May 07 2026

Thursday May 07

The Right Means for Spiritual Unity

Philippians 2:3-4

Welcome to Pastor’s Chat. This morning I will be having back surgery in Wilmington NC. I sure appreciate your prayers during this time. I hope to continue the pastor chats each day, but it will depend on how quick I will be able to recover. If you don’t see a new chat being posted, please go back and listen to a previous one that we have posted over the past five years. Thanks for both your prayers and your patience.

Today we are looking at Philippians 2, and we are going on to verses 3 and 4. But let us remember, in verses 1 and 2, as we talked about the spiritual motives and the marks for spiritual unity, that these things will give us a heart of submission. The submissive mind is a secret to Christian joy in our lives. Of course, chapter 1, the single mind, lays the foundation for that. If our single mind is focused on Jesus Christ and the gospel, and on sharing that good news under whatever circumstances we are in, what a difference it will make.

Now in verses 3 and 4, Paul goes on to say, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Paul here begins with the negative: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit.” Sometimes we have to deal with the negative before we can put on the positive. That is why most of the Ten Commandments are “thou shalt not.” It sounds kind of negative, but then it gives us the opportunity to understand that only by God’s grace can we do the positive—to love God with all our heart, live for Him, and let nothing come between us and Him.

First, Paul deals with negative of selfish ambition—he says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition.” Selfish ambition is that drive that promotes ourselves at the expense of others. It is putting personal gain above everything else. That is something we sometimes see in churches. I could not even begin to tell you how many times I have dealt with people who come and say, “I deserve that position. I deserve to be the one giving that speech. I am the one who deserves it.” It is simply trying to put themselves out in front, and it causes difficult situations every time.

Next he adds, “nothing through selfish ambition or conceit.” Conceit literally means “empty glory.” It is an inflated view of ourselves. It says, “My opinion matters most. My way should prevail.” My friend, how many times have we seen this in business meetings? We have seen it in situations in the church between people. It is so sad when you hear somebody promoting themselves with empty conceit. They believe they deserve it. They feel entitled.

Both of these things—selfish ambition and conceit, which Paul says should never motivate us—are rooted in pride. Pride is always destructive. Proverbs 13:10 says, “Only by pride comes contention.” At the root of all contention, strife, and division in a church, my friend, is not merely a matter of preferences or the way we do or do not do things. It is a matter of pride. “I want my way. I am going to have it my way, and I am going to make sure everybody knows what I want.” “I have a right to express my opinion.”

My friend, that causes many divisions. It divides families. It divides churches. It divides ministries. Paul saw it in Rome, and now he warns against it in Philippi. Even strong, healthy churches are vulnerable when pride enters in. We have seen it happen with pastors. They start out with a spirit of humility, like King Saul did. Then, before long, God blesses their ministry, and they begin thinking more highly of themselves than they should. The next thing you know, they are full of pride and determined to be in control. It is all their way or no way, and they refuse to listen to others. I have seen that happen. You have read about it in the newspaper. You have heard about it in Christian periodicals and circles.

But my friend, that is not God’s way. That is why Paul goes on to say, “Let nothing be done” through these things.  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit. That means not some things, not most things, but nothing. May we think about that as we examine our own hearts concerning conceit, pride, and selfish ambition. Do we have that kind of heart? If we do, let us ask God to cleanse us and forgive us, and let us have the mind of Christ—a mind of humility.

God bless and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!!