How would somebody sum up your life in just a few words? How would you sum up your life just a few words? In 4.2-3 Paul mentions four people very briefly and it makes you think: if someone were to mention me in just a few words, what would they say?
We see that Euodia and Syntyche are mentioned and they have been in some sort of disagreement (v.2). The next brief mention is this person referenced as true companion. He is to help these women, and remind them that whatever they are arguing about, the have a shared history of serving the Lord together with Paul (v.3), along with Clement and the rest of [his] fellow workers. Four named, a few more unnamed. All very brief.
Paul is trying to communicate to them that the prize is bigger than the problem. He writes that all of these people – named or not – have their names in the book of life (cf. Revelation 20.15). The prize is so much bigger than whatever their problem might be. There is far more that unites Euodia and Syntyche than divides them. They will share an eternal destination, no matter if they are fighting here in their earthly station.
The same is true for you, too. Whatever you are working through now, whoever you are working through it with, the prize is far bigger than the problem. The fact that, if you have put hope, faith, and trust in Jesus to clear the consequences that your sin has, and is, and will accumulate, your name is written in the book of life, and that is far more important, honestly, than anything you might be tediously tiring yourself out with today.
Take a deep breath, take a step back, and remember this – the prize is far bigger than the problem.
James Travis 