If you’ve been at church the last few weeks, you know that I’ve been in a series on Jesus and Politics. The truth is, this political climate we find ourselves in has been divisive and polarizing. We see people taking sides, digging in their heels, and sometimes even dehumanizing others who don’t share their views. And instead of putting others first they focus on their own wants, opinions, and desires.
But in Philippians 2:3-4, Paul writes, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” This is such a challenging scripture because it calls us to an uncomfortable place: a place of humility where we set aside our pride and personal agendas to truly care about others. It goes against the grain of our culture that tells us to look out for ourselves first.
Have you ever been in a conversation where it was obvious that the other person wasn’t listening? Where they were just waiting for their chance to jump in, so they could share their thoughts or opinions. We’ve all experienced that. It’s frustrating, isn’t it? It makes us feel unheard and undervalued. But how often do we do that to others? Where we get so caught up in our own perspective that we forget to listen, understand, and actually care for the other person.
This is the call of Philippians 2. It’s not just about being kind or generous—it’s about a radical shift in how we live our lives, putting others’ needs above our own. This is absolutely countercultural. It’s so easy to get caught up in our own frustrations, or our own convictions, we forget that the person on the other side of the debate is someone created in the image of God.
A practical way to live this out is to simply listen more than we speak. We need to ask ourself, “How can I serve this person today? How can I honor their needs, their struggles, their story?” It doesn’t mean we abandon our convictions or our passions, but it means we hold them with an open hand, allowing space for others.
Jesus modeled this perfectly when He washed the feet of His disciples. He didn’t need to assert His power or prove His worth, instead He took the role of a servant. That’s what Paul is calling us to do in this passage. In a world that often encourages us to push forward, to fight for what’s ours, and to demand our way, God is inviting us to a different path—the way of humility.
May we be people who, in the midst of political tensions and personal struggles, reflect the heart of Jesus by putting others first. And in doing so, we not only reflect Christ’s love, but we’ll also help heal the divisions in our relationships and communities.
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