“Make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.” (Philippians 2:2)
One of the greatest joys for Paul was seeing Christians living in harmony and partnering together for the gospel (1:4). When you see this happen in a church or with a group of believers, it’s such a beautiful sight to see! Paul urged the Christians in Philippi to remain united, love one another deeply, and pursue the same goal together.
But how do we do this during a time when it seems like so many Christians are as polarized as our politics? How do we be like-minded when everyone is arguing and criticizing each other on Facebook and Twitter? Well, if you’re guilty of engaging in “Facebook Wars,” or heated discussions about politics or health guidelines that have ended badly, then Paul has a few practical principles that can help you.
Paul instructs the Philippians “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others” (Phil. 2:3-4). One could say this is the answer to so many problems in our relationships. Considering the interest of others is such a good picture of what “loving your neighbor” looks like.
So who might you need to apologize to? Or what brother or sister in Christ might you have unfriended recently? Maybe next time you’re in a conversation and someone starts bringing up something controversial, you could just humble yourself, and not try to defend yourself position. But instead, practice being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. That could be the way you apply Paul’s words “in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.” Can you do it for the sake of unity and the gospel? Let’s remember to keep the main thing, the main thing. And that of course is “Jesus Christ and him crucified!” (1 Cor. 2:2).