Q4. Discerning the Best

[RD35]

Q4. (1:9-11) Why does Paul ask God to give the Philippian Christians discernment? What will be the result of discernment in their lives? How does selfishness cloud discernment? How is the good the enemy of the best in our lives?          

 

Paul asks God to give the Philippian Christians discernment so that they will be able to discern the good from the best and be filled with the fruit of righteousness.

 

Discernment in our lives will help us look more towards what God expects from us than what we want to do.

 

Selfishness will not let us think about us because we will be thinking more about ourselves and loving ourselves.  It makes us self pleasing than God pleasing.

 

The good is the enemy of the best. We can be so preoccupied with good things, that we don't have time for the best, most important, most significant things. We can live years of our lives pursuing things that are transitory and ultimately of little worth. Good, maybe, but not of ultimate importance.

 

 

[haar]

Q4. (1:9-11) Why does Paul ask God to give the Philippian Christians discernment? What will be the result of discernment in their lives? How does selfishness cloud discernment? How is the good the enemy of the best in our lives?

A. So that they may know what pleases God, then they will live lives that please God.

We may be so selfish that we may not really know what our partner requires from us.

We may settle for the good rather than striving for the best for us.

[ducminh]

Paul asks God to give Philippians discernment, so they may be able to make the right judgement to choose the best option that may bring forth the glory of God through their life.

 

The result of discernment is their ability to live in righteousness and in obedience to God’s commandment.  They may have to stand in defence of their faith in Christ Jesus, in opposition to the sinful inclination of their society.

 

I would prefer the verse of KJV which clearly depicts that Christians should not violate God’s commandment:

Php 1:10  That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

 

The word “offence” is rightly used to refer to God’s law. Without God’s law, Christians won’t be able to make judgement what is right according to God (not according to men).  The NIV uses the words “pure and blameless”, these attributes cannot be applied to any believers because only Christ Jesus is pure and blameless in sight of God.

 

Rom 3:9  What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

 

All men are sinful creatures. If Christians can turn out to be pure and blameless then the sacrifice of Christ Jesus is nullified.

 

The new trend of today’s world is to “love” their neighbours and go along with whatever men define as “good”.  The world want Christians to integrate themselves into the society instead of being apart for God.

Psa 4:2  O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

Psa 4:3  But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

Psa 4:4  Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

 

The world wants Christian to love all, accept all, and please all.  But if Christians want to stand for their faith in Christ Jesus, they should abide in God’s commandment.  Only then it is possible to confirm that we are:

Php 1:11  Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

 

Selfishness is defined as having or showing concern only for yourself and not for the needs or feelings of other people.  It is certainly an obstacle for Christians to follow Christ Jesus.  Being selfish is also being idolater of self; this will bring men to covetousness and that is an offence against God’s commandment:

 

Exo 20:17  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ***, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

 

There is no need to say that selfishness can cloud discernment, it is not acceptable for anyone who sincerely want to live joyfully by the word of God and thrive in faith in Christ Jesus.  The following verses of Psalm 119 can tell us all:

Psa 119:35  Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

Psa 119:36  Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

 

The good is enemy of the best because the Lord Jesus has said the following:

Mat 5:48  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Mat 19:21  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

We should always aim for the best as much as possible if we truly want to love God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind, and love our neighbour as ourselves.

Mat 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Mat 22:38  This is the first and great commandment.

Mat 22:39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Aiming our life just to be good will certainly not helping us to break down the wall of selfishness and follow the Lord Christ Jesus.

 

Christians must be peculiar people in the world:

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
 

[readytolearn]

Why does Paul ask God to give the Philippian Christians discernment?

 

I think because as babes in Christ, their faith would be tried, and they needed to know (discern) between good and bad, right and wrong, and the difference between what was vital/necessary and unimportant.

 

What will be the result of discernment in their lives?

 

Love and Unity among the Philippian believers.  To show love to each other and to unbelievers. To be pure and blameless when Christ returns and to be filled with the fruit of Christ’s righteousness.

 

How does selfishness cloud discernment?

 

Selfishness is being concerned, sometimes excessively or exclusively, for oneself or one's own advantage, pleasure, or welfare, regardless of others.

 

How is the good the enemy of the best in our lives?

 

In life, there are GOOD and BEST choices.   We settle for a GOOD choice, which is good, but is it the BEST GOOD choice? We settle for “the GOOD” and not explore further to the “BEST”.   Therefore GOOD has become the enemy of the BEST.

 

 

Prayer:  Lord you have placed the desire to learn and know your Word in me.  You will give me the strength to complete this study.  Thank you Jesus.

[IvoryEagle]

DISCERNMENT is maturity.  We are no longer looking a notes but reconciling reality with possibilities.  There is no good when excellent is available.  To discern is to internalize and execute with little effort.  It is all about Christ and the execution of internalized instruction.  What would Jesus do is an admirable question.  The real question is are you acting out of your heart or your head?

[Stanley Tavaziva]

Q4. (1:9-11) Why does Paul ask God to give the Philippian Christians discernment? What will be the result of discernment in their lives? How does selfishness cloud discernment? How is the good the enemy of the best in our lives?

 

Paul prayed that the Philippian believers would have the ability to differentiate between right and wrong, good and bad, vital and trivial. We ought to pray for moral discernment so we can maintain our Christian morals and values. Hebrews 5:14 emphasizes the need for discernment.

 

The “fruit of your salvation” includes all of the character traits flowing from a right relationship with God. There is no other way for us to gain this fruit of righteousness than through Christ is the “fruit of the Spirit.”

[brucerobert]

Q4. (1:9-11) Why does Paul ask God to give the Philippian Christians discernment?

Discernment will allow Christians to be aware of their surrounding, i.e. we will know what is right and wrong.  By having discernment, we can understand and know what God wants us to do and understand how He wants us to complete each task He has called us to do

 

What will be the result of discernment in their lives?

The result of discernment in two things:

1. To be pure and blameless when Christ returns, and
2. To be filled with the fruit of Christ's righteousness.

This is our ultimate goals in this life and after.

 

How does selfishness cloud discernment?

Selfishness clouds discernment by not allowing us to see what's God's real purpose in our daily lives.  We lose touch with God and His goals for us.

 

 

How is the good the enemy of the best in our lives?

When we know and understand the enemy, we can discern what traps he sets for us and move away from him and his attacks when they are eminent. Faithfully, Christ protects us from Satan's sting.

[servant for Christ]

He ask because he wants their love to grow for God. As their love increases in knowledge and discernment, they will be able to accurately distinguish the vital and worthwhile things in life from those that are not. The result will be a spiritual knowing in the heart, not merely head knowledge. It involves a personal relationship with God instead of just knowing mere facts about God. A knowledge that expresses itself in fellowship, obedience, life, and nearness to God. He wants them to be filled with the fruit that is righteousness, which comes through Jesus Christ for the purpose of glorifying and praising God. The believer who is pure and without offense before God has divinely developed in him a practical righteousness or daily moral life that measures up to God's standards in character and conduct. The ultimate purpose for righteousness is to glorify God. Selfishness clouds because we think about self and not God. We can be so preoccupied with good things that we don't have time for the best, most important, most significant things.

[Kimmy]

Paul wants the Philippians to grow so committed to God that they are able to discern what will best please God and not what they themselves want.    

Selfishness clouds discernment because the focus is on oneself and not on God.  

Good is the enemy of the best in our lives when we spend all our time on the good stuff that we miss out on the best, what is the most important stuff.

[hanks]

Q4. (1:9-11) 

Why does Paul ask God to give the Philippian Christians discernment? 

What will be the result of discernment in their lives? 

How does selfishness cloud discernment? 

How is the good the enemy of the best in our lives? 

Being new Christians they needed the Holy Spirit to give them the gift of discernment. 

He knew they would be exposed to false teachings and that they needed this discernment to test what is the absolute truth. 

So there was a need for them to learn how to live life from His revealed Word, and to follow the example of His Son. 

The result of this discernment would be greater love which will bring about spiritual excellence and integrity, good works and more glory to God.

Our discernment is clouded when we focus on ourselves instead of doing our best to please our Heavenly Father. 

In life some things are good but others are better. However, the good is often the enemy of the best, and in service to our Lord we must be able to distinguish between the two. 

This comes from our studying the Word and by spending time with Jesus, so that ultimately we will have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16). 

 

[charisbarak]

He asks for discernment for them so they will recognize the truth, and to discern best from good and better in serving Him.

Will always choose the very best to bring glory to God.

Our eyes are on ourselves, rather than on God.

Lots of good things doesn't = the best.  If you're too busy with the good, the best gets left behind.

[Debra Grant]

Q4. (1:9-11) Why does Paul ask God to give the Philippian Christians

discernment? What will be the result of discernment in their lives?

How does selfishness cloud discernment? How is the good the 

enemy of the best in our lives?

 

1. That their love may abound in knowledge and depth of insight so that 

they may be able to discern the good from the best.

He wants them to have the love that becomes more discerning and

knowledgeable about who God is and what really pleases him. 

 

2. The Philippians would be more pure and blameless until the day of 

Christ and be filled with the fruit of the righteousness that comes through

Jesus Christ.

 

3. We need to get the love that becomes more discerning and 

knowledgeable about who God is and what really pleases him. 

 

4. The good is the enemy of the best. We can be so preoccupied with

good things, that we don't have time for the best, most important,

most significant things.

 

[Debra Grant]

Q4. (1:9-11) Why does Paul ask God to give the Philippian Christians

discernment? What will be the result of discernment in their lives?

How does selfishness cloud discernment? How is the good the 

enemy of the best in our lives?

 

1. That their love may abound in knowledge and depth of insight so that 

they may be able to discern the good from the best.

He wants them to have the love that becomes more discerning and

knowledgeable about who God is and what really pleases him. 

 

2. The Philippians would be more pure and blameless until the day of 

Christ and be filled with the fruit of the righteousness that comes through

Jesus Christ.

 

3. We need to get the love that becomes more discerning and 

knowledgeable about who God is and what really pleases him. 

 

4. The good is the enemy of the best. We can be so preoccupied with

good things, that we don't have time for the best, most important,

most significant things.

 

[angelbaby]

Q4. Why does Paul ask God to give the Philippians discernment?

Paul prays for the Philippians to have discernment because he loves them immensely and has felt their abounding love for him while he was committed to ministry and even when he was in prison .They helped him with money , food and personnel so he asks God to give them the knowledge of the things which are most important and of greatest worth

The result of discernment would be that they would become pure and blameless and filled with righteousness

Selfishness clouds discernment and gets one pre- occupied with things which give immediate results and pleasure; they are not significant or long lasting. ; just temporary for the " now" not the "best"

Discernment and mature committed love for Christ demands our very best. We seek to please God in all that we do to the utmost limit of our capability and aim at excellence in every sphere

God deserves only the best......... And don't forget. For us " the best is yet to come "

[Ange]

4.1

He asks it so they may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ Jesus.

4.2

They'll be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Christ Jesus.

4.3

Selfishness clouds discernment in that the selfish partner is more concerned with things that please him. Selfishness blinds us to the needs of our loved ones.

4.4

The differences between "good" and "best" is that there can be more than one of "good". Whereas "best" stands alone. "Best" is beyond compare. "Good" can exist in a crowd, which creates the "broad path that leads to distraction" (Mat 7:13). On the other hand, "best" gets us walking a tightrope. No straddling the path! For us to choose "best", we have to be alert and choose carefully where our foot will fall next. Unlike "good", "best" doesn't have time for committees.

[Selie Visa]

Paul prays to God for discernment so that their love will abound with knowledge and insight which are necessary to differentiate between good and bad.

Through discernment they will be pure and blameless.

Selfishness clouds discernment because it is focused on self-worth and immediate gratification and not on God. This will not produce Christians' morals and values.

[joey felipe]

Q4. (1:9-11) Why does Paul ask God to give the Philippian Christians discernment? What will be the result of discernment in their lives? How does selfishness cloud discernment? How is the good the enemy of the best in our lives?

 

Answer: Paul ask God to give the Philippian Christians discernment so that they will know what is best and maybe pure and blameless until the day of Christ.

 

Answer: The result of discernment in their lives would be they will be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ because they were able to examine the things which are of great importance and put their effort unto those things.

 

Answer: Selfishness cloud discernment by making the person focus on his self alone.

 

Answer: The bible say "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Resist the devil and he will flee you.
 

[Rod Beenleigh]

Because of their loving generousity they would become prey to 'wolves in sheep's clothing'.

 

Expressive love guarded with truth.

 

Selfishness feds the "me" and inward looking distorts the ability to determine genuiousness.

 

We should use God's measure of importance not what we are comfortable with.

[Rod Beenleigh]

Because of their loving generousity they would become prey to 'wolves in sheep's clothing'.

 

Expressive love guarded with truth.

 

Selfishness feds the "me" and inward looking distorts the ability to determine genuiousness.

 

We should use God's measure of importance not what we are comfortable with.

[royk]

Are we able to determine things of greatest importance and put our efforts into those things -- the things that are of greatest worth?

 

With prayer and supplication we can then hear what God says is the most important thing to do today. Like a Nike commercial: "Now that you know it, go do it!"

 

 

 

 

 

[JCservant]

Q4. (1:9-11) Why does Paul ask God to give the Philippian Christians discernment? What will be the result of discernment in their lives? How does selfishness cloud discernment? How is the good the enemy of the best in our lives?  

Discernment is needed to know the will of God, what pleases Him, what He would have us do or say. It is also needed to recognize false apostles and/or deceitful workers. (2 Corinthians 11:13) 

The end of discernment - "To the end He may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints." (I Thess. 3:13) 

Selfishness and what we see as good, comes from our perspective as humans. God's purposes and will require us to be open and submissive to His will and purpose - from His perspective. This could only come through His Spirit and Word.

[Karen11]

On 3/14/2005 at 1:58 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q4. (1:9-11) Why does Paul ask God to give the Philippian Christians discernment? What will be the result of discernment in their lives? How does selfishness cloud discernment? How is the good the enemy of the best in our lives?

So that they may know what is best, the result will be that will be pure and blameless. In Selfishness we are more concerned with ourselves and not God, and God is the best in our lives.

[kupnsaucer1]

. (1:9-11) Why does Paul ask God to give the Philippian Christians discernment? What will be the result of discernment in their lives? How does selfishness cloud discernment? How is the good the enemy of the best in our lives?

The Philippian Christians as well as all believers, need to have discernment to know what we need to do and be so we can partner with the Lord to do that which is most important to Him in His kingdom.  If we or they are being selfish they/we will think and do that which is important to us or as Pastor Ralph has put it, we get caught up in the good and forget the best.  Our priorities are not totally in line with what God wants for us and wanted to the Philippians.  The good can blind us to what is best.

[Paulhoward]

We look at what is in our best interested and not the Kingdom. You need discernment to seize out all the good and see the gold in the pan which is God's best.

[Krissi]

 Discernment is trying to tease out of God His will in a particular circumstance. It’s predicated on the idea that God’s will is so unclear we must noodle around to “discern” it. Selfishness is certainly one reason why God’s will is unclear, but is not the only reason. The huge gap between God and humanity, a gap of ability and essence, is the real reason we do not know His will perfectly.

I am troubled by the idea that God doesn’t make his will clearly known. Obviously, we cannot know His will in a specific situation unless He chooses to reveal it to us. There are many examples in scriptures where God’s will is clearly known, where God speaks with an audible voice. But most of the time, we are forced to decide if the little thought in our minds is ours or His or if the closed door is Satan’s blockage we should pray and push through or God leading us in a new direction.

I don’t believe there’s a person on this site who would prefer the good to the best. That’s not the issue. The issue is knowing what is best … discernment.

Honestly, I feel like a little kid at a pinata party, blindfolded and swinging my stick in the air, hoping to accidently hit the hanging pinata so I can grab some candy. I don’t know why God works this way. The standard answers always point the finger back at me.

I'm the problem. I'm not spiritually mature enough to know His will. I need to study the scriptures more, pray more, wait, ask wiser people for advice, prevail in prayer with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, love Him more and now, be less selfish.

Sigh.

If God wants the best for me, He’ll show me what’s best and then enable me to pursue it.