stephen R Harrison

(Read Philippians 3:18-19)

I vividly remember my parents telling me often to choose my friends wisely. They desired me to befriend other Christians and spend most of my time with them. It wasn’t that they didn’t want me hanging around or being friendly to those who weren’t believers. They knew “bad company corrupts good behavior” (1 Corinthians 15:33).  They encouraged me to be a witness and good example to those far from Christ. They didn’t want me influenced by those who didn’t walk with Jesus.     

In Philippians 3:18-19, Paul warned the church at Philippi of those “who live as enemies of the cross of Christ.” These were people living in enmity to the saving nature of Christ. They were either Jewish and placed their faith in the law to save (3:2ff) or Gentile and lived completely contrary and in opposition to Christianity.  These could have been people who professed to be Christian but whose witness disgraced the name of Jesus they claimed to serve. Paul wanted them to share Christ with everyone but not be influenced by those who practiced anti-Christian habits. 

Paul warned them more than once because they continued disregarding his warnings or because of how highly influential these people were. While probably both reasons were true, this was no small caution. He warned them “with tears” (v. 18) as he loved them dearly, and the thought of them being hurt or drawn away from the true nature of Christlikeness was deeply concerning. Paul said these people had “destruction as their destiny,” meaning they were bound for hell as they had denied the only hope of salvation, Christ alone. 

He also said, “Their god is their stomach,” which may have been about consuming clean and unclean foods as adherents to Judaism or just chasing fleshly feelings. Either way, Paul warned them that Christians do not live that way. “Their glory” was also “their shame,” which may be about boasting about their circumcision and believing it was needed for salvation. Paul was teaching them and us that you cannot add anything to the gospel, believers need the right spiritual examples, and we must allow our minds, flesh, or eternity to be affected by those who make Jesus the Lord of everything.

Questions for the Head (Think)

• Are there people in your life who are negatively influencing your walk with Christ?

Reflection for the Heart (Worship)

• Ask the Lord to give you a heart for the lost and see the urgency of sharing the gospel with them. Allow Him to distinguish between witnessing and conforming to the lost.

Action for the Hands (Do)

• Whom do you know that is far from Christ?  Have you shared your testimony and the gospel with them? Make plans to do so.  Are you influencing them more for Christ, or are they influencing you more away from Christ? How do you shift the relationship more towards influencing them?