215 Philippians: Loving Much and Well

There are many kinds of prayer and many reasons for prayer, but most of the time, it seems that we pray when there is a need or crisis. Such prayers are appropriate and powerful! But is that all God had in mind when He gave us the gift of prayer? Was its sole purpose to serve as a spiritual fire extinguisher with the sign stating, “Break glass in case of emergency”?

I decided to do some research by studying how the Apostle Paul prayed. Multiple times in the letters he wrote to the churches he planted, we find these wonderful prayers. These prayers are more than just for the obvious needs. They go much deeper.

We have one of those prayers recorded in Philippians 1:9-11.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

This is more than simply asking God to “be with” them! Paul is praying that they would grow in their capacity to love.

Let’s look at four keywords in this prayer that we can bring into our own prayers – for ourselves and others.

1.     Abound: “perissos” – meaning no limit, exceedingly, out of measure.

It’s in the present progressive tense, which means it is ongoing. Literally, Paul is saying, “may your love expand more and more and more. May you be more loving today than you were last year and may you be more loving a year from now than you are today.”

For Paul, living a life characterized by love mattered more than anything. (1 Cor. 13)

2.     Knowledge: “epignosis” - full knowledge; not merely knowledge about something but knowledge born of personal encounter and involvement

If we want to love a person well, we must know them well. So many of our relationships are superficial. Even in families and among friends. We don’t really know each other. Is it any wonder our love is so shallow?

3.     Insight: aesthesis - moral discernment, especially in ethical matters

The word has to do with making wise decisions in the heat of the moment. Have you ever felt pressured by someone who said, “If you love me, you’ll do this”? Yet the reality is the most loving thing to do is to say no. "No, I'm not going to lie for you.” “I’m not going to cover for you.” “I’m not going to enable you or join in that behavior.”

4.     Discern: “dokimazo” – test, prove, scrutinize

Paul is challenging these folks to be careful and not be fooled. It may not be an issue of right and wrong but good, better, and best. “Is this what’s best?”

I want to love well and love much, don’t you? Let’s start praying that very thing.

Text: Philippians 1:7-11 

Originally recorded on June 22, 2008, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN