Philippians 2:1-4
Count Others More Important
Read the passage
1Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,
2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.
3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Paul appeals to gifts the believers already share: encouragement in Christ, comfort from His love, fellowship with the Spirit, affection and compassion. These gifts give them a reason to seek unity. Their common life begins in what God has given them.
He asks them to make his joy complete by being like-minded, sharing the same love and being united in spirit and purpose. Unity reaches how they think about one another and what they pursue together. Rivalry can divide people who confess the same Lord.
Selfish ambition and empty pride must give way to humility. Paul tells them to consider others more important than themselves. Instead of insisting that our concerns always receive first attention, we can take another person's needs seriously enough to put them before our own.
He does not tell them to neglect every personal responsibility. Each should look beyond their own interests to the interests of others. The comfort and fellowship they receive in Christ are to become care that someone else can experience.
How We Know
Philippians 4:2 names Euodia and Syntyche and asks them to agree in the Lord. That specific appeal illustrates the kind of unity Paul seeks here. The letter does not say their disagreement was the only reason for this instruction or explain what divided them.
Questions
1 What shared gifts does Paul name before calling for unity?
AnswerHe names encouragement in Christ, comfort from His love, fellowship with the Spirit, affection and compassion. His appeal rests on what they have received.
2 What would make Paul's joy complete?
AnswerTheir being like-minded, sharing the same love and being united in spirit and purpose would complete his joy.
3 What should replace selfish ambition and empty pride?
AnswerHumility should replace them. Believers are to consider others more important than themselves, giving real attention to another person's good.
4 Does caring for others require ignoring our own interests?
AnswerPaul says to look not only to our own interests but also to others' interests. Our concerns must not crowd out everyone else's.
What This Means for Us
Before deciding how the household will spend its time, ask what someone else needs. A tired parent, a lonely sibling or a guest may need something different from what you first planned.
We can begin serving before generous feelings come easily, while also asking Christ to change our hearts. His affection and compassion teach us to care for the person, not merely to complete a considerate task.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your love and the fellowship of Your Spirit. Turn us from rivalry, teach us humility, and help us notice and care for another person's needs. Amen.