Philippians 4:10

“But. rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length ye have revived your thought for me; wherein ye did indeed take thought, but ye lacked opportunity”

“One of Paul's purposes in writing Philippians was to give written expression to his gratitude for the gift received. Says C.R. Erdman, ‘This message of thanks is. rare blending of affection, of dignity, of delicacy, with. certain undertone of gentle pleasantry. It is an embodiment of ideal Christian courtesy'” (Hendriksen p. 203).

“But”: Marking. transition in subjects from Philippians 4:1-9. “I rejoice in the Lord”: This. joy that is motivated by the highest possible considerations. “Its connection with the Lord is evident when we see the unselfish, spiritual quality of this joy” (Lenski p. 886). “I gave joyful thanks to the Lord (when. received your gift)” (Bruce p. 148).

Paul always brings everything back to the Lord, because it was the gospel message which had changed the Philippians and had moved them to be this generous (2 Corinthians 8:5). The Philippians had to cooperate and they had done well (1 Peter 4:14), yet the Lord should get the full credit for planning and making possible the Christian lifestyle (Philippians 4:20). Muller says, “Not only natural joy for the gift received, but. joy experienced in the Lord, because the gift stood in connection with the cause of the Lord, was sent as. support for His servant in prison, and gave evidence of Christian love and sympathy in the Church” (p. 145). Jackson reminds us, ‘There is no true rejoicing out of Christ” (p. 85). That last comment brings up another angle to the expression "in the Lord". Hawthorne says, “By saying that his joy was ‘in the Lord' he was saying that it was thoroughly Christian, flowing out of his union with Christ and therefore totally free from ingratitude or resentment” (p. 196).

“Greatly”: “How grateful. am” (Tay). Great joy is. mark of the Christian experience (Acts 8:8; Acts 15:3). Something is wrong with our implementation of the teachings of Christ, if we do not experience some "great joy" now and then. Lenski says, “It lets us see how surprised and delighted Paul was when. handsome gift was so unexpectedly presented to him by the messenger from the Philippian church” (p. 886). This verse should make us seriously reflect upon our relationship with our brethren and God. Paul received great joy from what many would consider to be. simple contribution, yet Paul could see the wonderful growth and attitudes behind what the world would consider as. small thing. Let's guard our ability to rejoice greatly in the "small things"?

“That now at length ye have revived your thought for me”: “That now at last you have revived your concern for me” (NASV). “At length”: “At last, hinting of implied hindrances” (Jackson p. 85). “The phrase at last might imply, if it stood by itself, that the Philippians had let an inordinately long time elapse since last they sent Paul. gift; but the context shows that no such reflection is intended” (Bruce p. 148). “Revived”: “To sprout again, to shoot up, to blossom again” (Jackson p. 85). “As soon as the news of Paul's imprisonment had become known in Philippi the desire had sprung up ‘to do something' to help him. But at first no favorable opportunity had presented itself” (Hendriksen p. 204). “Wherein ye did indeed take thought, but ye lacked opportunity”: “Though your care indeed never failed” (Con). “For what you lacked was never the care but the chance of showing it” (Mof). “He hastens to say that what they lacked was not sympathy but the chance of showing it” (Erdman p. 146). The Philippians provide us with an excellent practical example. Often Christians will find themselves in situations in which they greatly desire to do something specific for God, but either lack the resources or the favorable circumstances to make their desire. reality. The Philippians would tell us, “Keep that desire alive, for often the opportunity will come in time”. This section also comforts those who are aged or sick and cannot presently meet with Christians or teach classes. God is fair. He understands such situations. Yet note carefully, God is only understanding towards those who have the desire to serve Him. “As soon as this situation changed, the Philippians had acted with characteristic enthusiasm and devotion” (Hendriksen p. 204).

“The durative present tense states that the Philippians have always had Paul in mind” (Lenski p. 887). The text does not say what specifically the hindrance was or what created this lack of opportunity. We know that some six years previous, Paul described these same brethren as being in deep poverty (2 Corinthians 8:1).