We left Jerusalem before 6:00 AM heading south to the mountain fortress of Masada. Although it was only April, we still had to get an early start due to the heat in the desert. Once we arrived, we discovered that the gondola was shut down for repairs. Not to be discouraged, we began the 1.25 mile hike up the desert mountain’s snake path that was nearly 1,200 feet in elevation change.
It was a beautiful destination and well worth the hike. I realized quickly that one bottle of water was not enough. We headed back down the trail and I was so excited to get to the bottom where the best smoothie I have ever had awaited me. Well cooling down and sipping on the smoothie, I noticed an American couple and so I said “hello”.
If you’ve ever traveled in a foreign land, it is always nice to see fellow Americans. They were friendly and we began to talk. Wouldn’t you know it, they were also from Ohio! What are the odds of traveling to the other side of the world and bumping into neighbors from Ohio?
Why do I tell you this story? Some things stood out immediately while in an unfamiliar foreign land when I saw fellow American citizens. I could tell they were Americans quickly. Their accents, their dress styles, their attitudes, and word choices. They stood out from the many other nationalities present. It was comforting to connect with fellow Americans, and fun to cheer each other on.
Paul is getting at this point in Philippians 1:27-2:4 (Read).
Citizens of Heaven
The opening phrase in today’s reading, “manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ”, could be translated, “act like citizens of the gospel,” or “citizens of heaven” (see Phil 3:20-21). It’s a unique phrase in the Greek and it adds some clarity to what Paul is challenging us to. He charges us to live as citizens of heaven in a foreign land.
The desired outcome is that our lives would stand out in this dark world, and that fellow believers will see and hear evidence of our citizenship. One of the clearest signs of our citizenship should be our unity and focus on the Gospel, that we “stand firm in one spirit, with one mind, working together.”
From Not For
Before I go on, I think it’s important to stop and remember who Paul is talking to and what’s at core of what he is saying. He is talking to believers in Philippi, and ultimately to all believers. He affirms their faith and partnership in the Gospel. He speaks a promise over them of confidence that “He who has begun a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:6).
It is Jesus who has secured salvation through His sinless life, His death, burial and resurrection. It is in Christ that we are citizens of heaven, declared righteous and a part of the family of God.
What Paul is calling the Philippians, and us, to do is not FOR our salvation in our own strength, but FROM our salvation that has been given to us freely by God, who also is our strength to live this out. We are citizens first, and then we live out from our citizenship to the glory of God.
> Me
For the remainder of this lesson, I want to major on Phil 2:3-4.
True citizenship of the Gospel is evident in humility. “In humility, count others more significant than yourselves.” Others are greater than me. My attitude, my posture needs to be one of genuine humility that sees the intrinsic value of those around me. We should not be promoters of self, but we should be promoters of Christ.
We are to consider other people’s needs, feelings and perspectives, even as we are developing our own. Notice he doesn’t say, don’t take care of your own interests. He does say, “also look to the interests of others.” He wants you to take the same level of concern you have for your own interests and pour that into others.
It was once said that JOY can be defined as “Jesus first, Others second and Yourself last.” I like that. I find that when I look to Jesus and serve others I am more blessed than when I seek to meet my needs first. It has also been said, “it is more blessed to give than to receive.”
True humility, as C.S. Lewis put it, is “not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”
Scenario one: how would you feel if you spent all day thinking about your needs, your worries, your anxieties, and you don’t leave yourself any space to think about the needs of others? Miserable, right?
Scenario two: how would you feel if you spent the day looking to care for others as you care for yourself? When you praying about your worries, you remember others who have similar worries in prayer? And so on? You would feel blessed. You may even find that looking toward others’ needs will replace many of your own feelings of need. That the reward for serving others fills the holes you had in your life. Why? Because you are being God’s hands and feet to serve others for their joy and His glory (Ephesians 2:10; Matthew 5:16).
I challenge you to think through this > Me (greater than me) idea. How would your day be shaped if you looked at everyone as > me? (not me as in Brad Horner, lol. Say it in first person J)
I try this often, and I still need growth in it. Sometimes I phrase it like this, “how can I serve…”. I have three guys who rent rooms in my house, and I regularly do a self-assessment of how am I serving them. When the thoughts of, “why should I serve them, they left this mess…” or something like that pops in my head, I have to take it captive and not dwell on those thoughts. My joy will come from serving them, not criticizing them.
As a man, as a youth pastor and an elder, as a coach, and so on, I have so many spheres of life to balance. Nowhere in the Bible will I find a passage that gives me permission or encourages me to have a pity party of all my responsibilities. Instead, the Bible calls me to consider others better than myself in all the spheres of influence I have.
When my first response is, “my way or else” I am clearly missing the point. When I follow Paul’s instructions and think of others as > me, it will cost me. It is a sacrifice to put others first, but it is also rewarding. How can you see others as > me this week?
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