Philippians 4:6 ESV
A Watch-Pot Never Boils
Of all the sayings in all the world, this is the one that baffles me the most!
Why is that?
It’s because it is so absolutely true…and I have no idea why.
All I know is that when I first thought about including this saying in the lessons, I could visualize me waiting for something to start boiling and I immediately felt anxious.
The watch-pot IS a crazy maker. But it’s not the pot boiling that is the root cause. I think it’s possible that the root cause shows deeper issues. When we do not receive instant answers, we become anxious.
The Apostle Paul wrote about anxiety in the First Century in Philippians 4:6 and he said, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
I think that is a shocking and revealing scripture because it probably means the desire for instant answers was present even in the first century.
It means anxiety was prevalent even then. Even then God saw man’s desire to get instant answers.
More than 2000 years ago, man had a desire to snap his finger and bring about the desired change.
Man is anxious for results.
But, here’s the question we need to grapple with: how can we get our desired results? And, more to the point, do we know what the correct desired result really is?
I’ve come to believe that what I think I need isn’t what I really need…it’s what I want. I don’t believe that’s purely from a selfish (self-ish) attitude. That desire is only part of the picture.
Allow me to elaborate. Let’s say a girl named Sue sees a new girl in town who has a red bow in her hair. (Work with me on this). All the girls in that town start to notice the new girl who has a red bow in her hair. They all decide they want to be friends with the new girl who has a red bow in her hair.
Sue doesn’t have a red bow she can put in her hair. So, she goes to her mother and tells her she needs a red bow for her hair.
Her mother questions her about why she thinks she needs a red bow for her hair. Sue has never asked for a red bow for her hair before, so Sue tries to convince her mother she must have a red bow for her hair because it will make her happy. Because Sue continues to talk about wanting a red bow for her hair, her Mother looks for a red bow when she goes to the store. Her Mother really tries to get a red bow for her daughter, but she can’t find one anywhere. She tells her daughter she tried, but she couldn’t find a red bow anywhere. Her Mother finds a bright pink bow and she knows Sue likes pink so she buys her a new bright pink bow. Sue tells her Mother bright pink is not red and she needs a red bow. Then, Sue’s Mother prays for her daughter.
Sue becomes anxious about not having a red bow for her hair. There were a few other girls in her class who found a red bow when they saw the new girl with the red bow, but Sue doesn’t have a red bow for her hair. Will people like her? Will they make fun of her?
Sue even begins to wonder how she can go back to school when she doesn’t have a red bow for her hair. Sue’s parents try to talk with her about her desire to have a red bow for her hair but they can’t seem to get her to let go of her obsession with the red bow.
So, what is Sue’s issue with not having a red bow for her hair? Is it the red bow?
Of course it’s not.
The root cause is how Sue perceives herself and what she really needs or wants.
The point is, from time to time we all have red bow moments. Humans want to be loved and accepted.
The Apostle Paul knew that.
Paul writing about anxiety to the church in Philippi wasn’t an accident. God saw anxiety present in Philippi and the Spirit led Paul to see it, too.
Here’s the punchline…Paul knew the answer for the people there (and for Sue) was that the need we/she had wasn’t the root cause. Paul knew the issue was a hidden need humans possess. Paul knew his own story of longing for his version of the red bow.
Paul had studied his whole life to be a success. By human standards at the time he did everything right. He had obtained great success. He had studied under Gamaliel, the great scholar. Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisees, but that did not fulfill his greatest desire. He was still driven to find his red bow.
Then one day while he was on the road to Damascus, he saw a great light. We know that Saul of Tarsus was persecuting the people of the Way (Christians). We are told in Acts 9:1-2,” “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”
Saul’s purpose (his red bow) was to arrest people of the Way of Jesus. He thought God wanted him to do that.
Then in Acts 9:3-9, we read that Jesus appeared to Saul, “Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”
Saul, now called Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus.
Saul thought he was doing what God wanted him to do by persecuting the people of the Way. His persecution of the people of the Way was his red bow. Then when Jesus appeared to him everything changed instantly. What Saul/Paul really needed was Jesus/God.
Even though we often think the red bow is the prize, deep down we need what only God can fill. Sue was anxious for the prize of the red bow. Saul’s red bow was arresting the people of the Way. Then, Jesus/God appeared to him and in an instant everything changed.
I think it’s possible that Paul was so determined to arrest the people of the Way that he was anxious about it. Then when Jesus/God appeared to him Saul, now Paul turned to God and he forgot all about his anxiety.
Jesus covered Paul with His great love and nothing else mattered.
God took care of the girl who so wanted the red bow, as well. One day at lunch the girl with the red bow was looking for a place to sit and Sue had an open spot beside her. Sue told her she loved her red bow, and the new girl (Jane) told her, “Really? I have lots of red bows and I’ll bring you one tomorrow.”
See, Jane was a believer and she loved helping others. The two girls became best friends, and even as adults they were known as Sue and Jane, and their red bows.
Spiritual Practice: Give
Ask Jesus to show you how to give love.
In God, Deborah
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