Philippians - United (Lesson 3 - Post 2)

We are in Philippians 1: 27 - 2:11.  Today focus your attention on 2: 1 - 4.

Unity is one of the primary themes in Paul's letter to these Christians.  Perhaps disunity has risen its ugly head in this beloved church.  It happens - often!  It seems to be one of Satan's favorite and most effective tools against us.  Divide and conquer.  In the spirit of the "Screwtape Letters" by C. S. Lewis, I can almost hear a conversation between Satan and one of his demons going like this: 

Plant the idea in a few people's minds that they are not important.  Whisper to them quietly that no one cares about their thoughts, needs and/or ideas.  Suggest to them that no one really cares to have them around.  Place a seed of doubt in their minds about the others in the group.  Let them know that the "other" can't really be trusted.  Then just wait ... those thoughts will do their insidious work and before too long ... we will have created divisions and rifts and chasms that these believers will have a hard time moving beyond.  In fact ... and here's the beauty of it ... they won't even want to!  And then, my dear minion, the testimony of that church will be silenced.

Paul loves the Philippian church too much to allow any such thoughts to go unaddressed.  Therefore, he carefully reminds these believers of what causes disunity ... and what heals it. 

The causes are laid down in verses 3 - 4. 

Cause 1 - doing anything out of selfish ambition.  The Greek word used here means:  electioneering; or intriguing for office; a desire to put oneself forward (Strong's Concordance)  {As we are in an election year in this country ... we have a very clear picture of just what this Greek word means!}  Selfish ambition ... the desire to be in the forefront ... a cause for disunity.

Cause 2 - doing anything out of vain conceit.  This Greek word means: personal prestige; to be sought after (Strong's Concordance)  Vain conceit ... activity designed to make people want me more than the Lord ... a cause for disunity. 

Cause 3 - considering the interests of myself as the only thing that matters.  This characteristic views life - personal, family, church, all of it - as a competition.  I have to win ... therefore, you must loose.  Sorry :(
A cause for disunity. 

But Paul does not leave his readers in a funk of depression over how hopeless the situation is ... because it is not!  There is an antidote ... there is a remedy ... there is hope.  And he reminds them, and us, of the beautiful, miraculous, unifying things that bind us together. 

• There is the fact that, as believers, we are ALL IN CHRIST!  William Barclay said, "If a man has Christ as the companion of his way, he is inevitably the companion of every fellow wayfarer.  No man can live in the atmosphere of Christ, and at the same time live in bitterness with his fellow-men."
• There is the power of Christian love.  That power provides victory over the self-will and moves us into the territory of God's will.
• There is the shared Holy Spirit ... binding man to God and believer to believer.
• There is the existence of human compassion and tenderness.  We first experience it from Christ Himself and then pass it on to each other. 

After those four, Paul then offers the quintessential antidote - the most powerful medicine against disunity - adopting the very attitude of Christ.  We will explore those verses in Post 3. 

Lord, I don't want to contribute to any spirit of disunity in Your Body.  I long for our witness to the world around us be strong and pure.  Forgive us when we are more full of selfish ambition and vain conceit that we are full of Your Spirit.  We crucify 'self' again today ... and pray that this day ... we live Your life through our individual situations.  And by Your Spirit and Your power ... it can be done!