Humility with Unity

Story

Recently my kids were arguing about how to play a game that they had made up. This game was one of those imaginary family or house games where you have a mom or dad and kids and a baby. Well, my son, Bennet, who’s the oldest wanted to be a character, but my oldest daughter, Caroline, wanted to be the same character that Bennett wanted to be. Kate, who’s the third wanted to be a totally different person, that didn’t even make sense in the game. So they are arguing. At the same time Claire, next in line, is interacting with Amy, my wife, and I and then she would run to “play” with the kids. But her version of play was more interrupting, which is setting the kids off even more. All the while, our soon to be one year old is sleeping in the room upstairs.

That doesn’t mean that we were super-humans then and today we’ve gone astray. No! Today we have the same sinfulness inside each one of us that we did years ago.

Pride is defined as: an attitude of regarding oneself with favor. A person looks at themselves as more elevated that others around them.

Maybe thinking back in time it seems like it was yesterday, but sin was still there then like it is still today.

Don’t we all fall into that trap at times?

an attitude of regarding oneself with favor

Many times when we think back in time we often erase the struggles and remember the joys.

Maybe in looking back we erase the struggles and hold on to the memories of joy?

Many days when I get home from being gone all day, my wife asks me, “How was your day?” I respond to her and tell her some details and then go and interact with the kids or continue to talk about myself. It’s not until I leave the conversation that I realize that I didn’t ask her how her day was!

Maybe you have a small level of pride inside you. What is the right level of pride that a person should have? Is there something else that should replace it?

Today we are going to spend some time on Paul’s letter to the church of Philippi. It’s the book of Philippians.

But, just like today, back in time we still experienced disunity, separation and differences.

Your journey to Christ may have been in some of those broken experiences of separation or differences.

Today we are going to spend some time on Paul’s letter to the church of Philippi. It’s the book of Philippians.

Philippians was a great city in Paul’s lifetime. Paul lived when Jesus lived, only he was radically against Jesus, until his transformational experience one day on the way to Damascus. He was transformed so radically that he began preaching the good news of Jesus.

The city of Philippi was known as a great commercial city. Gold and silver mines were near the city, which had brought Philippi to rise in popularity. It was founded by Philip, father of Alexander the Great, in 386 BC. It was the gateway from Asia to Europe. A person had to travel through Philippi on their way from the coast at Neopolis to Europe. One of the greatest battles was fought at Philippi. Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius, and thereby decided the future of the Roman Empire. Philippi became a Roman colony, which involved about 300 veteran soldiers and their families to build the colony and military presence.

William Barclay says, in his commentary on Philippians:

Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius, and thereby decided the future of the Roman Empire

The Letters to Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians Philippi

Just as the Roman colonists never forgot in any environment that they were Romans, so the Philippians must never forget in any society that they were Christians. Nowhere were people prouder of being Roman citizens than in these colonies; and Philippi was one such colony.

The Letters to Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians Philippi

Just as the Roman colonists never forgot in any environment that they were Romans, so the Philippians must never forget in any society that they were Christians. Nowhere were people prouder of being Roman citizens than in these colonies; and Philippi was one such colony.

That brings us to what we will be looking at today: the struggle between pride and humility.

William Barclay, The Letters to Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians, 3rd ed. fully rev. and updated., The New Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003), 4.

Philippians 2:1 HCSB

1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,

Bottom Line

Paul’s 4 Declarations

Encouragement

Consider others as more important than yourselves.

Comfort in Love

Fellowship

Tenderness and Compassion

These declarations are not stated as a hypothesis would be stated. If, then…

These are declarations that have been placed on the people of Philippi because of the characteristics of a follower of Jesus Christ.

Take a look at how the Message translation puts this verse.

Philippians 2:1 The Message

1 If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care—

Paul is not questioning the people in Philippi if they have these attributes and emotions. He is stating these so that when a person received his words they will indeed agree that they in fact do have these attributes.

Paul’s 4 Declarations

Encouragement

Comfort in Love

Fellowship

Tenderness and Compassion

Has there ever been a time when someone came to you and told you that you excelled at a skill? Maybe you were in fact struggling tp make a decision based on that skill.

When I was in college I felt God leading me to go into the pastoral ministry. I had a choice to major in youth ministry or general pastoral ministry. I wrestled with it for a bit and decided to focus on general pastoral ministry as opposed to a specific focus. Not long after that I was wrestling with beginning my ministry experience after college in youth ministry. It’s really the only ministry I had experience in while in high school and some in college. It was the confirmation of a few people that helped me see God’s leading to go in that direction. I graduated from Liberty University in 2006 and then in 2010 I broadened my ministry experience to children also.

How has Christ made a difference in your life? How have you seen the elements of His love, Spirit and compassion transform your outlook or situation?

Maybe you’ve had compassion on someone, maybe you didn’t lose your temper, maybe your life perspective has changed because you are focusing more on Jesus than you were before.

As we think back to how Jesus transformed our lives we sometimes forget how we are still sinners that have been saved by a perfect Savior. We still mess up and we still make mistakes.

Have you had any disagreements with people recently? Maybe you didn’t see eye to eye on how to complete a project, or your opinion on an issue was different from the other persons opinion. What did you do?

Paul sees that the church in Philippi has lots of disagreements and at times, they don’t see things the same way. that is where Paul is coming from when he writes this first sentence...

Warren Wiersbe, a biblical scholar, says this:

“Your disagreements reveal that there is a spiritual problem in your fellowship. It isn’t going to be solved by rules or threats; it’s going to be solved when your hearts are right with Christ and with each other.” Paul wanted them to see that the basic cause was selfishness, and the cause of selfishness is pride. There can be no joy in the life of the Christian who puts himself above others.”

Paul sees that the church in Philippi has lots of disagreements and at times, they don’t see things the same way. that is where Paul is coming from when he writes this first sentence...

Since you have been transformed by Christ, through his love, relationship with the Holy Spirit and your heart has grown towards what He desires… fulfill my joy...

Philippians 2:2 HCSB

2 fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal.

“Fulfill my joy...”

In reading the book of Philippians it communicates the attitude of Joy that Paul has for these people. He starts the letter by stating, “I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer”

Here he is stating the path to unity, which is through humility.

In reading the book of Philippians it communicates the attitude of Joy that Paul has for these people. He starts the letter by stating, “I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer”

I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer .

f 1:3 Or for your every remembrance of me

Here he is stating the path to unity, which is through humility.

The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), .

Humility occurs when a person puts down their interests for the good of the group or organization.

Today, people in their 20’s and 30’s are not jut looking for a job, but they are looking for a job that they can believe in or find value in. This is in contrast to how some small businesses are ran today.

Maybe the local mechanic, you know. He had dreams of becoming an electrician or an engineer, but when his father became ill, he took over the business and he has it today. He may or may not find value in it, but that isn’t want matters most. What matters most is that he’s carrying on the legacy of his father through his humility. Along the way he may have wished things panned out differently, but the legacy is what matters.

But, it’s not to say that that 20 year old can’t find meaning or value in being a mechanic. What drives him may not be the legacy, but the relationships that are formed because of his interactions. He might be still setting aside his aspirations for something else to carry on the family business.

Paul is setting “one goal” on the path to true unity.

Same Thoughts Same Love Same Feelings One Goal

Same Thoughts Same Love Same Feelings One Goal

True spiritual unity comes from within; it is a matter of the heart. Uniformity is the result of pressure from without. - Expositional Commentary

What keeps us from being unified to one goal? Our selfishness and pride.

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

But know this: Difficult times will come in the last days. e 2 For people will be lovers of self, f lovers of money, g boastful, proud, h blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy...

Has there been a time in your life when you have seen this? Maybe you can think of a situation that this eager focus is missing.

Philippians 2:3 HCSB

3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.

The same Greek word for “rivalry” in this verse is found in to describe the attitude of those who opposed Paul.

Pride is often birthed from rivalry or conceitedness. It’s one thing to be proud of your sports team and you want them to beat their rival in the game. It’s another thing when you want to be first in line to get the new gadget at the store. Or placed first in someone’s living or dying will.

I was sitting with a family a few weeks ago. I had set up the meeting and just wanted to see how they were doing. So I sat and listened for the majority of the time. They had a lot going on. On the other hand have you been in a conversation with someone where you couldn’t interject, because they were talking, talking, talking about themselves and how great they were and how great their kids were and all of the things they were doing to better themselves… Not once did they ask how you were doing or what your opinion was on the matter. Do you notice the difference?

Jesus is our truest example of humility. One day he was speaking on how to enter the kingdom of heaven and Peter reminded him, “We’ve left everything to follow you, what’s in it for us?” Jesus then told a parable of a vineyard owner who had a large vineyard to tend to, but not enough workers. He went out morning, noon, afternoon and evening to gather workers and pay them what they earned. At the end of the day they gathered together to get their wages. They all recieved the same payment amount. One of the workers didn’t like that everyone recieved the same, when he was there since morning. He did more work than some of the other workers who just arrived.

So the vineyard owner replied to the man.

Matthew 20:13–16 HCSB

13 “He replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I’m doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me on a denarius? 14 Take what’s yours and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my business? Are you jealous because I’m generous?’ 16 “So the last will be first, and the first last.”

Humility is putting others first, before yourself. There’s a tension where our pride causes friction and we get heated in the moment about a situation.

When I get home and I haven’t opened the door of the house, but I hear the kids screaming inside, I know that I need to think of myself less when I enter the house. Amy might be standing at the door waiting for me, but she’s not going to be asking how my day was, she might be waiting to tag me and say, “Your it! It’s your turn to deal with the kids.”

This life is not about us, but it’s about how we pursue Jesus and in turn how others are affected by our pursuit of Him.

Philippians 2:4 HCSB

4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

In a world of getting ahead of the person next to you, we can find it difficult to look out for others interests. We see this with social media where people are so focused on being right or have the last word or getting their point across. They don’t take time to hear or process the opposing viewpoint.

In a recent poll, more than half the people would rather live around others who do not share the same views as them. Whereas the others would rather live around people with the same views as them. People want diversity, but they communicate the opposite.

What does it mean to look out for the interests of others? Holding the door open for people to walk through? Asking people how they are doing, but waiting for an answer? Putting our phones down so that we can have a conversation with people eye to eye?

Looking out for the interests of others is all of that. You may have heard this phrase: humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. Jesus knew who he was. He was the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Savior of the world. He came to this earth the conquer sin and death and the be Love to others. But the Scriptures don’t portray him as a “really important, limosine riding, gold platter only” kind of person does it?

Jesus wants us to aspire to this level...

Matthew 11:29–30 NIrV

29 Become my servants and learn from me. I am gentle and free of pride. You will find rest for your souls. 30 Serving me is easy, and my load is light.”

That’s the one goal that Paul is talking about... leaving our desires to pursue Jesus.

Consider others as more important than yourselves.

It’s Your Move: We gain humility when we leave our desires in pursuit of Jesus.

We gain humility when we leave our desires

What are you pursuing? Who are your pursuing?

When I was in college, there were a lot of girls that I met and some that I was interested in dating. There were even some that I did date. But I didn’t find my wife, until I was satisfied with being single and following God’s lead for my life. For me it didn’t last long until my wife Amy came into the picture, but I had to lay my pride down so that I could be open to what God was handing me.