3 Simple Steps to Stardom

This article was first published in French at TPSG.

When my daughter was in 4th grade, she once told me that the most common aspiration of her classmates was to become a YouTube star. To that end, several of them had launched their own channels. Popular content produced by her age group included kids filming themselves playing video games or flipping water bottles. Fame, however, is elusive, whether sought by ten-year-old kids or their adult counterparts. The Scripture, however, provides a guaranteed path to stardom:

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”  Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. (Ph 2:14-16, NIV).

Stars in the Bible

In the Greek, the term thus translated refers to any light-producing object in the sky, such as the sun, moon, and other planets and stars, but in this context, it is used especially of stars.

I can’t help but wonder if Paul had in mind Daniel 12:3, 

Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

Philippians 2:14-16 Context

In the preceding verses, Paul penned a masterful invitation to humility based on the life and death of Jesus Christ (2:1-11). In light of Christ’s humiliation and subsequent glory, the saints at Philippi are to put their salvation to work as God works in them (2:12-13). But in case they need more specific instructions, that’s exactly what the apostle provides. Using this imagery of stars, he offers them three key ingredients for Spirit-led sanctification:

1. Avoid Grumbling and Complaining (v. 14)

The first step to stardom begins with the imperative “Do everything without grumbling or arguing…” These twin terms call to mind the Israelites in the wilderness, who tested God for forty years with their frequent bouts of both grumbling and complaining. 

Paul further alludes to the wilderness wanderings as he quotes from Deuteronomy 32:

 

They are corrupt and not his children; to their shame they are a warped and crooked generation. Is this the way you repay the Lord, you foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you? (Dt. 32:5-6)

These sobering words refer to the nation’s perverting of the LORD’s covenant with them. Yet in Philippians, they also apply to the perverse generation to whom believers were to bear witness like stars in a night sky. 

Paul’s words find their parallel in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount: 

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Mt. 5:14-16)

Both Paul and Jesus inspired believers, not merely by telling them what they ought to be, but rather by reminding them of what they already are: stars, the light of the world.

2. Hold Fast to the Word of Life (v. 16)

A further element on the road to stardom is a dependence on God’s Word. It is both the foundation of our hope and the content of the message we proclaim. Given Paul’s warnings against false teachers throughout the epistle, the importance of keeping the Gospel central to the Church’s mission is clear here. After all, the light Paul speaks of does not emanate from us. We merely reflect the light of our radiant Saviour, which he imparts to us as we commune with him through his Word. 

3. Live for the Day of Christ (v. 16)

Paul’s final exhortation is a loving, fatherly one. He boasts of the steadfast love of the Philippians. He shows his warm affection for them throughout the letter (1:3-11). Yet in this verse, it’s as if he tells them, “Make me proud. Persevere to the end. Prove me right to have poured out my life on your behalf.” For Paul knew that he would one day stand before Christ and be evaluated for his work in this life. And so will we. The Apostle reminds us to run the race, to labour in the harvest, with our eyes set on eternity. 

Shoot for the Greatest Stardom

The sad truth for most ten-year-old aspiring YouTube stars is that their dreams will not come to fruition. Such dreams, however, are small and their glory ephemeral. As are many of our own. Let us leave behind, therefore, our small ambitions for a far greater one, that of appearing blameless and pure on the day of Christ.