See-Saws and Teeter-Totters
We Could’ve Killed Somebody
Do you remember seesaws? Those massive beams of wood balanced on a center fulcrum. They ought to be illegal by now! Growing up, somebody always got hurt on those contraptions. Jump onto a teeter-totter, and your friend will go flying; step off, and he goes falling. Broken legs, smashed noses, and scraped shins were all possible in the wild-west of midwestern playgrounds.
In Philippians 1:27-30, Paul uses a particular word to describe the entire Christian life. He says, “only let your manner of life be worthy.” The Greek word for “worthy” refers to the ancient scales that balanced precious metals for currency. It’s a seesaw or a teeter-totter. Let’s look closer.
Worthy of What?
In Greek Language and culture, “axios” was a word that spoke of honor, nobility, dignity, or even the lack thereof. It’s not unlike how we might say, “measuring up” today. In the gospels, Jesus places the adjective form in the mouth of the prodigal son:
“I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’” (Luke 15:18–19, ESV)
What a picture of our helplessness before God! Like the prodigal son, we’re just as unworthy of salvation as the multitudes are unworthy to open the scroll in Revelation 5 (see also Romans 1:32 and Luke 23:41). So pathetically featherweight is our righteousness that we cannot hope to match God in the scales of goodness and glory unless another righteousness is given to us.
If we’re so thoroughly unworthy, then in what way can Paul call the Gentiles to walk a worthy life? Paul uses the adverb “Axios” five times in his letters (Rom 16:2, Eph 4:1, Php 1:27, Col 1:10, 1 Th 2:12, see also 3 John 6). But, every time he does so, he points not to a righteousness of our own that comes from the law but to that blessed righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Let me show you.
Paul urges the Ephesians to walk in a manner worthy of their calling. The Thessalonians are exhorted to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls them. Much the same applies to these Philippians. They are instructed to simplify their perspective on complex issues and let their manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Here’s the point: Paul teaches the churches to balance out their lives with the facts of their salvation, not the weight of God Himself.
A Gospel-Worthy Life
Now, that’s something we can get our arms around! The Gospel doesn’t come to us because we strive for it but freely in hearing and receiving by faith. Notice that Paul doesn’t call for their super-perfection in law observance - never, ever, sinning again. No, he calls for unity and confidence!
A gospel-worthy life stands firm in one spirit with other gospel-saved sinners, with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. In other words, a gospel-worthy life is humble. That makes sense! How can anyone think they have all the answers and that everybody else is a dummy after coming to the cross for forgiveness?
A gospel-worthy life is not frightened of anything. So often, when unity fails in Christian fellowship, it is because we fear something and doubt God’s sovereignty. We get wound up and snip at each other if we think the gospel is being silenced (Php 1:12), preached in pretense (1:15), the budget runs thin, or the attendance numbers dry up. Beloved, what can man do to those redeemed by the death-defeating Savior-God? (Psalm 118:6, Rom 8:31-32)
What wise counsel from this imprisoned apostle! This Philippian church is zealous for the gospel, supportive of Paul’s work, nervous about false preachers, and bickering amongst themselves! Paul’s prescription is, “Live a gospel-worthy life; don’t be afraid of criticism, bad outcomes, imprisonment, or slander — just stick together and keep believing that Jesus died for your sins and is coming again to rescue you.”
That’s the kind of life that “measures up” on the see-saw of our salvation. May we lead such gospel-worthy lives ourselves.
Further Reading - Worthy: Living in Light of the Gospel.