“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be
any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things,
which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the
God of peace shall be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).
Introduction
The teaching about staying positive in the Christian faith has
been adulterated by the so-called Faith and Prosperity Movement. Instead of
maintaining a Biblical approach to this important truth, certain preachers have
introduced both pagan practices and psychological notions into the mix. We must
not allow the devil to rob us of the blessings of thinking the way God wants us
to, nor reject Paul’s teaching here just because some abuse the text.
Paul suggests six Christian ideals, and each one amplifies the
beauty and peace of God into our lives, so that the world of fear, filth and
faithlessness can be overcome. He asks us to fill our minds with: -
1. Truth
The first desire of any true believer is to be filled with the
knowledge of God. This should be accomplished by reading and studying the
Scriptures. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy
2:15). Once we accept that God’s “word is truth” (John 17:17), then
the Holy Spirit will “guide” us “into all truth” (John
16:13). Though nature reveals something of God (Psalm 19), it is not as reliable
source of knowledge as the Bible, for only His word can set us free from the
world’s illusions and delusions. “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free … If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be
free indeed” (John 8:32, 36).
2.
Honesty
The word “honest” actually refers to ‘honourable’
things, which means that only those things that are worthy of honour and praise
ought to be upheld and promoted by us. These things are always according to true
standards of righteousness and holiness rather than the world’s ever changing
morality. Also, if do something that we would not want others to see, then it is
not honest but sinful. “Providing for honest things, not only in the sight
of the Lord, but also in the sight of men” (2 Corinthians 8:21) … “Having
your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against
you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify
God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12). The believer ought always to
be dignified in all his or her actions and manner.
3. Just
Righteousness, which the word “just” means, is the hallmark
of genuine Christianity, for it governs the hearts and minds of all who love
God. “That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of
the righteous” (Proverbs 2:20). How can we live right or justly if we do
not commit ourselves to obeying God’s will? “That the righteousness of
the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit” (Romans 8:4). Also we cannot ignore the need of justice and mercy
in our interaction with others. “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good;
and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and
to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8).
4.
Purity
This is absolutely opposite to the cesspool morality of the
world. We do not need to do what they do, say what they say, or even think like
they think. “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians
5:22). If we engage in the same filth they do, then we will not come out of it
unblemished. The purity Paul speaks of must never be contaminated. This is the
only condition Jesus expects His true church to be in on His return. “That
he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle,
or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians
5:27). We must fill our minds with purity rather than filth. “Unto the pure
all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing
pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled” (Titus 1:15). We can
only do this if we aim at being pure “even as he is pure” (1 John
3:3).
5.
Loveliness
“Lovely” must be understood in the light of the word
“pure”, for it too stands opposed to the moral ugliness of this fallen
world. Loveliness is found in doing those things that please God. Such
loveliness becomes part of our nature when we want nothing more than to serve
the Lord and be in His presence. “How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD
of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my
heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God” (Psalm 84:1-2). Our
conduct ought to ooze the love of God in us. In modern terminology we could say
that Christians should be ‘loveable’ people.
6. Good
report
We all love to listen to the latest juicy gossip, but in reality
it is a cancer that rots away at our peace with God. Gossip is usually about
something bad anyway, so it is certainly not true, honest. just, pure or lovely.
Gossip is fashioned to destroy the reputation of others, but a “good report”
seeks their well-being. This “good report” deals with our daily conduct too.
Like Demetrius we must have a “good report of all men” (3 John :12)
for our godly lifestyles. Our final “good report”, when we stand before
God’s throne, will due to our serving God by faith. “For by it the elders
obtained a good report” (Hebrews 11:2).
Conclusion
Paul adds the word “virtue” or ‘excellence’ to express
the need of all the above and everything that comes from them. A Christian
should aim for spiritual and moral excellence. “That ye may approve things
that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of
Christ” (Philippians 1:10). Excellence is the character and nature of
Christ in us, and only that is worthy of “praise”. “And beside this,
giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to
knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And
to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these
things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor
unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these
things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged
from his old sins” (1 Peter 1:5-9).
It is these things Paul wants us to fill our minds with, for the
word “think” is more than meditation or contemplation, instead it is
referring to the very foundation of who we are and the stability of our
Christian lives. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs
23:7) … “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth
itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought
to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). While “think”
obviously means to ‘consider thoroughly’, ‘ponder’ and ‘reason’, the
true meaning implies the need to be spiritually and Scripturally logical. The
Greek word underlying “think” is ‘logizesthe’ and is an educational term
meaning to ‘calculate’ and ‘reckon’. This means that we ought to
seriously consider applying these virtues to our daily lives, for without them
we cannot truly claim to be Christians. While there is nothing wrong with saying
that we need to be positive in our thinking, within the context of Scripture, it
may be better to say that we must be ‘sanctified’ in our thinking. “Let
the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your
hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16-17) … “Blessed is the man that
walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the
LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree
planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his
leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly
are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the
ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the
righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the
ungodly shall perish” (Psalm 1). Thinking in this way will transform our
lives for the good. “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind”
(Ephesians 4:23) … “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things
of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit”
(Romans 8:5).
Lastly, Paul indicates that these things need to be acted upon,
that is, put into action if we are to know God’s peace in our lives. What is
the good of knowing the truth if we do not act upon it? “Therefore to him
that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).
Right thinking will produce holy results in our daily lives. We do not merely
contemplate the concepts raised by Paul, but after reflection, we put them into
practice.
