JUST LIKE HENCHARD

JUST LIKE HE

‘I know…’

In Philippians 4.12 we hear the voice of experience. We often read Paul for his breadth of understanding of man’s plight and God’s intervention. This is different. We find we are in touch with a man who had his ups and downs as we do and as Hardy’s Henchard did. For him it was mayoral banquet one day, destitution at the town bridge the next. Plenty one day, poverty another. Paul said he, too, knew what it was to be well-fed one day, famished the next.

Some amongst the first followers of the Way, the new religious faith proclaimed by Peter and Paul, could say the same. But mostly believers were found in the lower ranks of society. Entrepreneurs like Lydia were the exception. The few who could say with Paul ‘I know what it is to have nothing’ and also ‘I know what it is to have plenty’ maybe add ‘I have been thoroughly initiated into fullness and hunger’. Perhaps he was hinting at something not altogether common.

Whatever the details, Paul had been able to face them. It was not a strong constitution or a good sequence of DNA that should take the credit for this. It was, he said, the strength given him by the one in whom he had put his faith. It was a nice touch and part of his way of getting on with his fellow-believers that he added: ‘All the same, it was kind of youto share the burden of my troubles.’

Throughout history from those first days the Kingdom of God has prospered by the generosity of the wealthy. They have built churches and with profits from oil or wheat or assembly lines have enabled the proclamation of the Gospel to become a worldwide project. At the same time we must remember good-hearted believers who could look no further than their next-door neighbours but had discovered a new generosity and kindness in the story of Jesus. We have probably all known something of plenty and penury. Most of us find Paul’s words to the Philippians not entirely unknown territory. If we can say as Paul says in Philippians 4.13 that there is one who gives us strength to face these things, so much the better. If only the Henchards among us could know that!

HOPE CENTRE

Hope centre, in Salisbury, Wiltshire is a purpose-built facility for a church with a full time-table and also with conference rooms for hire. St Paul’s church, which manages the centre, has a congregation of 600 adults and a Rector Craig Ryalls leading a strong ministry team. Answering questions on the church website, he says amongst other things that he believes in love at first sight.

If you have a comment on this post please send an email to Revd John King at johnc.king@talktalk.net Edited extracts may be published. To forward this to a friend click on the chain icon below.