Let Nothing be Done Through Strife or Vain Glory

(Philippians 2:3) "Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."  One of the problems you find with some church members in many churches today is the lust for preeminence. Preeminence is rooted in pride.  III John 1:9 mentioned about Diotrephes who loved to have the preeminence among them in the church.  There are those in the church that want to be used for no other purpose so they can receive the praise and glory.  I was speaking with someone at church and we were talking about Philippians 2:3.  He said he looked up the word "strife" and it means to put oneself forward, as a politician does when they're campaigning.  I told him when I think of the word "strife", the first thing that comes to my mind is contention, whether it be contention among the brethren or preachers being in contention amongst each other.  However, the term "strife" is referring to those that want to put themselves forward.  They want the preeminence.  They promote themselves.  Much of what they do in the church is to promote themselves. 

There are church members who have been given a particular position or duty within the church.  They will compete with other church members in the church.  Everything they do is for the purpose of vain glory.  They're all about self-promotion.  It's tragic.  There are some people who live their lives performing the duties they perform or involving themselves in the ministries they do in order to be seen by men.  That happens in numerous churches across America.  I will say it's an honor and a privilege to serve the Lord.  It's an honor to use our talents that we're gifted with to glorify God.  God says in Romans that he gifts us so the body can be jointly fitted together.  In order for the body to function properly, we must submit ourselves to the Lord and fulfill the will of God for our lives.  Whatever God has for us to perform in the church, we should perform it with all our might.  Our motivation for our service in the House of God should be to glorify God; not for recognition. 

In Colossians 3:22, Paul tells them that servants are to obey their masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice as menpleasers, but with singleness of heart towards the Lord.  That should be our attitude towards the work we do in the House of God.  We should serve the Lord with singleness of heart.  Our whole purpose should be to please the Lord, not to receive recognition from men. 

In the latter part of Philippians 2:3 it says in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  The online definition of lowliness is humble or meek in manner.  We are to be humble and meek about ourselves.  Instead of promoting ourselves like politicians do when they're campaigning, we're to esteem our brother better than ourselves.  We're to praise our brother for their good works instead of seeking praise for ourselves.  We should serve other people because we love the Lord.  We should serve in a humble manner.  We're not to be lifted up in pride in our service for the Lord.  Philippians 2:4 says look not every man on his own things but the things of others.  We're to serve the Lord and serve others.  Our service should be a labor of love.