“Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think on these things. Do those things which you have both learned and received, and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.” (rf. Philippians 4:8-9 MEV)
Earlier in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi, he commands God’s people to “rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice!” (4:4). Later in the same chapter, he says of himself, “I rejoiced in the Lord” (4:10). Some may say in response that Paul was just expressing that he was a happy man in a happy place in his life. That is not the case at all. His command to “rejoice” and his own experience doing the same stands in stark contrast to his situation at the time when he was writing this particular epistle. He was in prison, not knowing if he would be released to freedom or if he would be put to death (1:19-26). For most of us, being in prison for any reason would be most disheartening. For the Apostle Paul, because of his trust and faith in the Lord, he could “rejoice”!
It is important for us to see what Paul understood implicitly—the connection of our attitude lies with the Lord and not our circumstances, background, previous ills done to us, etc. If anyone had justification for being negative, Paul did…but he did not allow negativity to rule his life. He knew the Lord was in control of everything including his circumstances. How he responded to those circumstances was totally up to him.
Within this context, it is easy to see how Paul maintained a positive outlook despite the tenuousness and uncertainty surrounding him. He did exactly what he encourages his fellow believers in Philippi to do: “think on these things” (i.e. the things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtue and praise). His was a very positive outlook at all times grounded in his thought-life and attitude.
Paul is teaching God’s people that a negative attitude, though very tempting to pursue in bad times, is not really an option. By the grace of God we are capable in the worst of circumstances to have and maintain an optimistic perspective because we serve the God who has the best of ends in view. This does not mean that everything will always work out the way we want or believe that it should. It does mean that, if we truly trust the Lord and His Word to us, we will focus our attention on Him and use the strength and fortitude that He has given to each of us in Christ to overcome the world…along with our penchant to go negative when the conditions around us do the same.
Let us commit to seeing our present context through His eyes and heart. Only then can we have and put forth a positive attitude at all times.
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