Part 4
“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.”-Philippians 2:1-2
The most effective way for the church to impact the world is for it to operate in unity; not just in what we believe, but in how we conduct ourselves while pursuing a common purpose.
The idea of being in “one accord” is consistent with Jesus’ prayer for the church, the early church’s experience, and the Apostles’ writings (John 17:20-23, Acts 2:42-47, & 1 Peter 3:8).
Jesus and the Apostles knew that a unified body of believers would be much more impactful than a few fractured individuals trying to carry a movement. However, a unified body means that we each must be willing to lay aside our own pursuits, promotions, and desires to attain the common purpose-winning souls for Christ.
Paul’s instruction begins with addressing the root of virtually all of our issues and that is selfishness:
“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”-Philippians 2:3-4
It is easy to fall into the trap of only being concerned with our own welfare. To combat this, Paul points us toward four keys to living a selfless life.
1. A selfless life is one that is no longer lived to impress others.
2. A selfless life is one marked by humility.
3. A selfless life is one that values others.
4. A selfless life is one that looks out for the interests of others.
As we begin to live out these keys to selfless living we will soon find ourselves gravitating toward a more gospel-centered life.
Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church
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