Considering the interests of others ....

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete ... in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." [Philip. 2:1-4]

From this passage in Philippians, Paul urges the community to pursue an attitude of unity and humility. Part of the practical expression of this would be for them to be not preoccupied with their own needs and desires, but to look first and foremost to the needs of those around them. There is a personal dimension to our experience of God's grace in Christ, through the Spirit - we enter into the covenant community one by one, through faith. But then we discover a corporate identity, we become a part of the family of God, where we belong to one another. As such, our entering into the fullness of life Jesus came to bring, happens as we re-orientate our life around the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Paul's words simply reflect the teaching of our Lord Jesus who said, "whoever wants to be first must be slave of all" [Mark 10:44]. In fact, it is not just a reflection of Jesus' teaching but of his very life which is what Paul is going to come on to in the exalted words of Philip. 2:5-11, which remind us of the humility and servant heart of Jesus - the primary virtues of the kingdom of God.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his excellent essay on how Christians should live together, gives us seven principles for eradicating selfish ambition from Christian communities. Christians, he says, should;

1. Hold their tongues, refusing to speak uncharitably about a Christian brother (or sister)
2. Cultivate the humility that comes from understanding that they, like Paul, are the greatest sinners and can only live in God's sight by his grace
3. Listen "long and patiently" so that they will understand their fellow Christians' needs
4. Refuse to consider their time and calling so valuable that they cannot be interrupted to help with unexpected needs, no matter how small or menial
5. Bear the burden of their brothers and sisters in the Lord, both by preserving their freedom and by forgiving their sinful abuse of that freedom
6. Declare God's word to their fellow believers when they need to hear it
7. Understand that Christian authority is characterized by service and does not call attention to the person who performs the service
   

These would be wonderful principles to reflect upon during this season of Lent, typically a time for self-examination and repentance. I love how Eugene Peterson puts v4 in The Message, "Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand." Here's a simple, yet powerful suggestion as to how we might put this into practice here at BridgePoint. This Sunday it will be our corporate gathering but this also applies to our home church gatherings - first of all commit to attending, we do so to serve (love) God and (love) one another, not primarily for what we might get out of it.

But secondly come with a desire and expectation that God will use you to minister (serve) to someone in a very particular way. Come with a listening attitude and heart, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you. Perhaps there will be an opportunity to pray for someone, to speak words of comfort or affirmation, to encourage, to offer practical help, to invite along to dinner or to your home church. This can happen at any time, even when we're just sitting around eating brunch. I encourage you to take a risk and extend yourself, and lend a helping hand.

Lord, give us eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to respond, in Jesus' name. Amen.