Look Out for the Interests of Others

Introduction

Last week we examined Philippians 2.2 and discovered 4 identifiers of unity. A local church family is unified when it is:

Of the same mind

Has the same love

Is in full accord

Is of one mind.

We also talked about last week that this passage is written in the background of a group of people suffering together.

➟ ➟ ➟ 1.28-29 - Christians suffered together for His sake.

Suffering is not the main point of the passage … but it was a very real reality.

Christianity always runs against the grain of the world. And as it does, conflicts with it will occur … sometimes violently.

Through these difficulties, Paul challenges his readers not to let them drive the local church apart, but rather, draw them closer together. Challenging times actually, are opportunities for unity.

➟ ➟ ➟ Today, our local church and community are going through a time of testing. We’ve done a very good job responding in a positive way. I want to encourage you to continue doing what you’re doing. Building relationships together. Loving one another. Expressing care and compassion.

To keep doing what we’re doing means that we will not cave into the negativity of the world around us and be drawn into our selves.

➟ ➟ ➟ Today’s passage reminds us of the constant challenge to drive out self-centeredness and replace it with the disposition to look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others.

It has been said that Philippians 2.3-4 is the means to local church unity. It’s how unity happens.

Today we’re going to discuss it in detail.

Then, we’ll look at the source of humility: the cross

Finally, we’ll see how Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus are all living examples of the principles of 2.3-4.

The Four Directives of Philippians 2.3-4

➟ ➟ ➟ 2.3a - Do nothing from selfishness.

This covers the things we do in our life. The theater of our activities, etc., as we intermix with other people inside the local church.

We are to avoid a party spirit, factions, or rivalries. Get ride of the self-seeking that initiates quarreling or contending.

Selfishness, according to Galatians 5.20, is a work of the flesh. We must slay this Goliath-sized problem in our life.

➟ ➟ ➟ 2.3b - Do nothing from conceit.

This moves us out of the theater of activity to our personal state of mind.

Paul is thinking of a state of mind that seeks personal glory.

A person who knows he has the right opinions, engages in self-promotion, and glory-seeking.

A person who thrives on self-advancement.

➟ ➟ ➟ 2.3c - Move with humility, counting others as more significant than yourself.

A relational culture thrives with humility. Self-seeking draws it apart. (This is why our country is coming apart - most people think only of themselves.)

Paul’s call for humility must have really stood out during the first century.

Word here in 2.3 is a word that describes the mindset of a slave.

It was a disparaging term. Used to paint the picture of someone who is unfit, low, or of no value.

But here, Paul is presenting this as a virtue. In fact, this is the way God has always looked at it:

➟ ➟ ➟ Isaiah 57.15 - “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Psalm 37:11 - “But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.”

➟ ➟ ➟ Psalm 149.4 - “For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.”

So we count others as more significant than ourselves. We move out of the mindset where we get trapped into being consumed by us and our own things.

➟ ➟ ➟ 2.4 - Look out for other’s interests.

“Interests,” is a filler. In the original language it says look out for “the other’s something.” So … the application is general.

Don’t just look out for our own finances, family, health, reputation, success, or happiness … but look out for those things in the lives of others.

➟ ➟ ➟ Philippians 2.4 is a direct application of Matthew 22.39: you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

We make the good of others the focus of our interest, strategy, and work.

We get our joy out of making others joyful.

The Source of Humility: The Cross

➟ ➟ ➟ 2.5 - Christ is our model.

He did nothing out of selfishness.

With humility of mind, he regarded others as more important than himself.

➟ ➟ ➟ 2.6-7.

Jesus looked at your and my needs as superior to His own.

➟ ➟ ➟ Luke 22.27: For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

He set aside His own importance and died to give us life. Jesus is the living model of the principles of 2.3-4.

➟ ➟ ➟ 2.8 - This is the carrying out of the principle of 2.4. This is what He did when he came to die in your place.

➟ ➟ ➟ 2.9-11 - for this, God has highly exalted Him.

Three Examples of Humility

➟ ➟ ➟ 2.17-18 - Paul, who was poured out as a drink offering.

Paul loved serving others. He loved the Philippian church. He loved all the churches he served with.

When he says he was being poured out as a drink offering, he is saying he thought nothing of his own interests but only, continually, upon the faith of those he served.

Paul denied himself time and time again … and took this as far as his own martyrdom. He did it with joy. He did it so the faith of others would be strong.

➟ ➟ ➟ 2.19-22 - Timothy, who was genuinely concerned for (their) welfare.

As you read these verses, I want you to take your mind back to v. 4.

See how Timothy lived that out in 2.20. Where was Timothy’s heart?

This was rare … because the majority miss it. Look at 2.21.

May it be our earnest desire to follow in Timothy’s example in making this part of the culture of our local church.

➟ ➟ ➟ 2.25-30 - Epaphroditus.

2.30 sums it up: This was a man who, for the work of Christ, risked his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Conclusion

So now as we close, I want to make some applications from the text and then locally.

Relationships in the church are beautiful.

They are so, because they are rooted in Christ.

Think again of what we’ve looked at today in Philippians 2:

It was beautiful when Jesus put our interests above his own earthly comforts and died for us.

It was beautiful when Paul suffered every day to serve churches, bringing the gospel to the early church.

It was beautiful when Timothy served side by side with Paul.... putting the interests of others first.

It was beautiful when Epaphroditus risked his life to bring Philippian support to Paul.

Now, let’s bring this home. Our relationships inside this church are strong and vibrant.

If there is one thing that is a blessing out of this pandemic is that it has revealed the incredible connections between us and the desire to serve.

And it’s not only here...

Thursday evening I spoke with one of the shepherds in Cali, Colombia, brother Orlando Quintera.

He reports that during this time the church there has never been down. In fact, he said they’ve never had as much time for Bible study. They’ve never had as much time together as they are now, … meeting multiple times per week on Zoom.

He said brethren are looking for ways to encourage each other and stay in contact.

He said, the crisis has ,… brought them closer together...

And that’s what’s happening here. I want you to see the blessings all around. These are just a few … and ones I’ve seen or heard or been touched by personally...

Blessings like Amanda Fles / Sarah Spargo / Gwen Price / Josie Armstrong … who have done so much with the Kettering Kids work.

Blessings like Mark & Margaret Ringle who do so much to care for some of our older members.

Blessings like Dick Kelso / Kathi Stewart / Wendy Ray who always visit the hospital when someone is sick … and care for our widows and widowers.

Blessings like John Key / Dylan & Collin Schofield who have spent countless hours getting our livestream operation up & running.

Blessings Bob Zehring who is always willing to help and serve others with needs around their home.

➟ ➟ ➟ Blessings from our young people, who left this message on the sidewalk Thursday.

Blessings from the Mullins family, Baker family, McLaughlin family, & McDonald family who have sent us cards of encouragement over the last week or so.

Blessings from many others who I do not have time to mention.

➟ ➟ ➟ I want to encourage all of you to continue to figure out creative ways to be united.

Stay committed to touching the lives of others. Reaching out.

Developing close relationships with each other.

Staying together.

We may be limited in doing this physically right now, but caring words, a nice note, an encouraging word on Facebook, or anything like that will do.

As we do these things together … we’ll be amazed to see how the admonition of Philippians 2.5 has come to life where we are each allowing the mind of Christ to be alive in us.

Is Christ alive in you?

Are you facing difficulty alone?

Are you without a spiritual foundation & mooring in this time of crisis?

Do you have no where to turn?

Do you need for and a yearning to experience the bountiful / abundant life in Christ?

There is hope … and it’s found in Christ. All of the blessings we’re talking about this morning come by Him. Surrender yourself to Him. Call on His name for salvation.

Repent and turn from your sin.

Meet Jesus in the baptistery so you can be brought back to life.