Beseeching Euodias and Syntyche–or how to get along with others
I’m sure letters from Paul were a big deal during the years he was in prison in Rome. We know that he apparently had an eye problem, and needed someone to write for him, so writing letters wasn’t easy. It was no quick trip from Rome to the cities of Colosse, Philippi and the others, and someone had to travel to deliver them. It would seem that the letters were so important, that even though they were written to one church in particular, they were carried to multiple churches and shared.
Sometimes, Paul shared more personal messages–thanking those who had helped him, asking special prayer, and mentioning people by name. It could be a great honor to be mentioned by Paul. But in Philippians 4:2, I see two people who probably wish he didn’t name them.
“I beseech Euodias, and I beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.”
Now, I don’t know if Euodias and Syntyche were women, but somehow I think they were. (Side note: if they weren’t women, it doesn’t really change my narrative, but I hope they won’t be offended with me when I meet them in Heaven!) For the sake of this writing, I’m going to assume that these are two ladies in the church at Philippi. And, these two ladies, are not getting along. We don’t know what their issue was, but it was bad enough that it had gotten all the way to Paul, and he wrote about it.
Imagine for just a minute that you’re Euodias or Syntyche, sitting there in church. Everyone is so excited as one of the deacons stands up to read the new letter from Paul. And he reads three chapters worth. He reads about how Paul prays for them, how he loves them. He reads about Jesus becoming a man and coming to earth to die. He reads that Paul hopes to send Timothy to them soon. He reads about Paul’s testimony, and how he strives toward the high calling of Christ.
Then, he starts to read chapter four. And right there, in only the second verse, he says your name. But it’s not in that good, happy, thankful-for-your-contribution way. He’s beseeching you to be of the same mind.
In the good old southern vernacular, Paul said, “I’m begging ya’ll to get along!”
Do you know these women? Maybe you’ve been these women? The ones who are always sniping at each other, or other people in the congregation. The ones who get a bit annoyed (or worse) when things don’t go quite like they wanted. They’re the women that everyone tiptoes around, because they’re so easily offended.
I don’t know why women have a tendency to be this way. We all get offended sometimes, (the Bible even says it’s to be expected) and we don’t always agree with each other. But for some reason, women have a hard time just letting things go. We can take small offenses and allow them to fester in our hearts until we are literally not speaking to our sisters in Christ.
The devil makes us believe that it’s no big deal. It’s just between me and her, and it doesn’t affect anyone else. But, let Euodias and Syntyche be a lesson to us all. Their discord had hindered their entire church. Whatever their disagreement was about, it was such a big deal, that word of it had reached Paul in Rome, and it’s now public for everyone to know. Imagine the embarrassment of knowing that nearly everyone is about to find out that you can’t get along with someone! And here we are, two thousand years later, still reading and talking about Euodias and Syntyche.
Again, I’m not saying that we’ll never be offended. Offenses happen. But, the important part is, how we deal with them. Don’t hold onto them. Let them go, and realize that you’ve surely offended others, too. Don’t believe the lie of Satan that it’s not a big deal, that it’s just between the two (or three, or four) of you. Learn a lesson from Euodias and Syntyche–it’s best to just get over it and get along, because being called on the carpet is an embarrassment that no one wants.
