Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing from rivalry 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.”

Ephesians 4:1-3 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintainthe unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Few things in our culture today might seem more alien than the concept of thinking of others before ourselves. Selfish ambition, rivalry and the need to ‘get ahead’ of the next guy are elements that abound in all levels of society. Jesus said “A house divided against itself falls” (Luke 11:17). Today we find the church he began over 2000 years ago sliced up into ‘denominations.’ Why? Because those who worship with hands raised can’t praise alongside those who think dancing is wrong who can’t worship with those who think partial emersion baptisms aren’t as good as full emersions who can’t possibly attend a service where anything but traditional hymns are played and so on. Paul said we must humble ourselves if we are to get past this need to ‘be right.’ As Christians, we must not fight to be ‘right’ but rather we must learn that striving together in love means sometimes accepting our differences in order that the body may stand firm in peace (shalom) with each other.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, I’ve been as guilty as the next of thinking of myself first and then others. Remind me daily, Lord, that my priorities are not other’s priorities, that my way of seeing things is not the only way of seeing things. Help me to understand that right for me is not necessarily right for my brothers and sisters. Jesus, help me to be more humble and not to be a cause of division, strife or stumbling for other believers. In all things let patience and love be my guide - in your precious name I pray, Amen.”