The third trait of a life well spent is to Manifest fruit in our labor (v. 22).
“If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me…”
There are two words I want us to understand: fruitful and labor. “Fruitful” is the Greek word, “Karpa” and it can literally mean fruit or produce like you’d find on the trees and plants of the earth. However, it also means the result that comes from an action – either good or bad.
Paul uses the word karpa 3 times in Philippians and each time it is used to mean good and profitable results. He uses it here to say that his labor will be fruitful, which he means beneficial for the cause of the gospel and for his own reward before Christ. He uses the word earlier in verse 11 when he prays that on the day of Christ the Philippians will be “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ…” On the day of Christ the only fruit that matters is the fruit that comes from Jesus Christ. And then Paul uses karpa again in chapter 4:17 when he says, “Not that I am looking for a gift, but, I am looking for what may be credited to your account.” What may be “karpa” – or credited - to your account.
Paul’s desire was that the Philippians would give as an act of worship so they would receive credit. The NASB says, “I seek for the profit which increases to your account.” I have an accounting background so I understand this a little bit. It’s kind of like spiritual banking. Karpa, or fruit, or profit is that which increases our spiritual bank accounts. When we go to spiritual work and are employed in “fruitful labor” as Paul describes, we will be involving ourselves in those spiritual things that result in profit or increase our spiritual bank account.
Labor is the Greek word, “ergon” and it means deeds, or work or employment. Paul uses this word 3 times in his letter. He first uses it in verse 6 where he speaks of God’s work in the Philippians, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” The salvation and sanctifying work in the Philippians work that was going to be proven fruitful was the work – the ergon – of God in them. Paul uses the word again in chapter 2 verse 30 when he’s speaking of Epaphroditus’s work, or ergon, for Christ. He says, “honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life …”
This word simply means what we do. It’s the activity that fills our lives. Paul said that if he were to go on living in his body instead of being tried, charged and executed, then he would continue on fully engaging his life in the activities that produce fruit and profit for the Lord Jesus Christ.
First of all fruitful labor is that which is from faith. There is nothing pleasing to God or fruit-bearing that is not done from faith. Hebrews says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God.” That’s why when unbelievers who do not have faith do things that are good and nice it will never please God. It is not done from faith in God’s righteousness, but, faith in their own righteousness. But any righteousness that is manufactured by man and not received from God is not righteousness at all. As a matter of fact, God calls man-made righteousness filthy – filthy as a menstrual rag according to Isaiah 64:6. Fruitful labor is done from faith.
Secondly, fruitful labor is the out-workings of Christ’s work in you. Jesus Christ was busy with His Father’s work. “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work”, Jesus said in John 4. He says it again in chapter 9, “As long as it is day we must do the work of him who sent me.” Because Jesus Christ was always at His Father’s work, Paul was always busy with Christ’s work. It was the life of Christ in Paul creating the fruitful work in Paul’s life.
I want to suggest that when Paul says, “this will mean fruitful labor for me” he not only means labor to be the things that occupy his time, but, in the greater sense the thing that he is pre-occupied with in his heart and mind. Paul is obsessively pre-occupied with his work in the Lord. Is there a growing pre-occupation with the Lord in your own mind? There is in the heart of a believer a growing – not a fading – but a growing devotion to Christ. More and more of our thought life should be occupied with the things of Jesus. More and more of our yearning and affection should be directed to Him.
This pre-occupation with Jesus Christ is a mark of someone who is growing in manifesting the fruits of Christ in our labor. It is what is happening underneath that is working it’s way out. What are you pre-occupied with? Does that which occupies the thoughts and affections and time of your life compare with Christ? Does He have you? Does He have all of you? Or, is there another in your life?
“If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me…”
There are two words I want us to understand: fruitful and labor. “Fruitful” is the Greek word, “Karpa” and it can literally mean fruit or produce like you’d find on the trees and plants of the earth. However, it also means the result that comes from an action – either good or bad.
Paul uses the word karpa 3 times in Philippians and each time it is used to mean good and profitable results. He uses it here to say that his labor will be fruitful, which he means beneficial for the cause of the gospel and for his own reward before Christ. He uses the word earlier in verse 11 when he prays that on the day of Christ the Philippians will be “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ…” On the day of Christ the only fruit that matters is the fruit that comes from Jesus Christ. And then Paul uses karpa again in chapter 4:17 when he says, “Not that I am looking for a gift, but, I am looking for what may be credited to your account.” What may be “karpa” – or credited - to your account.
Paul’s desire was that the Philippians would give as an act of worship so they would receive credit. The NASB says, “I seek for the profit which increases to your account.” I have an accounting background so I understand this a little bit. It’s kind of like spiritual banking. Karpa, or fruit, or profit is that which increases our spiritual bank accounts. When we go to spiritual work and are employed in “fruitful labor” as Paul describes, we will be involving ourselves in those spiritual things that result in profit or increase our spiritual bank account.
Labor is the Greek word, “ergon” and it means deeds, or work or employment. Paul uses this word 3 times in his letter. He first uses it in verse 6 where he speaks of God’s work in the Philippians, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” The salvation and sanctifying work in the Philippians work that was going to be proven fruitful was the work – the ergon – of God in them. Paul uses the word again in chapter 2 verse 30 when he’s speaking of Epaphroditus’s work, or ergon, for Christ. He says, “honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life …”
This word simply means what we do. It’s the activity that fills our lives. Paul said that if he were to go on living in his body instead of being tried, charged and executed, then he would continue on fully engaging his life in the activities that produce fruit and profit for the Lord Jesus Christ.
First of all fruitful labor is that which is from faith. There is nothing pleasing to God or fruit-bearing that is not done from faith. Hebrews says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God.” That’s why when unbelievers who do not have faith do things that are good and nice it will never please God. It is not done from faith in God’s righteousness, but, faith in their own righteousness. But any righteousness that is manufactured by man and not received from God is not righteousness at all. As a matter of fact, God calls man-made righteousness filthy – filthy as a menstrual rag according to Isaiah 64:6. Fruitful labor is done from faith.
Secondly, fruitful labor is the out-workings of Christ’s work in you. Jesus Christ was busy with His Father’s work. “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work”, Jesus said in John 4. He says it again in chapter 9, “As long as it is day we must do the work of him who sent me.” Because Jesus Christ was always at His Father’s work, Paul was always busy with Christ’s work. It was the life of Christ in Paul creating the fruitful work in Paul’s life.
I want to suggest that when Paul says, “this will mean fruitful labor for me” he not only means labor to be the things that occupy his time, but, in the greater sense the thing that he is pre-occupied with in his heart and mind. Paul is obsessively pre-occupied with his work in the Lord. Is there a growing pre-occupation with the Lord in your own mind? There is in the heart of a believer a growing – not a fading – but a growing devotion to Christ. More and more of our thought life should be occupied with the things of Jesus. More and more of our yearning and affection should be directed to Him.
This pre-occupation with Jesus Christ is a mark of someone who is growing in manifesting the fruits of Christ in our labor. It is what is happening underneath that is working it’s way out. What are you pre-occupied with? Does that which occupies the thoughts and affections and time of your life compare with Christ? Does He have you? Does He have all of you? Or, is there another in your life?
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