Free from me: how God sets us free from selfishness and pride (Phillippians)
Currently, I am being challenged by the apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 2 and have been pondering what he says about the attitudes we should have as believers in our relationships. It has been difficult to be confronted with the sin that remains in my heart when it comes to selfishness and pride in my own heart as I see the ways in which they manifest in my relationships. Turning to the Lord in prayer, asking for mercy and for help, Philippians 2:1-4 comes to mind and the urge to spend some time in it.
“1Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. 4Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
One of the themes that run through the book of Philippians is the encouragement to progress in the faith and live with each other in such a way that promotes the gospel. The whole of chapter 2 remains one of the most striking passages in the Bible because of the picture we see of Christ’s humility and exaltation. I am particularly struck by how counterintuitive verses 3 and 4 are. They go against human nature and are therefore the total opposite of the “gospel of self-love” that is preached to us daily on our screens. We are told that there is a “good” and “healthy” kind of selfishness that one needs in order for your relationships to thrive, and it sounds good to itching ears. Consider how much of a contrast that is against the message of Scripture, which calls for radical humility; the Jesus-kind of humility. God says his people ought to pursue unity and think of others as more important than self; to do nothing out of selfish ambition and vain conceit.
If we consider the state of our hearts apart from the transformative grace and power of God at work in those who believe, This kind of attitude may seem difficult and even impossible to attain, and it is. The opening verses show us that this comes from the experiential knowledge of Christ through the gospel; united with Christ, comfort from his love, common sharing in the Spirit. In summary, these are implications about knowing God in an eternal relationship through faith in Jesus - possessing eternal life and all of the benefits of Christ, personal knowledge of his love (his steadfast, everlasting and multidimensional love, which surpasses all knowledge) and being unified with God’s people through the Spirit (belonging).
The reality above meets our every need for identity, meaning, purpose, security, love and approval. Such that there is no longer a need to live selfishly looking out for number one and motivated by pride. Such love and grace from God in the gospel is disarming and frees us from that burden. The kind of heart attitude spoken of here can only come from being known and loved by, and in turn, knowing and loving Jesus. He does it first for us, as it says from verses 5 to 11, humbling himself to serve us and as we benefit from his love and let it take care of us, we can experience freedom from ourselves and be energized to be others-focused. Of course, this will not be perfect, and we never arrive here on earth; we may experience failure and struggle in this area, but we are to keep on fighting, trusting, repenting, confessing our sin to God and others, and make use of the grace provided to make progress, not trusting in ourselves but in him. Like Paul we can “forget what is behind and strain forward to what is ahead, pressing on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [us] heavenward in Christ Jesus” (chapter 3:13-14).
In union and fellowship with the Triune God, we find all we need and are free to truly value others and prioritize their well-being. We can put ourselves aside and serve others, pursuing unity over being right or demanding our own way; looking out for the needs, desires, and concerns of others as if our own, while trusting the Lord for help and progress. Living lives driven by selfishness and pride leads to dissatisfaction and bondage, ultimately death if we continue in that way. The way of Christ is better, as his love is able to satisfy and meet our needs better than we ever could.
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:2-14
