1. Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
2. fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
4. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Philippians 2:7 says of Jesus, “But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” Have you ever given thought to what it must’ve been like for Jesus to be made in the likeness of men — and, on top of that, to serve those he came to save? To find strength in times of tiredness. To bear the pain of others, even when their own sin brought about their suffering. To choose kindness at the end of a long day. These are but a few of the attributes Jesus practiced as being an example of how His followers should live.
Jesus demostrated that true freedom is found in humility and love, by continuing to answer the call to serve. The person who answers that call is free from the bondage of selfishness that often isolates — a slave to ones own flesh. Selfishness is often rooted in pride and covetousness, when one’s own possessions become idols of self-worth. This mindset is in bondage to sin becaus its motives serve only itself.
The parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:16-21 illustrates this perfectly. Jesus tells of a rich man whose land produced abundantly — so plentiful that his barns could not contain the excess. His solution was to tear down his barns and build bigger ones — he had enough to store for years. Believing that once his excess was stored, life would be easy and he could “eat, drink, and be merry.” But Luke 12:20 tells God’s response, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” God did not call the man a fool because he gained riches, but because his heart was not with the One who gave him life and prosperity. His motives were selfish.
Had his heart been with God, he would have used a portion of his excess to help others in need. I’m sure we can all agree, that if the wealthy parted with a portion of their excess, instead of only building bigger, there would be far fewer in the world that go without. Though God may not instantly bring death upon the selfish today, every soul will be required of Him. As Hebrews 10:31 warns, “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
As followers of Christ, we are not to have minds of conceit. Humilty cannot thrive where arrogance is rooted. An arrogant mind is also in bondage to sin because its spirit is judgmental, critical of others, and thinks itself to be superior to others. These are the vary conditions that lead to verbal abuse and other harmful acts that wound the self-esteem, self-love, and confidence of others. This spirit has created a culture where many despise their own identity and seek another not given by God, and pushes them further away from Him.
In Mark 12:31 Jesus reminds us of the Second Commandment: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself:” He also gave a new commandment: “Love one another, as I have loved you” (John 13:34). A spirit lacking humilty may or may not love itself, but it certainly cannot love others.
This does not mean that as followers of Christ we should neglect our own duties and affairs. After all, Philippians 2:4 teaches to “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” A word rarely used to describe what it means to be a Christian, is balance. A balanced mind is what creates a balanced Christian life and every Christian who walks in balance contributes to a more balanced Church Body.
The Apostle Paul was probably the most dynamic promoter of the Church Body. In his epistles, he taught not only how members of the Church should live, but also that the health of the Church depends on the health of each of its members. His best illustration is found in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, where he describes the Church Body as a human body. He concludes with a call to humility and unity of the Church: “That there should be no schism in the body: but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it: or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now yee are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” (1 Corinthians 12:25-27).
When we consider the interests and well-being of our brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as our own, we fulfill the command to treat others as we would like to be treated (Matthew 7:12). When we serve not only ourselves but others as well, we truly reflect the heart of Christ — and give Christianity the identity it was meant to have: a people that walk in love, are based in humility, and thrive in service.
In Jesus Name, Amen.