NOTES for Php 2:1-4

Today the apostle Paul speaks about what motivates our actions. It is very important to consider why we want to do one thing or another. Even perfectly respectable deeds may be done for very unworthy reasons. A simple example is when someone gives alms not to help a person in need, but to display his own righteousness to those around him, to God, and to himself.

But that is a simple situation... and a fairly harmless one. It is much worse when we begin to act only to prove another person wrong, out of rivalry. Argument for argument's sake, activity for activity's sake... This destroys us, our relationships within the Church, and our bond with God.

The apostle Paul offers a clear way out, though it is unattractive to a vain person: humbly admit that other people, their feelings, and my relationships with them are more important than my righteousness and wisdom, which, alas, are most often imaginary.