Philippians 2:3 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
A sure way to ruin a Church is to let “strife or vainglory” take root. Both “strife” and “vainglory” are human tendencies that must be kept in check. All of us, some more so than others, have this need for self “esteem”; we need to feel good about ourselves, to feel like we are receiving what we deserve, to have the opportunity to advance and use the abilities we feel we have, and to receive the recognition that we feel that we deserve. It is “vainglory” when we allow this carnal lust for self “esteem” to rise up within us and to affect our thinking and judgments. It becomes “strife” when it begins to affect our relationship with our Church Family. This Commandment, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory”, strikes directly to the heart of the problem. For, “nothing” means, do not let it affect our thinking, judgments, the things we say, how we relate to our Church Family, or how we worship. While it is part of human nature to lust after self “esteem”, we are commanded to subdue this lust by focusing our minds on our love for each other; and in doing so, “in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves”! To “esteem other better than” ourselves is to think about how much better they are than we are, how talented they are, how kind they are, how faithful they are, how loving they are, how pleasant they are, etc.; as we also think of all the failures of our lives. The Lord knows all about this human weakness in us, this is exactly why he gave us the Feet Washing “example” in John Chapter Thirteen and tells us “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14). The word that is translated “ought”, means that we are indebted to Him to follow His example and do it. In that same Chapter, the Lord told His Disciples, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35). There is not much Brotherly “love” shown when there is “strife or vainglory” in the Church. Let’s spend our time showing our “love” by trying to figure out how to serve and help one another rather than how to promote ourselves! The Lord put it this way, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:45).