Inspiration

Paul the apostle gives the following instructions to the church at Philippi in the book of Philippians, chapter 2:

 “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,

  Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. “

His words encourage the Philippians to base their actions and choices on the fact that they are in Christ, being loved by Him and indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God.  The attitudes Paul highlights are those of the heart and mind; namely unity of purpose and love of each other.  The actions that proceed from these are selfless living, where others are put first; where one’s own dreams and hopes do not take over all of life.

      This is no small thing for anyone living in any age.  By nature and by culture we tend to put ourselves in the top spot, getting the bulk of the time and energy needed to live and achieve our ends.

But note that Paul does not say to just ignore our interests; he says to also seek to bolster the interests-hopes and dreams-of others.

You may say, as Paul, through the Spirit, anticipated, “How can I do this?”   As always the answer is to go back to Jesus Christ as our guide, our example, our Lord.

From Philippians again:

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

  Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

  but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

  so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. “

What is instructive is that each of the commands at the top can be linked to what Jesus  

did for us, and so give us the power and strength to do what is called for.

We are told to do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Link that to the mind of

Christ as he “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied

 Himself...”  That attitude allowed Jesus to go forward in obedience to the Father.   So

we need not grasp or strive for some status or place of recognition, because God will give

us what we need for His purposes.

We are told to count others as more significant, in humility.  Jesus emptied Himself and

took the form of a servant.  That is a vivid picture of humility, of being of service to

another in one’s calling.  

We are told to look to the interests of others.  Jesus took our place on the cross, dying in

the place reserved for me.  His interests did not stop Him from suffering a particularly

ignominious and public humiliation and death.  His obedience to the Father let Him

put my interests ahead of His own, to include His life. 

That is a stunning attitude and awesome action, arising out of a love for the Father and a

love for us.  Because of His attitude, I can love, I can have joy and I can live.  Only in the

 example of Jesus is there power and instruction that leads to joy.