five years from now? It will most likely depend on how we treat each other. How we talk to each other. Seriously “Get over it” and get to work for Jesus.