A Mind Like That

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. (Php 2:1-2)

A typical poorly-placed chapter break. It begins with "therefore" and we're left trying to chase down what it's there for. Paul calls for unity. He specifies the kind of unity he's commanding ... "one purpose." Not uniformity. Direction. He encourages them to do it for "encouragement in Christ" and "consolation of love" and "fellowship of the Spirit" and to make his joy complete. But ... on what basis? What is the "therefore" there for?

Philippi seems to have been one of Paul's most beloved churches. It's an affectionate epistle and he's delighted with them. He encourages them that "He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus" (Php 1:6). He writes about the success of his imprisonment (Php 1:7,12-17). He affirms his singular aim: "in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice" (Php 1:18). And he tells them how living and dying is all good (Php 1:21). His one request: "conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel" (Php 1:27). "A manner worthy of the gospel." Paul uses a similar phrase in Ephesians as well (Eph 4:1). So ... what does "worthy of the gospel" look like? "Of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind." He goes on to say revolutionary things like, "in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (Php 2:3) and "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Php 2:4), but the perfect model of what our "same mind" is supposed to look like is ... Jesus.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus (Php 2:5)

That's the unifying purpose, the "one mind" that we're supposed to be aiming for. Paul isn't vague, either. What "mind" is he specifically referencing? Jesus didn't consider being "equal with God" something to cling too tightly to. Instead, He "emptied Himself" (Php 2:7) and "humbled Himself" ... literally to death (Php 2:8). For the sake of others ... those He chose, those He loved ... Christ ... gave self up. That, Paul says, is the mind we are to have. So simple -- "Consider others as more important than yourself" -- and yet, so very, very hard to do. It's a lot easier if being in Christ is your primary purpose and joy.