Philip the Apostle: The practical man who was slow to believe

The name Philip could mean ‘lover of horses or warrior’ in the Greek language. Jesus directed his first call to follow Him to this man called Philip. One good thing about Philip was that he was indeed a sincere seeker for the truth. When it comes to believing, the man had a serious problem. He was slow to believe and usually had doubts about everything new. The man was also timid. He could not take a single step forward before he was sure of his course of action.
One of his strengths was that after he was convinced, he was quick to tell others inviting them to share the good news. Do you remember that after spending three years with Jesus, he did not believe Him still.
When asked by Jesus where to get enough bread to feed five thousand hungry disciples, he gave an arithmetic answer that was well calculated and reasoned to prove that he was a practical man.
He said that eight months’ wages could not feed them. The Greeks came one day wanting to see Jesus and Philip told Andrew first instead of introducing them to Jesus directly. That also proved he did not believe. He was very weak in faith although he had spent three years with Jesus witnessing his daily miracles.
He operated on the sphere of reason and not in faith in his dealings with Jesus.
We are living in a fast moving world where decisions in the world of business have to be made promptly and precisely. The same applies to the church community where the modern day challenges are threatening the unity of community of faith. Whether in the business or religious community, men and women are needed who can act in faith and courage to save their organisations from falling. Literature says that the Japanese take 75 percent of their time planning and twenty five percent implementing .On the other hand, Americans take 25 percent of their time planning and 75 percent implementing. The Japanese avoid a lot of unnecessary mistakes and blunders by planning carefully. It is unfortunate when planning becomes an end itself.
Planning the whole week, month, year and decade without implementing those excellent plans does not help. We need action after planning. Another big problem that we are facing in our communities has to do with action not based on planning. The habit of planning is foreign to many people. These people do not take time to plan even simple undertakings such as buying groceries for the family.
Then there is that other group that scrutinises details to the extent of negatively affecting progress. Like Phillip, they want to see every obstacle removed on their way before taking action. We see this when members of executive committees of organisations or board of directors meet to discuss business.
Time is spent trying to convince doubting members of the executive instead of discussing real issues.
Every challenge in life brings with it great opportunities to benefit us. Five thousand hungry people were an opportunity for Jesus to demonstrate his power as son of God.
So likewise, the multiplicity of challenges in the church should teach us something about sinful humanity and what God wants us to do.
Therefore, with challenges come opportunities as well.
Jesus wanted to teach Phillip to live by faith.
This is because his problem was that he employed much reasoning on problems he could not resolve instead of just having faith.
Like Phillip, all Christians have weaknesses of their own. Those weaknesses expose us when we meet challenges. Many are disappointed when confronted by obstacles in their Christian lives. God knows that they are many who are supposed to do great service for Him and to humanity. These people should however first address the problem of their weaknesses.
The Lord does not expose us to challenges for no apparent reason. He knows the problems of this world and he prepares men and women who can help rescue the situation. Great men of the world today are those who stood their ground against opposition and sometimes life threatening situations and challenges. That is why we read of them and they stand as examples, if not role models to many.
These were man and women who were disciplined, bold courageous and they persevered. These virtues are key to one’s success and usefulness in this life.
I have met and interacted with many people who are not satisfied with their jobs, their families and what they have.
They compare themselves with those that have registered many achievements in their lives.
This breeds a sense of dissatisfaction and the desire to completely change. Like Philip of old, they do not understand the reason why they are attached to this group or that company, church institution or organisation.
It is hard for tem to cooperate with others in the group.
Many see themselves as intelligent enough to do great work and occupy high positions of honour and authority.
They think that they are qualified and competent enough to make better decisions and brilliant plans for their organisations.
Everyday these people cry for an opportunity to demonstrate their talents.
Their future is uncertain because their efforts seem not to be appreciated.
The life of Philip teaches us to have faith in whatever we do.
When God wants to shape us, sometimes he uses methods that might seem unreasonable to us.
Great men of Bible times like Moses and David were trained as shepherds.
They had to learn later to be leaders.
It is wise to ask God what he wants us to learn at every place, position, and situation as well as in every circumstance that we find ourselves in.
Wherever we might happen to be in life and whatever we do for a living, they are rich lessons for us.
Some lessons we learn consciously. I remember during my years of study at the university how l learnt a lot of things just by observing what was happening around me.
I got to learn much more than my academic work.
I am saying wherever God allows you to be, be it at your workplace, do everything with all your heart.
Do not waste time wishing to be what you are not.
Be content with what you are and what you have and try to improve yourself.
We do not live for ourselves but for God.
We might be having very good and brilliant plans but at times nothing materialises from these plans.
Remember that our plans are not always God’s plans.
Sometimes our plans fail because God wants to send a message to us.
Sometimes God calls us to surrender those things we so much cherish.
Let us daily strive to do our best.
Our prayers should always be “Lord teach me to do my best in life”.
It is a great blessing to humanity to humble yourself. What then have we leant from the life and ministry of Philip?
God can use the weakest person to bless humanity.
Often our plans fail but God’s plans never fail.
People are different, some are slow to believe, act or comprehend. We must therefore learn to be patient.
Even the weak can be valuable assets when well trained.
Always do the work nearest you no matter how humble.
May the life and ministry of Philip teach us to be better citizens and kind to one another. May God bless our nation. May He grant us more days to our lives. God bless Zimbabwe. Amen.