[Philippians 3:1-2 KJV] “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision”.
Life is full of many starters but a few finishers. But is the easiest part of anything, is starting, finishing is extremely more difficult. Many are unable to overcome to the end because they align and communicate with certain dangerous people in life. The Apostle Paul, in this text, is warning us against three categories of people you’ll find in any church, institution or organisation. These are the people who undermine and overthrow the faith of many.
Apostle Paul is teaching that if you want to finish better than you started, then you must avoid these three classes of people:
- Dogs
- Evil workers
- The concision
In every church (not outside but in every church) there are men and women who fall within these category of people. Their activities and behaviours undermine the progress and health of the church. Anyone who aligns and fellowships with them will be overthrown.
Dogs, according to 2 Peter 2:22, are those who at the least opportunity seek a way to go back to their old life and place. They fit the proverb, the dog is turned to his vomit and the pig to wallow in the mud. There people in every church, the Orpahs, who at the least provocation and opportunity will return to their people and where they came from.
Such people don’t go far, they are the first to leave when the going gets tough. Beware of people who find nothing wrong with returning to an old degenerate life. It’s ok to return to your past if that past is better than the present. The prodigal son as we know returned to his father. He returned to a better life than what he was living. He backslid, but with time, he returned to his first estate. But dogs return to their vomit and the pig will go back to wallow in the mud.
Philippians 3:3 reveals that the concision are those who place too much emphasis on the flesh and in rituals in keeping with the Law. The Apostle teaches that we should be careful about people who place too much emphasis on the flesh. If you can finish well in the Spirit, then you must decide to let go of the carnal and fleshy things to lay hold on eternal life. When you hold on too tightly to the world, you perish as Lots’ wife did. “A man’s life does not consist of the abundance of things he has”. Life goes beyond material possessions.
Finally, in Philippians 3:19, the Apostle Paul teaches that evil workers are people who have a form of godliness but deny the power. They are those whose god is their belly. They are covetous and only act when there is a material benefit that will accrue to them. Beware of such people and avoid them.
I pray for you that as we go through these times you shall be careful about these folks.
Stay blessed, I love you!
Pastor Simpe
