The Worthy Walk

I liked the movie, Sahara. It starred Matthew McConaughey and Steve Zahn who go in seaarch of a Civil-War-era ship they believed was lost in Africa. What I liked about the movie was the relationship between Dirk (McConaughey) and Al (Zahn). You might be tempted to think of Dirk as the hero and Al as the sidekick, but it wasn't so. Each had their skills and specialties and each relied on the other to do what they did to accomplish the shared goal. I liked that.

In Paul's epistle to the church at Ephesus he urges them "to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called" (Eph 4:1). Of course, the first clue to what he meant would be to know the nature of "the calling" (Eph 1-3), but he offers an explanation here, too.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph 4:1-3)

He goes on to explain the source of "the unity of the Spirit" (Eph 4:4-7), but he gives us a good idea of just what this walk looks like here. It includes humility and gentleness, patience and bearing with one another in love. And it includes an eagerness to maintain unity.

What is this unity? Some seem to think it is "same thinking" or just absolute "sameness." It's not. It's more like Dirk and Al. We each have our specialties (Scripture calls them spiritual gifts) that we're supposed to use together for the shared goal. Paul describes it as a body (1 Cor 12:12-27). All parts, "greater" or "unpresentable" (Paul's words), are important. They don't do the same thing, but they have the same aim. For us, that aim is the glory of God. And I pursue that from this direction while you come at it from that direction so we can work together to declare the glory of God.

It seems simple; it's not. What's the problem? The only way this kind of thing can work is to begin with "It's not about me." This kind of unity, especially "in the bond of peace," has no room for "my glory," "I'm gonna get mine," or "look at me." It demands relying on others and trusting others. It only works if the goal is in view and not me. And to the majority of the human race, that's just crazy talk.

That's why Paul urges unity (Php 2:2) followed immediately by "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Php 2:3-4). That's the only way it works. More than that, it's exactly what Christ did (Php 2:5-8).

That's the worthy walk. It is a death to self that leads to an outward focus with eyes aimed right at the glory of God. Some are equipped to lead and some to follow, some to push and some to pull, some to build and some to repair, but all are intended to be rid of self in favor of a united goal, the glory of God. Anything else is less than worthy of our calling.