Wisdom for Work From PhilippiansSample

Philippians 3:17 is exemplary of a command we see all throughout Paul’s letters, perhaps most famously in 1 Corinthians 11:1 where the apostle said, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (NIV).

Paul understood that becoming more like Christ requires us seeing flesh-and-bone models of others following Christ. And so Paul encouraged his readers to look to him as an animated, three-dimensional case study of how to glorify God in a cultural context similar to their own.

Paul’s words point to an important principle: If you want to know what it looks like practically to glorify God, look first to Christ and second to Christ’s followers.

Let me suggest you respond to that principle in two practical ways.

First, send a message thanking someone whose example you’ve followed as they’ve followed Christ. Who are the men and women God has used to form who you are spiritually and professionally? A parent? A former boss? Your pastor? A mentor God used to kick-start your career? Whoever just came to mind, send them a note right now thanking them for giving you a godly example worth imitating.

Second, read more Christian biographies. I read a lot of biographies of other Christians. Because case studies make the commands of Christ stickier in my mind. The authors of Made to Stick explain why, saying, “A story is powerful because it provides the context missing from abstract prose.” That’s the power of biography.

And oh by the way, Scripture commands that we learn from the Christian leaders who came before us. Hebrews 13:7 says, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith” (ESV). Commenting on this verse pastor John Piper says this is “a mandate for reading Christian biography.”

If you find most biographies tearfully boring and way too long, I get it. That's why I reimagined the genre with my new book, Five Mere Christians. In it, I use short, binge-worthy stories to introduce you to five mere Christians whose examples you and I would be wise to follow because of how well they followed the example of Christ in their work.

But whether you read my book or pull out another biography you've been meaning to crack open, take time to learn from and imitate the faith of leaders who came before us.