Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but 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.”

Paul explains the life of selfless humility by describing two sets of contrasts. The first has to do with attitude. In place of pride and conceit he urges a humility that thinks more highly of others. He isn’t counseling low self-esteem or promoting personal insecurity. He is trying to spare us from being an insufferable jerk.

We all know that guy who thinks he is God’s gift to…you fill in the blank. It may be God’s gift to women, or God’s gift to politics, or God’s gift to sports, or God’s gift to science, or God’s gift to barbeque, or God’s gift to whatever other topic moves him to strut his stuff like a peacock. His attitude of superiority makes him hard to be around.

You also know the person who may be quite gifted at something or another. But he is always noticing the gifts and talents of others. He is quick with a compliment for the good someone else does. When Paul says, “…in humility consider others better than yourself,” he is saying, “Be that guy.” That’s not only a nicer person to be around. That’s an attitude compatible with our faith and our understanding of sin and grace.

The other contrast looks at whom we serve with our lives. “…Look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Do we care to serve only ourselves, or do we care about others? Centuries before the government decided to create the social safety net, Christian churches were places where people actually loved each other and looked after each other. Christians didn’t have to be billed or taxed or shamed into doing something. They spontaneously gave and helped. It’s one of the reasons that Christianity was respected, even attractive, at a time when becoming a Christian could be dangerous.

These Philippians were known as a poor congregation. But when a collection was being taken for famine relief in Jerusalem, they begged Paul for the opportunity to contribute. That’s the kind of selfless living that made Paul’s joy complete. That’s the kind of selfless humility the gospel can still create in us today.