Daily Thoughts from Philippians (9): Unity and Gospel Progress – Philippians 2:1-4

In the 2016 movie “Arrival” alien craft come to earth and position themselves around the world’s major countries and are communicating.  All the nations together are trying to decode the alien communications and are sharing all the information they are getting with one another.  But when China feels threatened by what they believe the aliens are saying, they break off from sharing with everyone else and the rest of the nations follow suit.  Their disunity in the endeavor threatens the success of their mission. 

It has always been so.  Letting our self-centered agendas rule our interaction will always ruin our chance to see the gospel make progress.  This is Paul’s concern for the Philippians.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:1-4, ESV)

Paul has given the command to be in unity with one another, and now he begins to work on their motivation for obeying.

If, he says, there is any encouragement to unity that they derive from being in Christ (we all have the same Savior), if there is any motivation that comes from God’s love for all of them, if they sense the unity that the Holy Spirit has produced among them, if they have any compassion for one another or Paul, then he incites them to fill up the joy that he, their spiritual father, has experienced a dimming of because of their lack of unity.

He challenges them to be of the same mind, to follow the same love, be of the same soul and think the one thing.  What is that one thing, that one love?  The progress of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the glory of God!  It is the thing he has been pointing to from the beginning of the letter, the partnership they have shared with him through the years, the battle they must fight together.

When they make this their ultimate goal, there will be no room for selfish ambition.  I will not be able to push my own agenda at your expense.  The agenda of Christ will be paramount and loving you will be a huge part of that agenda.  I will not be able to rest conceitedly thinking I and my preferences are most important but will consider others more important than me.  I have interests and needs to be sure, but I won’t look out for number one only, but will consider your needs as well.

In war, men and women of all kinds, from all parts of the country, with all kinds of different philosophies, meet together to battle a common enemy.  Sometimes they sacrifice themselves to save their fellow combatants.  The greater goal moves them to set aside their lesser goals and work for the benefit of the whole.  That is how the church is supposed to behave.  We have a greater goal to which we’ve been won, the kingdom of God.  Serving the gospel and Jesus Christ should move us to set aside our  interests, that by comparison are petty.  We’re at war for the souls of men and women!

Discussion Questions for Small Groups

1. If you could attempt anything with guaranteed success what would it be and why?
2. What, according to Paul, must happen for the success of the gospel in reaching the world?
3. Which of the encouragements Paul mentions to unity resonate the most with you?
4. Where have you seen the roadblocks of selfish ambition and empty conceit kill unity?
5. Whom might you need to consider more significant than yourself?
6. Where might you need to consider the needs of others and not just your own, and how would you do that?