OK…so you feel chained down. What do you do?

Have you ever really thought about what it was like for Paul to be in chains while in prison? More than likely he was literally chained to a Roman guard while imprisoned causing him to be chained to a person and a place. Chains and shackles were made of iron or bronze during this time; either of these metals is very heavy. Far removed from modern industrialized ways to create these shackles, they were very rough to the skin and were very uncomfortable to wear.

I find it interesting that in each of the prison epistles Paul speaks of his chains. As he writes, I am sure he can hear the jingling of the chains as his arm slides across the parchment paper or when he dips his pen in ink. Perhaps he remembers his chains when some of the metal links clang together as he draws his weathered hands up to cradle his face in anguish as he agonizes over the attacks of the churches he planted. Perhaps he hears the clinking of metal chains when he uses his index finger to scratch his head while pausing before writing his next thought. It is almost like every time he hears the chains, he writes about being chained. When God has us chained to something it is hard to forget. There are always reminders before us even in the little things. Maybe God has you chained to a church or chained to a community that is out of your comfort zone, and every day you are reminded of it by its unfortunate agitation to your heart. Just as Paul was chained to a Roman guard, maybe God has chained you in a relationship in life, and every pet peeve you have about that person resounds as a clanking chain in your head. It’s in these times that we determine that our chains are in Him (Phil 1:13). We are not our own but purchased with a price. (1Cor 6:20) We are to die daily if we belong to Him (1Cor 15:31). We may be chained in our circumstance, but the will of God is never chained (2Tim 2:9). There are so many things we can learn from the fact that Paul was chained and imprisoned yet continued to fulfill the purpose of God. So, what is one thing we can learn from Paul’s chains?

I would like to focus on his attitude. I never heard Paul complain about his chains; I only hear him take notice to them. His focus was not on his chains; he was just reminded of them frequently. His life wasn’t centered on his chains; however, his chains were part of his life. What if we took a similar approach to whatever it is we are chained to that we do not like, or what we want to be free from (I’m not speaking of sin or evil things we are attached or chained to. I am speaking of where God has placed us and who God has placed us with.)

It was Paul’s attitude about his chains that impresses me. Even though it is apparent that Paul was reminded of the heavy weight of his chains, there was something in him that overshadowed the nuisance of his uncomfortable chains, something that was more intensely before him than the racket of his noisy chains, something more urgent than the limitation caused by his restricting chains. What was it? It was the Gospel and the fact that Paul was a steward of the mystery of Christ (1Cor 4:1). While writing the Philippian letter, Paul was in chains and imprisoned, but this letter is one of the most encouraging writings in the New Testament. He says things like, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!.” “Do all things without complaining.” “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” “But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” “For I have learned to be content in whatever state I am.” “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” These verses are heavier than our chains. They are noisier than our chains. And for most of us…they are more uncomfortable than our chains because we know that something is required from us that exists outside of our comfort zone. Nevertheless, it is through having an attitude as Paul and the mind of Christ that we are enabled to see what we are chained to differently than we do otherwise.

So, how can Paul say such things when he is constantly reminded of his heavy, uncomfortable, irritating, limiting, noisy chains? Phil 4:8-9 give us a good idea of Paul’s ability to have the right can of attitude in an uncomfortable place. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Paul’s attitude which led to his godly actions began in his thought life. His focus was not on irritating chains but on things that are true, noble, just, pure, and lovely. These thoughts were heavier than his chains. These thoughts were bigger than the prison wall or person he was chained to. The ultimate outcome was that meditating on these thoughts led to the God of peace being with him (vs9).

In conclusion, some of Paul’s greatest works that are still active and working today originated from a place in his life that was not comfortable. Chains confined Paul to a dark, stinking, nasty, depressing and vexatious dwelling only to spur some of his greatest work inspired by the Lord which is also used to shape our lives today.

Some of your greatest work may come from being chained to an uncomfortable place or an irritating person. Our focus can not be the chains, but rather that we are an ambassador in chains (Eph 6:20). Don’t hate your noisy chains, but learn to be content despite them. Work hard for the Kingdom despite them. Love God despite them. Share your faith despite them. Be a steward of God’s mysteries despite them because some of your greatest work for the kingdom may originate because of them!