Think On These Things

Think on These Things

Philippians 4:4/12

“Finally, brethren whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, and whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, think on these things.”

This is perhaps one of the most quoted verses in the entire book of Philippians. I believe the reason is that it offers so much insight concerning our thought process and how we should conduct our daily lives.

Living in an age of turmoil and strife where there are so many negative reports, it’s good to hear and have a positive input. Someone has said, “You are what you eat.” Well I don’t know about that, but I do believe we are affected by our thoughts and what we hear and the things we see.

The prophet Jeremiah said, “What my eyes beheld affected my heart because of the daughters of Zion.”

The age that we live in is visual, with subliminal ads that say one thing while suggesting another. Most of the sermons are filled with visual aids; which is part of the social media of this generation. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, well, I don’t have any pictures but I do have a few words I would like to say tonight.

The Apostle Paul sums it all up with the word FINALLY in verse eight. Listen to the words in this verse, TRUE in speech in the things we say. HONEST in our everyday action. JUST to be just with regard to others. PURE that our motives be pure with regards to self. LOVELY what can be as lovely as truth?

OF A GOOD REPORT, I have read the back of book, we win, and we have a good report and should share it with others. IF THERE BE ANY VIRTURE all virtues are contained in justice. THINK ON THESE THINGS.

During the early days of Paul’s ministry there were false teachers proclaiming things untrue, for example, it was reported that “The rapture had taken place.” This caused concern in the body of Christ so Paul had to address this is issue. Since the inception of time there had been deception and those who didn’t believe truth.

So Paul takes this opportunity to share with them the more excellent way, stating, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE TRUE, the word true refers to everything that is the reverse of falsehood. They were to be true to their engagements; true to their promises; true in their statements; and true in their relationships.

They were to maintain the truth about God; about eternity; about the judgment; and about every man’s character. Truth represents things as they are; we should always speak the truth. A man, who is false in his statements and promises, is one who will always disgrace his witness.

In the book of Acts, chapter five “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold their possessions. They kept back part of the price, and brought a portion, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” Now when you lie there are consequences, our grandchildren if caught in a fib they are given a time out, for me it was a whipping. But for this couple who lied, it was sudden death.

They had sold their possession but kept back a part of the price. What they offered to the disciples was a portion of what they had received from the sale of the land.

“Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Ghost and to keep back a part of the price of the land? When Ananias heard these words he fell down, and gave up the ghost; and great fear came on all that heard what had happened.”

So, I purpose this question. Are we always truthful in the things that we say? Is our conversation sometimes clouded with half-truths that color the story to make it more interesting?

It’s always good to be honest, Paul stated, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE HONEST, proper, reverend or honorable. Whatever is serious, decent, and dignified, become you and me, as citizens and Christians. As believers we are to show respect to all proper customs of society, when they do not violate our conscience or interfere with the law of God.

Sometime being honest is painful, but it is always in order. When you are dishonest, you usually have to tell the second lie to cover the first, and many times you don’t remember what you said in the first place, this is why it is so important to just be honest.

So we move to this statement, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE JUST, A man should always be just in his business affairs. A Christian should be just in all his relations. Our religion does not exempt us from the strict laws which bind people to exercise this virtue, and there is no way that the believer can do more harm than being unjust in his dealings.