Fire On Your Head

By Robert Gladstone

Reading Philippians this morning, one thing Paul says really jumped out at me.  “For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus” (2:21).

So, what are the interests of Christ Jesus?  The context explains clearly. His interests are people.  God’s burning concern, and the concern of His imprisoned apostle, is the well-being of His family – both as individuals and as a community.  Read the whole chapter carefully.  It’s all about people getting along, caring for each other more than themselves, serving the purposes of the gospel.

Paul’s spirituality was not some abstract mysticism.  It was essentially people.  For him, the second great commandment was the natural outflow of the first.

Notice how he exhorts a somewhat divided church to take Christ’s attitude and example.  Philippians 2, one of the most powerful passages in all of Scripture, sets them forth for us:  Jesus did not insist on His own greatness.  Rather, He emptied Himself of His inherent, heavenly status and lowered Himself to the place of total abasement.  All of this, for people.

Jesus Christ did not become a slave and die to establish Christian religion.  He did not suffer affliction for buildings and ministry programs.  He did not submit to shame and torture to exalt celebrity-styled ministries. Jesus died for people! He died to create born again, whole, supernatural individuals who together make up the family He always dreamed of.

Paul pleaded with the Philippians to have this same attitude toward one another.  How can we “work out our salvation with fear and trembling” in any other way but to pour our lives out for those around us?  Paul told them, in so many words, “I gave my whole life away.  I have given up my own dreams and ambitions (Phil 3).  I suffer immensely even in prison… all for you to prosper in Christ.  And, greatest of ironies, in this do I find my own deepest joy!  In fact, I’m sharing this joy of mine with you so you will have it!  Would you do the same for one another?  This would make my joy complete, and yours too!”

Paul bemoaned the lack of ministers in his day that had this kind of attitude.  “They seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.”  There were few gospel ministers he could entrust with the care of his churches.  Too many wanted to use the churches for their own well-being, rather than to be used for the churches’ well-being.

It’s sadly similar today.  We live in a culture – including a religious culture – that promotes individualism and self-centered happiness as the goal of life.  But God calls us to break the mold.  Let’s embrace Christ’s interests.  Let’s lay our lives down for people.  Let’s make it our ambition to use our time, energy, and gifts to make the lives of those around us better in Christ.

That is Christ’s own heart and happiness – people, the Family of God.  Listen again to the words of the great hymn…

“Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.”

Bob Gladstone is director, and professor of practical theology at the FIRE School of Ministry in Concord, North Carolina.  To visit his blog go to HeavenRules.org.

To hear messages of his at last year’s Fire For Life Summer School, in the Netherlands, click on this link.