How Do You Love Difficult People?
Do you find it hard to love others who are different than you? If so, Philippians 2 is the passage you need this week.
My favorite passage in Scripture is Philippians 2.
It's the one I come back to the most whenever I'm feeling discouraged, hurt, or entitled...or...well...any mood I'm in at any moment!
For a bit of background, Paul wrote the Book of Philippians while in prison (likely in Rome) around 62 AD, approximately 100 years after Augustus defeated Brutus and Cassius in the Roman Civil War at Philippi.
Augustus celebrated the victory by making the city a military colony and stationing some of his demobilized soldiers there. Later, when Augustus feared further strife, he brought some veterans back to Rome and made room by settling some Roman families in Philippi.
Acts 16:12 identifies Philippi as “a leading city of the district of Macedonia.” Rome made Philippi the political and commercial center of Eastern Macedonia. As a “colony,” it had the right of self-government, enjoyed immunity from taxation and tribute, and was given a legal status equivalent (in theory) to that of those living on Italian soil.
Thus, the cultural ethos was more Roman than Greek. It was an agricultural city, and the church would have mirrored the social diversity between the Romans and the Greeks. That said, the church at Philippi was the poorest of Paul’s congregations.
Paul writes this letter as the Philippian church’s friend, founder, apostle, and teacher. “By outward appearances, as Paul writes, there is little reason for the Philippian believers to rejoice. Their beloved leader Paul is in jail; they face tremendous opposition from enemies; their church is experiencing rivalry and disunity.”[1] Still, in Philippians 2, Paul offers these powerful words:
1 If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.
His plea was both corporate and personal, setting up his words in Philippians 2:5-11, which my friend Tim will tackle, and you can read if you're subscribed to the Daily Devotional.
A Tough Message
It's hard to emphasize how radically different this message stood in contrast to the teaching of that day—including Judaism, Greek literature, and Roman culture.
In Roman culture, humility was not considered a virtue but a trait associated with weakness and servitude. Dignity was tied to one's social status, achievements, and reputation.
Instead, Paul taught that dignity is not something we own or need to protect aggressively. It's given by God and is best expressed through service to others.
In humbling himself, Jesus never ceased to be God during his visible time on earth. Rather, he willingly laid aside his rights and privileges.
David Garland writes, “Being equal to God meant making himself nothing and giving rather than getting, and his giving of himself revealed the true nature and love of God.”[2] He took on the form of a servant, and this is the same mindset he wants his followers to embrace.
Go To Where Others Are At
Frank Thielman was right when he stated, “The incarnation of Christ Jesus represents the antithesis of this human drive to dominate.”[3]
Rather than forcing himself on audiences with wisdom that exceeded the Greek, power that trumped the Romans, and spiritual understanding that far surpassed the greatest Jewish minds, Jesus came in humility.
As in 62 AD, whenever Christians today struggle to be united, one or both sides have lost sight of Philippians 2. Instead of emptying themselves, they seek to elevate their status. Rather than humility, they have arrogance. Instead of waiting for God’s exultation, they seek the praise of others.
If you are struggling with a fellow believer, I challenge you this week to meditate deeply on Paul’s words in Philippians 2. Instead of being condescending towards others, condescend to where they are at—not to prove you are better, but to walk in the footsteps of Christ.
[1]Bryan Chapell, eds. Gospel Transformation Study Bible Notes. Accordance electronic ed. (Wheaton: Crossway, 2013), paragraph 5628.
[2]David E. Garland, “Philippians,” in Ephesians–Philemon, vol. 12 of The Expositor’s Bible Commentary Revised Edition. eds. Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland; Accordance electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006), 220.
[3] Frank Thielman
