What's Your Rep?

“Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand” (Philippians 4:5).

For Thomas Edison, it’s the light bulb. The Wright boys Wilbur and Orville made a name for themselves for powered flight. We’ll always remember Rosa Parks for her courage to keep her seat on the bus. Cameron Crowe's film tells the story of a wannabe writer who was "Almost Famous." And who can forget the Kardashians who are famous for…famous for…famous for what exactly?!? Famous for being famous? How about you? What’s your rep? What are you known for? 

Paul tells us we should be famous for not wanting to win. “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand” (v5). I realize this wasn’t how Dale Earnhardt earned his nickname as the Intimidator. He’s famous for saying, “Second place is just the first place loser.” That might be how you get to Victory Lane at the track, but not in life. Just like Jesus who’s encore is right around the corner, we should be well known for helping others to succeed and be first.

You might think the apostle writes from a pie-in-the-sky-sweet-by-and-by perspective. All that consideration for others stuff may work for him as a pastor and missionary, but not in the real world. Slow your roll and remember where Paul is when he writes to his friends in Philippi. He’s behind bars in Rome and he’s been in the joint for about five years since his original arrest in Jerusalem at the temple riot (Acts 21:30-36). So the man from Tarsus isn’t writing this call to graciousness from an ivory tower. Despite being  an innocent man, the apostle is in the slammer. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be telling my friends to be reasonable if I were doing hard time in Caesar’s supermax. A cake with a file? Yes. Now THAT would be reasonable!

What exactly does the apostle mean when he says, “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone” (v5)? Well, a closer look at the original text would probably help us out. Where the ESV translators give us “reasonableness” is the Greek word epieikes. This term has a boatload of meaning. Everything from gentleness, graciousness, fairness, forbearance, consideration to moderation. According to MacArthur, it can mean contentment with generosity toward others, or mercy toward others’ faults and failures, and even patience when suffering unjustly. Think graciousness and humility. A willingness to yield despite having every right to be first in line. Hmm, Who does THAT sound like? (Feel free to flip back to Philippians 2:1-11 just in case it slipped your mind.)

Check out how the writers of the NT use this word epieikes. Paul tells his boy Tim how “an overseer must be…not a drunkard, not violent but gentle (Gr. epieikes), not quarrelsome, not a lover of money” (1Tim 3:2, 3). Later he encourages Titus to tell folks in his congregation “to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle (Gr. epieikes), and to show perfect courtesy toward all people” (Titus 3:2). Jesus’ kid brother James writes how God’s wisdom “is first pure, then peaceable, gentle (Gr. epieikes), open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere” (James 3:17). Peter tells us to be good employees whether our bosses are “good and gentle (Gr. epieikes) but also to the unjust” (1Pet 2:18). 

Don’t mistake “gentle” for “doormat.” You may have the ability to fight for first place doesn’t mean it’s the best thing to do. Paul says just because you can doesn’t mean you should. God gives the followers of Jesus an inner strength and power to step back and let others get the win. Check out how the Message puts this part of the verse. “Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them” (v5 The Message). Instead of a wimpy weakling, picture a 300-pound pulling guard ready to pancake a linebacker so his teammate can get to the end zone. “Doormat?” I think not!

If we’re going to be in the headlines for something, it should be for clearing the way for others to succeed. “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone” (v5). The Kardashians may be famous for simply being famous (how in the world does THAT happen?!?), we’re to earn a rep for unselfishness. Let the watching world see just how gentle and gracious you are. “Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit)” (v5 AMP).In other words, Paul wants his readers to become famous for following Jesus by being Jesus to their friends and neighbors.

Take a look around. Who needs your help? Who’s struggling to just to stay in the race much less finish first? Who has Jesus placed in your life that you can assist and get the win? And think back to those people who’ve been there for you when you were down for the count after life sucker punched you. Where would you be without these folks who weren’t worried about winning and came to your rescue?

The apostle seems to drop a phrase out of nowhere that initially doesn’t make any sense. “The Lord is at hand” (v5). This can mean a couple of things. He’s either saying that Christ is just about to make His long-promised encore or He’s closer than we realize. In other words, the word here (Gr. eggus) can mean refer to either time (about to arrive) or space (right around the corner). Well, our Savior did say once everything was in place, He would make His spectacular comeback (Mk 13:3-31). In the meantime, “Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come” (Mk 13:33). Or Paul could be talking about how our risen Lord is right here with us. Just before He physically headed home to heaven, Jesus promised, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20). Whether we’re talking time or space, Jesus is right around the corner. 

Until Christ comes back, let’s do what we can to earn a rep for reasonableness. Let’s be known for humbly helping others win in life. Let’s be known for Christlike unselfishness. Let’s be famous for serving others. Isn’t that reasonable?