It has long been on record, and has been perpetually illustrated in all the generations since, that: "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." Prov 13:20 The truth embodied on this divine saying has an intimate bearing on our position as obedient believers on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us occupy our minds this morning with one particular application of it. The application concerns the apostle Paul. In his defence before King Agrippa, Paul said:
" I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds." Acts 26:29
This morning we will attempt to understand something of what can be learned from the example of Paul's life. We will look not so much at the beliefs of this great man and the reason he stood before Agrippa, but his character, the way in which he conducted himself in his daily activities, and the way in which he can be an example for us in living the Truth, as well as believing it.
We know that Paul and his work are of as vital consequence to us as those on whom they were brought to bear in the first century; that through the invitation and instruction sent from God by his hand we may attain to life everlasting; and that, apart from them, we have no hope whatever, however fine our philosophical or literary notions may be, or however high our conceptions may be of present day attainments. Our objective is to bring Paul to bear upon us in such a way as to measure ourselves, and to see ourselves as we appear in the light of the divine standard.
Paul as a Model
Nothing is plainer in the whole course of the apostolic testimony than that Paul is a Christ-appointed model for us to copy. We have first Christ's own declaration concerning Paul to Ananias of Damascus. "But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel" Acts 9:15 KJV. A man chosen by Christ must needs be a safe example for all the servants of Christ to follow. Paul commands - and what he wrote were the commandments of the Lord - "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 1 Cor 11:1 The sense in which he means this is made abundantly evident in many places. He tells us expressly for instance, that he, though a persecutor, received mercy: " Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." 1 Tim 1:16
Paul gives us to understand that as he received mercy, so mercy will be shown to others whose lives before they believed might give them cause for fear that they could not be accepted. Accordingly, to the Philippians he says: "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." Phil 4:9 In other words Paul is saying that God will be with you if you do what I have done. Again Paul writes: "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. Phil 3:17 Watch those who walk as I do, he says, and join them. To the Corinthians he speaks plainly that they can use his life to pattern their own:
"For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. 1 Cor 4:15-17
To Timothy he commends his own example saying: "But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience," 2 Tim 3:10 To the Thessalonians he says:
Some might consider these words egotistical. Such, however, judge by a false standard in the matter. It is not egotistical, according to the scriptural standard, for a person devoid of self love to declare the truth concerning himself, when that declaration is necessary. Paul was no self lover; but if he was an appointed example from Christ of the sort of person Christ would choose from mankind for association with himself in glory, it was kind and necessary that Paul should testify this, and hold the fact well in the front. The fact stands so, and Paul has acted in accordance with the fact; and our wisdom is to study the pattern, that we may copy it, and stand with Paul in the resurrection, which is at the door.
It is our lot to live long after Paul's day; consequently, we have not the privilege of personal interaction with him. It is in our power, notwithstanding, to study his character, and realise our model. Perhaps it is more in our power to do this now than if he were alive. A person's life can often be more accurately understood when looked at as a whole, than when contemplated amidst the bustle and the prejudices and the limited information of the contemporary generation.
Let us look at a few of the points in the portrait of our beloved brother Paul, always remembering that we look at it for the purposes of copying a model, and that we act inconsistently with our calling if we yield to the temptation of saying, “I am not Paul.”
Paul's Devotion
At the first rough glance, what do we see? Why, that Paul did not belong to the church of Laodicea! We will remember the character of that ecclesia, as sketched by Christ to John in Patmos. It was lukewarm – neither cold nor hot, and yet on very good terms with itself. It said, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” It was not aware that its spiritual attainments, so highly estimated in its self complacency, were of a very sickly and meagre aspect in the eyes of the spirit of God – so much so as to lead Jesus to declare that they were wretched, and poor, and miserable, and blind and naked”. Paul had no such high estimate of himself. He says to the Philippians:
"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Phil 3:13-14
To the Corinthians he said:
"But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." 1 Cor 9:27
Nevertheless, though thinking thus modestly of himself, he was not afraid to declare before the Jewish council, "...Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." Acts 23:1 Finally, at the end of his probation, his last words, were words of confidence – truthful but not vainglorious:
"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." 2 Tim 4:7-8
From this, we understand that a person may be characterised by sentiments of self depreciation, and yet consistently indulge in self assertion, if a good conscience warrant it, and the occasion require.
Paul's Commitment
Paul was as unlike the brethren and sisters of Laodicea as possible in their lukewarmness. If there is one thing about him that stands out more strikingly than another, it is his earnest, ardent, thorough-going, uncompromising and warm hearted identification with all things pertaining to Christ. His was no yea and nay, half and half addiction in the service of Christ. His earnest enthusiasm was such that he was reputed “beside himself.” His answer is:
"For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more." 2 Cor 5:13-16
Again he declares:
"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ," Phil 3:8
and
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Phil 1:21
The general aspect of his approach and devotion is vigorously drawn in the following words:
"We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day." 1 Cor 4:10-13
Why did Paul have this Devotion?
What was the nature of this extraordinary devotion on the part of Paul to Christ? Was it merely the result of an ardent temperament? Was it mere peculiarity of Paul's natural man? We would be wrong, and weaken the power of his example, if we were to answer “Yes” to these questions. There can be no doubt that Paul was a person of a warm nature – the fitting soil for the good seed of the Kingdom – but even a person of a warm nature cannot be warm without something to be warm about. Enthusiasm, however strongly it may exist in a person's breast, requires something to stir it. It is in the nature of the facts before Paul's mind that we are to find the true explanation of the zeal that led him to renounce the ordinary objects of human life, and to throw himself entirely into a matter that appeared without reason to the ordinary run of people.
The importance of recognising this lies in the fact that what stirred Paul's enthusiasm will stir ours. If we believe the same things, we can experience the same results. A person's enthusiasm always runs in the channel of his practical convictions. People around us are in earnest about present matters whenever they believe there is good in them. Let a promising commercial enterprise be brought under a person's notice – an opportunity of promotion – an avenue to honour – a way to certain wealth– and we will see the most sluggish person wake up and manifest enthusiasm in pursuing it.
Paul's was no irrational enterprise. On the contrary it was highly enlightened and essentially logical and consistent. He had a risen Christ before his mind; he recognised Christ's present existence and controlling presence in heaven; he looked forward to the certainty of standing before his judgement seat at his coming, and of receiving at his hands the unspeakable gift of immortality, and a place in the endless kingdom of God, if his present ways were acceptable to Christ. He had constantly before his face the eternal creator of heaven and earth, who, in the unity of universal presence, is near to every one of us, from whom no creature is hid, to whose eyes all things are naked and open. With this mental picture of facts before his mind, it was impossible but that he should be otherwise than earnest and enthusiastic. Anyone with similar assured convictions must feel the stirring of a similar ardour of purpose.
It is a question of faith. Every person has a faith of some sort; and their works will invariably be in accordance with it. If this professed faith and the works are out of harmony, it is because that professed faith is not a living faith. One professes confidence in a person, but will not trust him, because he secretly doubts him. If he had real confidence he would show it. Another person really has confidence in him, and shows it by putting himself, perhaps, entirely in his hands. So with commercial enterprises or private affairs in general. A person shows faith by their works. James may well say:
"Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works." James 2:18
A faith that does not express itself in acts accordant with it, is no faith. It is dead. Paul's faith was real, therefore his enthusiasm was strong, and his works in harmony. It is inappropriate and irrational to hear it set down to temperament. Such a suggestion can only emanate from those who are strangers to Paul's faith. If they had Paul's faith, they would understand Paul's fervour. All men have faith in money, and they show it, whatever their temperament may be. If all men had faith in Christ, they would show it, irrespective of peculiarities of temperament. This faith is conviction indeed, by acquaintance with the facts. The scarcity of it is due to the smallness of this acquaintance. “Faith cometh by hearing” but people will not take the trouble to hear, which, in our day means read. They turn wholly aside after pleasure or business, which monopolises the mind and leaves the facts of God's truth no opportunity of obtaining power with them and influence over them.
The point to realise is that in Paul's non-Laodicean “heat” of mind towards the things that are Christ's, he is our appointed example, and that we tread on very unsafe ground, if we excuse ourselves on the ground that we are not Paul. If we are to stand with Paul on the day of approbation, we must stand with him now in this particular; that we must be in earnest in our admiration and love, and service and obedience of Christ.
His Compassion
Another feature of the pattern is that Paul was a tender-hearted, sympathising, self sacrificing person, mindful of others, interested in the brethren and sisters, solicitous of their welfare, and compassionate of the poor. This comes out in a variety of ways. His letters abound with illustrations of it. When James, Peter and John countenanced, in a special way, the mission of Paul and Barnabas to the gentiles, they exhorted them to be mindful of the poor, “ the same”, says Paul, “which I also was forward to do”. Accordingly, we find him prominently co-operating in works of almsgiving. He tells the Corinthians:
"For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many" 2 Cor 9:1-2
Nevertheless, lest his boasting should be in vain – lest some of Macedonia should come with him and find the Corinthians unready, and he and they be ashamed together, he sent a deputation of brethren in advance of himself, to make up a certain bounty beforehand, of which they had had previous notice. He tells them that such a ministration as he was arranging for not only supplied the wants of the saints, but the “liberal distribution” was fruitful in the production of much thanksgiving, and practically useful in the manifestation of their subjection to Christ.
Personally, as he told the Ephesian elders, he coveted no one's silver or gold. His own hands had provided for the necessities of himself and those that were with him. Yet, in frequent need, the ecclesia sent unto him “once and again unto his necessity”. If, in such a case, he appeared to desire it of them, it was not in the spirit of covetousness, but as a matter of service merely, and that “fruit might abound” to their account. His exhortation was that “so labouring, they ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said it is more blessed to give than to receive”, reminding them that those who in these things served God sparingly, would reap sparingly, while a bountiful service would have a bountiful reward.
There were some from whom he was careful not to receive anything, probably because he observed a want of enlightened appreciation, and a reproachful spirit in the case. He tells the Corinthians that when he was present with them, and wanted, he was chargeable to none of them; and that which he required, the brethren visiting from Macedonia supplied. In all things, he says, he had kept himself from being burdensome to that particular ecclesia, and intended so to do; adding, with emphasis, that no one should stop his boasting on that point. So that Paul, while practising and inculcating the duty of giving, made a difference according to circumstances. He only accepted fellowship in the matter where it was done in the spirit of true service to Christ.
He had likewise a strong objection to helping those who leant upon the kindness of the brethren. He had heard that in Thessalonica there were some of this sort “working not at all”. He had even found it necessary while personally among them, to lay down this doctrine: that “if any would not work, neither should they eat.” From this it follows that Paul did not favour indiscriminate almsgiving, but practised and enjoined a robust-minded discernment as to the suitability of the causes. This however was only a minor shade in his character – necessary, certainly, but not the all distinguishing feature, as with some when invited to be merciful. Though prudent, he was no parish relieving officer. The principle feature was a benevolent concern for those who had been less favoured in the distribution of God's bounties.
A Man of Prayer
In view of Paul's habitual recognition of God, it is natural to find that he was a man of prayer. Almost the first appearance in the records of his conversion exhibits him at prayer. Jesus said to Ananias, when directing him where to find Saul, “Behold, he prayeth.” Imprisoned at Philippi, in the darkness and silence of the night, “Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises”. Bidding farewell with the Ephesian brethren at Miletus: "And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all." Acts 20:36
He prayed for the brethren and sisters of the ecclesias: "Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:" 2 Th 1:11 and "For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;" Rom 1:9
Not only did Paul pray for the brethren and sisters and the ecclesias, he asked them to pray for him and his work in the Lord. "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:" 2 Th 3:1 Paul trusted that God would answer prayer on his behalf: "But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you." Phile 1:22
Paul makes it a matter of urgent exhortation that the
brethren should give themselves to prayer saying that they should pray "always
with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all
perseverance and supplication for all saints;" Eph 6:18 However prayer must also
involve thanksgiving "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Phil
4:6
Careful Communications
Paul's familiar communications with the ecclesias were tinged with the same spirit of godliness. There is no thoughtless comment, no avoidance of allusion to the truth to conciliate the unjustified who may ensnare the ecclesia. He exemplified in himself the exhortation he gave to the brethren and sisters.
"Let your speech be alway with grace" Col 4:6 having "Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you." Titus 2:8
His salutations are all divine. In every epistle he brings God and Christ into his greetings. Are we to follow Paul, or modern atheistic or agnostic custom? If we conform to the world, we shall perish with it. Our part, our duty, our wisdom, is to conform to the image of the new man, of which Christ has given us an abundant example in Paul.
Some Unable to Conform to the Model
There may be some among the community of the saints through whom the truth may be brought into reproach because they do not conform to the Pauline standard, which is Christ. They may be contentious without being faithful, intelligent without being loving, courageous without being humble, bold without being reverent. There may be some who are self assertive without regard to others, sensitive to human opinion without the true fear of God, manly and resolute without being sympathetic and considerate. The wise will resist the influence of these, and seek rather to convert it by examples which are an exhibition of the model Christ has given us in Paul.
Summarising then, we have found a person of good conscience and modest self estimate; yet of bold self assertion when necessary; an earnest, ardent, devoted, thorough-going friend and servant of Christ; supremely, yea exclusively interested in Christ's affairs on earth, for which he entertained an appreciation amounting to enthusiasm. We have found him a benevolent person, mindful of the needs of others; interested in the needs of the brethren; solicitous of their welfare, and compassionate of the poor. We have found him above all a lover of God, a man of prayer, a constant illustration by example of sobriety and godliness.
In these particulars we have a copy set before us by Christ upon which we can model our approach to living the Truth. Shall we give up the attempt because it is difficult? Our copying may be blundering and blotted at first, but with perseverance, we shall find progress easier with every effort, until, at last, we shall attain to a degree of approximation that may, at first, have seemed impossible. Let us remember that in the master, we have a merciful and faithful high priest, who knows our infirmities, and will make allowance for our shortcomings, if only we are attentive and diligent to his wishes. He ever lives to make intercession for us; in all our struggles with the old man within, and the seductive world without. Having himself suffered, being tempted, he is able also to succour them that are tempted.
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Heb 4:16
MS (based upon two exhortations given by R.R.)