Verse by Verse Devotional on Philippians by Pastor Jack #233

Not Cool to Love Good

4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Let’s face it. A person who is dwelling on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent and worthy of praise, is not going to be considered "cool" in our society. Purity is a byword, honor is for wimps, lovely is used only of attractive women, the word "praiseworthy" isn’t even used in common English anymore. Power is what matters: power, pleasure and demanding one’s rights. In America’s present culture, anyone who is seeking to live by Phil.4:8 is going to be thought of as Mr. or Ms. Goody-goody-two-shoes. Hanging this verse in your locker is not going to send you surfing on a wave of popularity, much less hanging this verse on your life.

This verse is as significant in what it doesn’t say as it is in what it does. It doesn’t say dwell on whatever is "cool" and popular and dazzling and slick and trendy and "in". It doesn’t say to dwell on things that make you look good or advance your position in the world or bring you pleasure.

This verse is about virtue. Paul says to dwell on things that are virtuous, things that are right and appropriate and edifying.

In the past there was much talk about virtue. Now, if in our society there is talk about anything meaningful, it is not about virtue but about values. The concept of virtue implies the existence of an undisputed standard of right and wrong. It implies a God in heaven who promotes good and truth and opposes wrong. Virtue is what conforms to the ways of God. Vice is what contradicts those ways. Now, in shifting the conversation to values, we are talking not about what is inherently right or wrong, but about what one person values, or thinks of as important, as opposed to another person. It has no reference to God. Without God there is no virtue, there is no law, there is no standard. But take God out of the picture and the concept of values can still stand.

So, when a man seeks to dwell on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent and worthy of praise, he will not only be considered as uncool as they come, he will also be introducing the God our culture is desperately trying to avoid, escape and deny.

Phil.4:8 sounds like a harmless verse. But follow it at your own risk, it can be devastating to your popularity in the world (and even in the church - especially among the youth).

"You adulteress people, do you not know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (James 4:4)

Heavenly Father, forgive me for all the ways I have been driven by the desire for men’s approval. Please give me the courage to openly and unashamedly pursue good, even when others laugh at me. May Your smile be my highest goal, not the smile of the world. And yet, Lord, when I am rejected and despised, help me still to seek the good by looking with love and pity upon those who mock me, as my Lord Jesus did toward those who mocked and persecuted Him.