Colossians 1:9-14
It’s not uncommon for people to believe that they can “have it all” in this life. A lot of parents have become nothing more than a taxi service for their children simply because they want them to “have it all.” They believe that limiting the number of activities and/or events could potentially prevent their children from “having it all.”
It’s not unusual for home buyers to sit down with their real estate agents to talk about what they want in a new house. In the process they describe a grandiose place that is well beyond their current budgetary means basically because they “want it all.” One of the reasons many couples are in financial bondage is because in the process of trying to “have it all,” they overextended themselves and now live with constant anxiety about their monthly bills.
Actually, there is nothing inherently wrong with having ambition...as long as ambition doesn’t lead you into idolatry. The problems arise when we don’t know when/how to say “no” and in the process we lay aside eternal things to pursue the less important material/temporal things of this life.
For all those believers that “want it all,” how about starting with wanting all that God wants for you?
After Paul finished rejoicing (1:3-8) as a result of hearing about the Colossians’ decision to trust Christ and follow Him, he offered a prayer on their behalf asking for things we should all want for ourselves and our families. “Having it all” should start with these things before we pursue anything else!
At least thirteen times in Colossians 1:9-23, Paul uses a Greek word translated as, “all” (11-times), “fully” (1-time), or “every” (1-time). It’s striking how many times this word occurs in these few verses, but it is obviously a response to the errorists that believed the “knowledge” the Colossians’ possessed was incomplete and/or incorrect knowledge. Paul’s prayer for them was that the “knowledge” they now possessed through Christ would be deepened, not augmented by spurious, gnostic-like heresy.
In his prayer, Paul first asked that they might have...
1. All “wisdom” in Christ. (1:9)
The Greek scholar, Dr. Lightfoot, says that “wisdom” is “mental excellence in it’s highest and fullest sense.” (p. 139)
But, this is more than mere intellect because you can be intellectual and not be wise. It’s important to note that Paul qualifies this “wisdom” as “spiritual,” which actually modifies both “wisdom” and “understanding.”
Further, this “wisdom” comes through “the knowledge of His will.” And, God’s will is found in His Word:
For instance...
- It is God’s will that we be saved. (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9)
- It is God’s will that we be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:17-18)
- It is God’s will that we be sanctified. (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
- It is God’s will that we submit to civil authority. (1 Peter 2:13,15)
- It is God’s will that we give thanks. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
- It is God’s will that we suffer at times. (1 Peter 4:19)
One author defines “wisdom” as “the ability to collect and concisely organize the principles of scripture.” (John MacArthur, p. 30) Another way of saying it is that it enables you to look at life through the lens of God’s Word. (glasses illustration)
Ultimately, this “wisdom” is wrapped up in our incomparable Christ (cf. 2:3), which means that growing in wisdom means growing in Christ.
“...in whom [Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3)
This is how the process works: First, we are introduced to God through His Son Jesus Christ. Then we “increase” (1:10) in our “knowledge” of Him until we become intimately acquainted with Him.
This “knowledge of God” is not simply knowing facts about Him. Nor is it only a “knowledge of His will.” This phrase indicates that “spiritual wisdom” brings us into a deeper knowledge of God HIMSELF. (cf. Philippians 3:10) This is a relational knowledge!
Paul prayed in the book of Philippians: “...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death...” (Philippians 3:10)
And that should be our prayer, as well!
This growing knowledge (experiential knowledge) of Christ is also the solution to most religious heresies, including those in Colosse. Dr. Lewis Johnson writes, "The true antidote to heresy is always a deeper and richer knowledge of the truth concerning Jesus Christ." (Johnson, S. Lewis, Jr., "Studies in the Epistle to the Colossians." Bibliotheca Sacra, 472:341, October-December 1961)
Then he asked that they might be...
2. All “pleasing” to Christ. (1:10)
Our desire should be to please God above pleasing anyone else. Paul repeatedly condemns “man-pleasing” ways when it prevents or interferes with our pleasing God (cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:4; Galatians 1:10).
4But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. (1 Thessalonians 2:4)
10For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)
“The Greek word for ‘pleasing’ suggests an attitude of mind which anticipates every wish.” (Curtis Vaughan, Colossians and Philemon, p. 30)
Paul writes about this “pleasing” attitude in 2 Timothy 2:4, giving us an illustration of the attitude he desires that the Colossians’ would experience.
3You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. (2 Timothy 2:3-4)
To live “pleasing” to Christ means to be always “ready” to do what He commands. The “wisdom” Paul prayed that the Colossians’ would have was to lead to “pleasing” conduct in their lives.
In Hebrew thought, what you know and how you live are always intricately connected. From their perspective, it was unthinkable that someone would know something and not do it (cf. James 4:17). Doctrine/truth was never intended to be purely intellectual. It was always intended to impact how we live.
Notice when Paul asks that they have “all wisdom,” he first says he wants them to be “filled with the knowledge of His will...” In other words, he wants “wisdom” to be fully integrated into every part of their lives: thoughts, affections, purposes, and plans. This is NOT a purely intellectual pursuit to impress people with how much you know.
Warren Wiersbe addresses the trouble that arises when the pursuit of God and His Word is primarily intellectual. He writes, "In my pastoral ministry, I have met people who have become intoxicated with ‘studying the deeper truths of the Bible.' Usually they have been given a book or introduced to some teacher's tapes. Before long, they get so smart they become dumb! The 'deeper truths' they discover only detour them from practical Christian living. Instead of getting burning hearts of devotion to Christ (Luke 24:32), they get big heads and start creating problems in their homes and churches. All Bible truths are practical, not theoretical. If we are growing in knowledge, we should also be growing in grace (2 Peter 3:18)." (Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2, p. 111)
There are four participles that express what things please God:
- “being fruitful in every good work” (1:10)
- “increasing in the knowledge of God” 1:10)
- “strengthened with all might” (1:11)
- “giving thanks to the Father” (1:12)
But to simplify these further, there are two areas where pleasing should be seen:
- A “walk” that is worthy. (1:10a)
The word “walk” is used in scripture to speak of a person’s conduct or way of living. When we are living to please the Lord it changes our conduct.
“Worthy” means literally “of equal weight.” To “walk worthy” is to walk equal to the Lord’s standard. This is our goal and ambition, though we will not be able to do so perfectly until we are at home with Christ.
- A “work” that is worthwhile. (1:10b)
When we are living to please the Lord, we do works that are both good and fruitful.
Next he asked that they would be strengthened with...
3. All “power” through Christ. (1:11a)
In other words, everything that God calls you to do, He empowers you to do by “His might” (δύναμις). This is the same power that raised up Christ from the grave.
“Strengthened” (δυναμόω) is a present participle meaning that God provides the power that is ongoing to enable what He asks them to do.
And, this power is commensurate with the divine supply (“according to His glorious power”) and not merely our present need. His “glorious power” (δόξης κράτος) is limitless and inexhaustible. In other words, there is more than enough “power” to strengthen you in a “walk” that is worthy and “works” that are worthwhile.
“Power” (κράτος) is used twelve times in the New Testament and all but one of them refer to God’s power.
Moses gives us an example of being enabled to do what he could not do on his own.
13And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. 14So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?” 15And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.” 17So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. 19Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. 20And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. 21Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. 23If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.” (Exodus 18:13-23)
That’s the idea in Paul’s prayer. If God commands you, then you will be able!
Finally, he asks that they would have...
4. All steadfastness for Christ. (1:11b)
“Patience” has to do with our capacity to see things through. It primarily concerns our circumstances while the quality of being “longsuffering” concerns how we handle people.
This “might” with which we are strengthened enables us to keep on keeping on even in the face of difficulty.
We usually view “patience” in a passive way. It’s often perceived as merely enduring what is done to us, but in this text it is active. It is the capacity to see things through and is the opposite of cowardice and despondency.
He has in mind the tenacity that “enables one to hold one’s position in battle.” (Eduard Lohse, Colossians and Philemon [Hermeneia: a Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible], p.30)
Therefore, “patience” is being steadfast when facing difficult pressures in life (like the attack they faced from false teachers in Colosse). It is “not...so much a passive acceptance of the inevitable, as an active unrelenting endeavor even in spite of difficulty and trial.” (Herbert M. Carson, The Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon, p. 37)
“Sir Winston Churchill was invited back to his alma mater...to address the students near the end of his storied life of public service, which included guiding Britain through her darkest and finest hours. When the five-foot, five-inch bulldog of a man took the platform, everyone waited breathlessly upon his words—and they would never forget what they heard: ‘Young gentlemen, never give up. Never give up. Never give up! Never! Never! Never!’” With that he sat down.” (R. Kent Hughes, Colossians and Philemon: The Supremacy of Christ, p. 26)
That’s the tenacity with which God wants us to live our lives for Him.
Biblical examples of this steadfastness:
It was about thirteen years from the time that Joseph was sold into slavery until he became second in command in Egypt. During this time God was with him and he persevered through difficult trials.
Daniel “purposed” not to eat meat that violated the Law of God even though it was commanded by the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar. After a testing period, Daniel continued to honor God in this matter for another seventy years (cf. Daniel 1:8, 21).
8But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself...Thus Daniel continued [approx. 70 years] until the first year of King Cyrus. (Daniel 1:8, 21)
The early church “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship...” (Acts 2:42)
This is the kind of patient endurance that Paul prayed the Colossian believers would practice with God’s enabling help.
Further, Paul says that this kind of “patience” should be characterized “with joy.” It’s not the “grin and bear it” kind of approach because the strength needed to endure comes from God, as does their joy!
Conclusion:
Paul finished off his prayer with a flurry of praise and included himself in the thanksgiving to God (notice the change of pronouns to the plural “we,” “us,” etc.).
He was thankful that...:
- The Father “qualified” us. (1:12)
- The Father “delivered” us. (1:13a)
- The Father “conveyed” us. (1:13b)
- The Father “redeemed” us. (1:14a)
- The Father “forgave” us. (1:14b)
If you “want it all” then let your ambition lead you to the “all” Paul prayed the Colossians would experience. It would be much better for you to have these virtues than to have anything the world can give you.
