If you had to name one idea, one characteristic, one Bible passage that defined Christianity and its Gospel more than anything else, what would it be? The defining characteristic of Christianity is what is said in Philipians 2: Consider others more important than yourselves.

Why do I say this?

  • This is the source of our salvation.
    • See Rom 5:8: “But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
    • And I John 4:10: “In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
  • Since this is the way God is, it is also what He calls us to do as his followers:
    • I John 4:7-12: “The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
    • Matt: 22:34-40: “The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
    • Matt:5:43-46: “love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be like your Father in heaven…” (Which is more important: whatever that enemy may have done to you, or that person whom God loves?)
  • Paul modeled this: Even though he had a right to be paid for his ministry (see I Cor 9) he didn’t accept any payment. In his final goodbye to the Ephesus elders, Acts 20:34-35, he said: “You yourselves know that these hands of mine provided for my needs and the needs of those who were with me. By all these things, I have shown you that by working in this way we must help the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

God’s way is so beautiful. No other religion that I’m aware of teaches this, including present day philosophies. Most teach some version of just being fair to others, 50/50. But that usually doesn’t work in practice. Since we are self-centered by nature, what I think is fair is rarely the same as what you think is fair. This is yet another reason why the Gospel rings true, because although it sounds like it doesn’t make sense, it actually makes life work so much better.

This principle has application in many areas of our lives

  • Marriage: Seeing what your spouse needs/desires, and understanding where they are coming from, is one of the most powerful healing forces in a marriage.
  • Children: They can at times be exhausting or frustrating, but they are vulnerable young humans just trying to figure life out, and need help to do that. Parents putting their own desires ahead of their children is a big source of dysfunction within the family and society.
  • Politics and our society: This is what is most wrong about the Christian Nationalist movement: Considering themselves and their own rights more important than others: I want guns, I don’t care what impact they might have on others. I don’t want to pay extra taxes for children to have school breakfast/lunch or for poor people to have healthcare. Etc.
  • Helping those in need: Helping refugees, or serving at a food pantry, or a crisis pregnancy center, etc.
  • Social media: It is far too common for people to not want to think hard about some of the valid points the “other” side might have, but instead just want to feel good about owning/burning them. What if we put ourselves in their shoes and not only really considered their reasons for their viewpoint, but also how it might hurt them by what I’m about to post?
  • I could go on and on about various aspects of our life in which we can apply this principle.

One more comment

Note that in Philippians 2, Paul doesn’t ignore the need for self care: “”be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.“ But sometimes, caring for others can be a blessing to yourself too. My wife and I have had our share of struggles in our marriage, but by both of us seeking the good of the other person our relationship has become an incredible blessing to us. A second example is when we took in a teenager in a desperate situation, It was a stretch for our family, but the blessings of having him part our family (and now his wife too!) have far outweighed any challenges we experienced. This is the beauty of God’s wisdom. He knows how life works best!