Have a Christlike Attitude

Petty Differences

I am reminded of a certain Dallas church that decided to split and then fight over the property.

They both filed lawsuits against the other, ignoring the Scripture injunction against suing other Christians.

Thankfully, the judge referred the case back to the denomination to handle.

During the hearing, the church courts discovered that the conflict had begun years before at a church dinner when a certain elder was served a smaller piece of ham than the child seated next to him.

Sadly, this choice tidbit of news was reported in the local newspapers for everyone to read and laugh at. 

But it is no laughing matter.

This is an extreme example of pettiness in the church, but this sort of thing goes on all the time.

I knew of a man who left the church, because he didn’t like what was going on in the Children’s ministry.

But he had no children in the church.

Then there was the deacon who accused another deacon of sending an anonymous letter.

Then decided to settle it in the parking lot.

There was a church argument over whether or not to install dividers in the women’s bathrooms.

Personally I like them in the men’s bathroom.

One church had an argument over whether to have deviled eggs at the church meal.

My personal favorite is the argument over whether to use the term potluck instead of pot blessing.

It happens far too frequently.

So how can we avoid this kind of thing from happening.

Well, Paul gives us the answer in

Philippians 2:3–9 (KJV)

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Paul begins by telling us not to do anything through strife and vainglory.

Strife is a desire to put ourselves forward.

It is self-seeking.

J. Vernon McGee believes that most of the difficulties in the church today are not due to doctrinal differences.

But due to strife and envy.

Vainglory is empty, proud, or groundless self-esteem.

It is selfishness.

Ambition and vanity will destroy the unity and harmony of the church.

Paul knows all about this.

Philippians 1:15 (KJV)

15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

These people were jealous of Paul.

They were looking to undermine his influence.

These men were motivated by malice.

But look at Paul’s attitude in verse 18,

Philippians 1:18 (KJV)

18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

Paul didn’t care that people were preaching Christ out of jealousy.

He didn’t care about there motivation.

All he cared about was that the gospel of Christ was preached.

If anyone had a reason to grumble or complain, it was Paul.

As he writes this letter, he is in prison in Rome.

And there was trouble within the Philippian church.

Even as far away as Rome, Paul heard about the rivalry that was going on there.

Philippians 4:2 (KJV)

2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

These two women did not live up to the meanings of their names.

“Euodia” means a “prosperous journey.”

“Syntyche” means a “pleasant acquaintance.”

It appears that they were causing dissension in the community of believers.

At one time these women worked at Paul’s side for the cause of the gospel.

But now they wouldn’t work with each other.

Their relationship was now contentious.

These attitudes can disrupt, weaken, and destroy a church by causing discord, disharmony, conflict, and division.

So, what attitude should followers of Christ have?

Paul says here that believers should have humility of mind and to think of others before ourselves.

Years ago had a jingle that ended with “all we ask is that you have it you way.”

Now, if you’re ordering a burger, there is nothing wrong with wanting it the way you like it.

But it’s no way for a follower of Christ to live their life.

This is the kind of self-seeking that leads to quarreling, hassling, haggling, fighting, arguing, and contending.

John MacArthur says, “As soon as you become selfish you are literally at war with everybody else.”

Contrary to our way of thinking, we are to think of others before ourselves.

Our viewpoint should not be inward but outward.

Lloyd J. Ogilvie tells the story of “loving consolation” carried on by members of the church.

A man was unfaithful to his wife, walked all over her, used her, and went back to his perverted, selfish way.

But he kept coming back, asking to accept him and promising to be faithful.

This pattern was repeated over and over again until the woman could take any more.

She committed to suicide.

This woman had a friend in our church who had experienced much the same thing with her husband.

This church member told her pastor the story of her friend’s suicide.

As she wept she confessed, “That has been temptation. You don’t know how many times I’v been on the verge of suicide.

I couldn’t follow through on my temptation because of the love and support of Christ through this church.

I want you to know that Mary and Jim, Bob and Karen, Ben and Ann have kept me alive.”

Could you imagine what the world would look if we all thought about others before ourselves.

How many people in our churches do you think are quietly dealing with some secret pain?

A wise man said, “There is no life so empty as a self-centered life, and there is no life so center as the emptied life.”

When we’re preoccupied with ourselves, we are miserable.

When we let Jesus Christ love others through us, we have the joy that Christian fellowship supposed to give to all of us.

Paul says, “Instead of being personally ambitious and personally vain, on the other hand, rather than being proud which both of those things reflect, maintain humility of mind.”

“Humility of mind” is one word in Greek, is found no where but in the New Testament.

It is a word that the New Testament writers invented.

It comes from an adjective form was often used to describe the mentality of a slave.

It conveys the idea of being base, shabby, scummy, unfit, low, common, valueless, or useless.

In the New Testament world it was alway seen as something ugly, never to be sought certainly never to be admired.

If you read the Old Testament, God choose those who were insignificant and humble for His work.