"Let your forbearance* be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand."
Philippians 4:5. American Standard Version
By Dr. David Mcgrew
Philippians 3:17 through 4:9 contains a treasure trove of truth and wisdom for helping to make awkward relationships work, and it doesn’t show up any more pointedly than it does right here in verse 5.
The marginal note for verse 5’s forbearance* gives us an alternate rendering of ‘gentleness.’ Bible gentleness is not a weak expression of softness refusing to express strength. Gentleness is more akin to a restrained strength that guards itself against being overly firm; bullying, we might say, but nevertheless remains willing to be as strong as may be required to express the order of the Lord. That draws a different picture than unbiblical passivity.
It’s the second sentence of verse 5 that is so fascinating, though. ‘The Lord is near’ can be read at least two different ways.
First, it can be read like the Lord’s return is imminent, so conduct your relationships knowing you will have to give an account. You’d better behave like a believer (and of course you should).
But it’s the second that’s our thought for today. The Lord’s nearness can easily mean He’s with you and able to bring His presence, through the proper prayer (that Paul later mentions), into the relationships we pray for. Verse 6’s well-remembered exhortation, ‘in nothing be anxious,’ ties easily to the foundation of the Lord’s nearness as if it were a stand-alone admonition. The teaching on prayer follows that reminder of the Lord being near.
Both of these verses follow Paul’s instructions for some workers, apparently in disagreement, to ‘agree in the Lord.’ He even went so far as to solicit relational help from an individual.
But helping, without the Lord’s help, is often not helpful at all. And, as we all have learned, sometimes helping doesn’t stick the first time. When it doesn’t, anxiety is often a short-term fruit.
In those moments of anxiety, let’s remember that the Lord is right here in the awkwardness and turn to him in prayer, asking him to restore what is beyond our abilities or circumstances.