Philippians 2:1-13.                              Selfishness or Christ??                                     28/09/14

 ¹ Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. ⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; ⁷ rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! ⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
¹² Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.

 Here in this congregation I wonder how many people feel lonely and unhappy: that nobody seems to really care about them. They are just a face in the crowd. At the same time how many do we have on the books as members, but who do not feel a part of this congregation: they confess to be Christians but do not feel at home here.

 Sadly this is not just the case here, but in every congregation and every other social group that there is. No matter where, there are people who are lonely; who don’t feel part of the group; who are living in strained and broken relationships; who are facing all kinds of difficulties and tragedies; and are struggling to cope with life.

 So here I would like to say; welcome to the real world - even within the Church. This is life in a selfish, sinful world. As long as we continue to think of self, first, last and only - even as Christians -this is the way life will be for us. As long as we look here [ me] and what I want out of life; and what the church and others should do for me; thinking only of my own interests. As long as I push my own barrow we will continue to struggle with friction, hassles, disunity and loneliness.

 That will be life for us and our church and our community. Even by our non-participation in worship and other congregational activities; or doings so only now and again, we are telling our children and others that God and what he wants is not all that important, and that they are not important. Then relationships will end up being even more strained.

 All of us to a greater or lesser degree are contributing to this friction and unhappiness. Each one of us, by the things we say and do and by our attitude of selfishness and non-participation and non-help, are all adding to the situation. And so is it any wonder that life is as it is in our congregations and in our community.

 But the important question that we face in the midst of this situation is, 'what are we going to do about it? That is more important than the problem itself. Are we going to seek to do something about rectifying the situation, or are we simply going to put our heads in the sand and pretend that it is not a big issue. Can we sit back and be satisfied with my conclusion, that this is what life is like in the real world, without seeking to give some help to people caught up in the realities of life? Well, I for one am not content to sit back and do nothing.

 Even though I recognise that sin and selfishness will always be with us on earth, it is not what life is meant to be like: Certainly not in a Christian community. Nor is it the kind of life that is helpful, because many people are lonely frustrated, hurt and bitter when it is not necessary. There is an alternative.

 Let us listen again to what St Paul says here, so hear what our Lord is saying to each one of us, as individuals and as a congregation.

¹ Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
⁶ Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; ⁷ rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! ⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
¹² Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.

 There we have some very sound and helpful advice, and it puts our lives and our living in its proper perspective. It focuses us on the real issues that we need to think about.

 Firstly it recognises that it is selfishness, competition and conceit that are the root cause of most of the problems that we face in life: That each and every one of us to a greater or lesser degree are this way inclined; and that we need to seek to have a heart to move away from this attitude.

 Now off course we cannot do this on our own. It is impossible for us without the forgiveness and help of God. But in connection with the Lord Jesus Christ and through him, we know that we have that forgiveness and help. Instead of facing punishment from God for our selfishness and sin, God forgives us for Christ's sake. Through him we know that we have salvation and eternal life: we have love and hope and a reason to live the way that God wants us to. After all we are now through baptism united with Christ and all that is of God.

 So we are now a part of all that is good and fantastic. We have been transferred from death to life; from selfishness and loneliness to love and unity. So 'if - no 'since' being a Christian means something to us: since we now have a good, loving, tender and compassionate bone in our body because of Christ: and since we have God's Spirit within us; then let us be united -united in our conviction and love: and let us go forward with a common purpose and a common mind.

 No competition -no conceit - self-effacing -considering others better than ourselves -thinking of their interests before our own. Think what is now possible. Think what life now can be like. As Christians our world would be turned upside down.

 Imagine it -everyone here this morning considering others interests before our own: living, loving and doing what is best for them. Can you imagine what would happen -what it would be like? "Oh, heaven forbid, I might miss out by just looking after others and by being a good Christian." Would you? If everyone was considerate and loving toward the next person, no one would miss out. In fact everyone would be better off than we are now. But I hear you say, "the next person might take advantage of me -they might not pull their weight." Yes, that is true -they might just do that -in fact they have done it.

 You see, you and I are doing it all the time to those around us. I am the problem. I am the one letting the side down, not the next person. "But -but -but -I hear you saying. It can't be done." Oh yes it is, says Paul -yes it is -Look at Jesus Christ. He had it all: divinity; equality with God, and everything he could ever possibly want; and he gave it all away. He took on himself the condition of a human being -being a slave. In every way he became as we are: In every way, except he was without sin.

 But even more so though was the fact that he willingly died on the cross: he died for you and me. Taking the absolute wrath of God -that should have been focussed on us, because of our sin: taking that punishment on himself; even though he was innocent. He did it all so that we could have forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. So that we can have it all: freely made available to each and every one of us: All courtesy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 As a result we now have everything that is important, and it cannot be taken away from us. So now we are united with Christ, and so also with our fellow Christians. That being the case we can give of ourselves and we can live for the interests of others. And the more that we do, the more that this unity and love will be a part of our wider community; and the more then that others will be drawn to give glory to the Lord Jesus Christ as well.

 Yes it is possible. It can be done because of, and with, Jesus Christ. To him be thanks, praise and glory, now and forever more. So 'if -no 'since' our life in Christ means everything to us: since love can persuade all, and we have God's Spirit in common: and since as a result of Jesus Christ we now have tenderness and sympathy , then let us be united in our conviction and united in our love, with a common purpose and a common mind.

And through it all may more and more glory go to our Lord Jesus Christ, for to him alone belongs all glory and honour, now and always.  AMEN.

 Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish