In Philippians 1:10 Paul states one of the great skills we all need.

Test the Things which Differ (Part 1)

"I pray that your love may grow and grow, based on proper knowledge and understanding, and that you'll sort out the things which differ" (Php 1:9-10, cf Rom 2:18).

To understand anything properly we need the skill to "sort out (or test) the things which differ". Without this skill, we won't have a proper sense of values or a sensible view of the world. We won't be able to learn and make progress in life. We won't be able to build stable and loving relationships. Without this skill, we won't understand what we are told, not even what we are told by God. So this is a very important skill.

1 What does it mean to test the things which differ?

Some translations use the phrase, "testing the things which differ". Others have, "approve the things which are excellent".

The Greek word for "sort out" is dokimazo 1381. This means testing for approval, or examining things as to which are better than others. The Greek word for "differ" is diaphero 1308. It means differ in the sense that one thing is better or more important than another.

The skill Paul prays for is the ability to think about things and test them in such a way that we can discover how they differ, and which is better or worse. We can then decide which should have priority or be chosen, and which should be rejected as undesirable or unimportant.

If you were buying a pearl necklace, you'd like to think that whoever selected the pearls could tell a bad pearl from a good one, and knew which pearls were natural, cultured, or fake. A person who could not "sort out how things differ" in looking at pearls, could not be trusted to make a good pearl necklace.

Just think what the lack of this skill would mean to someone looking for a marriage partner, or a career, or a church to belong to, or a new home to buy, or some food to eat? Such a person could make serious mistakes and end up divorced, unemployed, deceived by a false prophet, homeless, or obese!

Just as "star differs from star in glory" (1Co 15:41) so in all our lives and pursuits one thing differs from another in value, and this we need to discern day by day.

2 Bible examples of testing the things which differ

We have several examples in the Bible of people with or without this skill. For instance...

• Mary had this skill, whilst Martha lacked it (Lke 10:38-42)
• Simon the Sorcerer was able to see the difference between his magic and Philip's miracles, but he couldn't tell the difference between a priceless gift from God and an item that can be bought with money (Acts 8:9-13, 18-20).
• Moses had this skill, and saw that suffering with God's people was better for him than luxury with the sinful in Pharaoh's palace (Heb 11:24-26).

You may think of many other examples.

Lesson continues