Earlier this week Lara and I went to the store to buy electric motor oil for our boiler. The store was rather large so we asked the closest worker to help us find it. With a twinge of irritation and a sigh, she picked up the store phone and asked someone, "Do we carry electric motor oil?" Dropping the phone in its cradle the girl returned to her work and said, "If we have it, it's probably in the automotive dept."
So we walked across the store to the automotive department. Not seeing the product I asked a worker, "Do you carry electric motor oil?" He wouldn't even make eye contact. Without hesitation he snapped, "No, we don't carry that kind of stuff." He obviously didn't want to be bothered either! As he shrugged us off Lara pointed to a bottle right in front of where the young man had just been stocking the shelf." Jon, isn't that it right there?" In his embarrassment the associate mumbled, "Oh, yeah. There, we carry it."
Selfishness or selflessness?
Of all times of the year Christmas is perhaps the most revealing. On the one hand Christmas can bring out the worst in us. The image of a mother trying to drag her son out of the store comes to mind. A young boy lets out a blood-curdling scream as he desperately clings to a toy that somehow promises to complete his existence. Christmas can quickly deviate into a selfish spiral of demands, disappointment, discontentment, dissatisfaction, and debt! Christmas can become all about me and my Christmas list and what I want.
On the other hand Christmas can bring out the best in us. Christmas can prompt us to think of other people. It can prompt us to go the extra mile by becoming extra thoughtful and generous. It can prompt us to become more benevolent and to show good will toward others. Christmas can prompt us to move beyond ourselves in order to find something more meaningful and satisfying.
Some time back I enrolled in a local community college and took a sociology course. Actually, Lara and I were dating at the time and we took the class together. The class content was pretty bland but we needed it in order to have enough science credit to graduate from Lincoln Christian College. Throughout the semester the teacher gave bits of information about himself. He spent a good part of his life working in the housing projects in Chicago. He spent time on the streets helping the homeless. He was a parole officer. Later in life he began teaching at Illinois State University but he soon gave that up in order to teach at Logan County Correctional Center.
One day, with great passion he told us that we should take sociology seriously because there were so many hurting people in our world. At that point my antennae perked up because he struck a real cord with me.
On one particular night he told our class about a phone call he had received one day. A former parolee in dire circumstances had tracked him down. This ex-convict's life was a total mess. He had hit rock bottom and had no place left to turn. The man was reaping the consequences of his sins. His wife had left him and had taken their children down to Alabama to live with family. She had liquidated what little they had and now he had no place to stay and no money for rent. As an ex-convict he had found it difficult to get a job and whenever he did find a job he was discriminated against because he also had AIDS. In fact, he was in the final stages of AIDS and was having serious problems.
Dr. Richard May, our Sociology professor, told us he took this man into his care. He prepared a special room for him in his house. He changed his bandages daily. He nursed his sores. He washed his clothes. He helped the man to the bathroom. He helped him with his medicines. He fed him. He loved him. He thoroughly inconvenienced himself and his family for someone he would never receive anything back from, and he did it for up to two years! Eventually the man died and they gutted the room. They burned everything just as a precaution in case the virus might spread. We know a lot more today.
When Dr. Richard May told that story I was trembling in my seat. I was itching to know why and how a secular professor at a secular university could be so selfless in his service to a virtual stranger who was an ex-convict. He went way beyond anything I had ever heard of even Christians doing. After class that night I cornered him in the parking lot, "Why, Dr. May? Why? Why did you do that? What motivated you? I can't believe that!" That night with a warm smile he told me, "I will tell you at the end of the semester if you still want to know, but not now."
What motivates selflessness?
Perhaps this morning you have that same basic question on your mind. What motivates selflessness? How can we move beyond ourselves? For instance, how might an unhelpful, snippy sales clerk morph into a selfless servant? Or how might a person like myself go even further in serving others and especially in serving those who may not ever offer anything in return? How can I serve people I'm not related to or people I don't have a natural chemistry with? How can I serve people who push my buttons or people who I may not like at first glance?
This dilemma is Paul's dilemma as he writes to the Church at Philippi. The Church at Philippi was plagued with selfish people. These were people who were absorbed in their own lives. These were people who looked out for themselves first and often turned a cold shoulder to the needs around them. In 2 Corinthians 8 we discover that this Church in Philippi faced extreme poverty and underwent severe trials.
There must have been a mindset of entitlement in this church because Paul specifically asks them to not only look after their own interests and needs. You know how this goes. When times are tight, when cash is low, the first thing that goes out the window is generosity. In fact, far from being generous, we start making demands and expecting others to give selflessly. "If they were really Christians, they would help me out." In the end, our ill circumstances can become an excuse for selfishness and even greed!
The apostle Paul's dilemma was how to get these people who have nothing to be more benevolent?
Paul inspires them with his own example.
Paul understood a basic leadership principle. You must focus on quality in leadership before focusing on quality in the flock. One person said, "Who you are screams so loudly that I cannot hear what you are saying." Paul knew that he could not invite the Philippians to experience a life that he himself wasn't ready and willing to model. They were watching his example. They knew his life. Without Paul being a credible example the Philippians would have just brushed off his exhortations to live otherwise. They would have labeled him a hypocrite or worse.
In Philippians 1 we have spent a good deal of time exploring Paul's selfless example. Sitting in prison with no property, no possessions, no money, and stripped of all dignity and respect, Paul had every excuse to become self-absorbed. But he absorbed himself in the life of the Philippians. He constantly remembered them in prayer. He encouraged them, loved them, and thanked God for them. Instead of making demands and withdrawals and taking advantage of his relationship with them, he invested, he liquidated his energy, and he made deep deposits in their lives. He prayed the best for his worst enemies. He affirmed their noble intentions.
In the face of death and faced with the prospect of heavenly comfort in Christ's presence versus earthly suffering, Paul says in Philippians 1:23-24 (NIV),"I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. "Paul set an example himself before exhorting the Philippians to follow his example of putting others first.
There is a lesson in all of this for us. We can be really hard on other people. Teachers can ridicule their students for being selfish. Employers can scold their employees for not being helpful to customers. Parents can scold their kids for acting selfishly. Church leaders can get down on people who don't serve.
The question we need to ask is, "What kind of example am I setting?" Moms, dads, maybe your kids are behaving just like you. Could that be the case? Mr. Boss, Mr. Manager, maybe your employees are taking their cues from you. Could that be true? Your children or the people around you will rarely become what you yourself are not willing to become. Selflessness breeds selflessness. As a parent or boss or leader, do you inspire people with your selflessness? Are you most interested in yourself, your needs, and your desires? Or are you more interested in them and their needs and their desires? Put first things first!
Paul inspires them with the example of others.
I don't want to steal my thunder for a later sermon but later in Philippians 2 Paul calls attention to the example of two selfless men in the Church of Philippi. First, in Philippians 2:19-24 (NIV) he commends Timothy. "I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon."
Notice what Paul is affirming in Timothy. Here is a man who is taking a genuine interest in others. Here is a selfless man who shows concern in a context where everyone is looking out for their own interests. Here is a man who is pure servant through and through.
Second, in Philippians 2:25-30 (NIV) Paul commends Epaphroditus. Paul writes, "But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me."
Paul honors Epaphroditus for his eagerness to serve Paul's personal needs. Here is a man who went when no one else would go. Here is a man who inconvenienced himself and almost died to take care of a prisoner's needs. Here is a man who touched Paul's life deeply, and came alongside him as a fellow brother, soldier, and worker.
When Timothy and Epaphroditus were around him Paul received tremendous strength and encouragement. But as a further evidence of Paul's selflessness he tells the Philippians, "I'd send them back to you in a heartbeat, and I will, as soon as I get the opportunity."
It is important that we highlight the lives of those who go above and beyond. It is important that we hold them up as role models to our peers and children. These examples provide inspiration and cast a vision of the impact a selfless life can make on God's kingdom and people.
Paul inspires them with the example of Christ.
In Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV), one of the most well-known passages of scripture, Paul holds out the example of Christ to the Philippians. He writes, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Jesus is the supreme example of selflessness. Jesus deserved it all, but instead gave his all by becoming an obedient servant willing to die for our sakes. We'll explore this passage next week in more detail but for now, I want to call your attention to our text for this week.
In Philippians 2:1-5 (NIV) Paul says, "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 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. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus..."
Paul was telling the Philippians to take the inspiration they received from Christ's example and turn it around to demonstrate selfless devotion to others. He was telling them not to have such a high view of themselves. They should always be willing to roll up their sleeves and serve the least among them.
The rest of the story.
Well, I eagerly awaited the end of the semester. I just had to know. After the last night of classes I again cornered Dr. May in the parking lot, "Why, Dr. May? Why? Why did you do that? What motivated you to selflessly serve a man you barely knew? What motivated you to look after the interests of someone who could never repay you? Tell me." With moist eyes and an unassuming posture, he quoted a verse of the Bible that I instantly recognized, Colossians 1:27. Colossians 1:27 (NIV) says, "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Dr. May said, "Because of Christ in me, the hope of glory."
I exclaimed, "You're a Christian! You know Christ!" At that point he handed me his business card which read, "Dr. Richard May, Pastor, 2 Timothy Church, Springfield, IL." He then hopped in his car and drove off.
As I stood there in the parking lot I looked up into the stars and said, "Of course, it all makes sense." "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 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. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus..."
This Christmas, what kind of attitude will you carry? Will you think of other people? Will you go the extra mile with thoughtfulness and generosity? Will you become more benevolent by showing good will to all? This Christmas will you move beyond yourself to find something deeper, more meaningful, and satisfying? In humility will you consider others as much as you consider yourself?