The Servant’s Mind
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4
Is it a good thing or a bad thing to be “different”? Most people don’t want to be different. We like to fit in. We don’t like standing out. But aren’t we all different? We all have strengths and weaknesses. We all have different personalities. Some may be more similar than others, but every single person is different and unique.
Paul’s whole point in these verses of Philippians 2 is that we, as Christians, need to be similarly different. We need to be of the same mind, as was pointed out in yesterday’s devotion. But that same mind is different than the mindset of the world. Christians naturally stick out. We are different in how we live, how we talk, and how we carry ourselves. But here, Paul also says that we stand out differently even by the way that we think.
How are we to think differently? Paul says here that we are not to think in ways of selfish ambition, in getting ahead in life. We are also not supposed to think out of conceit, that is in pride or vanity. Christians are not to put themselves first. Rather, we are to have “lowliness of mind.”
This can be challenging. This lowliness of mind does come naturally to us through faith. God gives you the gift and ability to put others ahead of yourself. This ability that you have been given is based on His love for you! He allows you to love your neighbor as yourself. That is a mindset that can only flow out of us from the love of Christ. To the world, Christians look different and think differently. But it is truly a blessing to be similarly different through Christ!
Thou sacred Love, grace on us bestow,
Set our hearts with heavenly fire aglow
That with hearts united we love each other,
Of one mind, in peace with every brother.
Lord, have mercy!
The Lutheran Hymnal 231:3