As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once.
Philippians 4:15-16 NLT
Paul was not just the vessel used by God to start a number of churches in Asia; he remained a continuous blessing to them through his oversight, visits, prayers, letters and dispatch of emissaries to them. One would have thought that one way the churches would have shown their gratitude was to support Paul. Alas, this was not so. Paul openly declared this in his epistle to the church in Philippi, which was the only exception. This situation was not a secret, as Paul said, "As you know…"
The Philippian church was doing what not everyone was doing and continued at it. They were not intimidated by the others not doing it. One could be tempted to argue that may be the other churches were not aware of Paul's situation. However, must Paul beg before they know he was to be supported?
What do we say of the church in Galatia that was taught through the writings of their mentor that "Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches" (Galatians 6:6 NKJV).
What do we say of the church in Corinth that was supporting the 'super apostles' that came their way after they were established that Paul had to challenge them, "If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ." (1 Corinthians 9:11-12 NKJV)
It was obvious that the other churches knew the right thing to do. Nevertheless, they did not do the right thing. Nevertheless, unlike the others, the Philippian church did the right thing and continued in it. They refused to be intimidated by the passiveness of the bigger and older churches.
How often have we stopped doing the right thing because we realize we are the only one doing it. On realizing that even the 'super brothers and sisters' do not even do it, we question what our stress is after all. We too tend to compromise when we realize that other Christians in our circle have long compromised on that issue. Even when we still have the urge to go on with the right thing, we refused because we do not want the backlash from others, which could be verbal and non-verbal. We do not want to be looked at cynically as the 'holier than thou'. We just want to be comfortable enough to blend in with the others. Amidst the super charged spiritual ones, we step down because we do not want to be seen as a rebel. We are intimidated from doing the right things.
How many have shied away from the truth because they realize there is no one to support them, look upon as models or no like minds around. We are simply scared of being the minority and the different one.
At some point, the Philippian church sent the support while Paul was with the Thessalonica church, another church that was not doing what they were doing. Sometimes, we are bold to stand by the right in front of some but when it comes to doing it before people who should know but are not doing we backtrack and soft-pedal. Probably because we do not want our right actions to paint them in bad light as their passiveness becomes obvious. Therefore, we are intimidated because we want them to look good. The people in Philippi church were not 'environmental do goods'.
Even when we allow ourselves to be intimidated and we refuse to do the right thing; it still does not change the right thing from being the right thing.
Oh that we might be courageous enough to insist on the right thing even when it seems unpopular like the Christians in Philippi did amidst the other churches.
