Complete my joy

In the second chapter of Philippians, Paul begins with an encouragement, perhaps a caution, to be united. "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind."

In our world today it is not fashionable to be united like this. We seek belonging and community, but we also seek to distinguish ourselves from others so we might get ahead and in doing so, display rivalry and conceit. Even when it looks like we are united because of some uniformity we find it isn't the case. Uniformity isn't what Paul is speaking about. In fact, Paul champions the necessity of the diversity of the body or the church and describes it as being of God's own design. This multi-ethnic, multi-gifted, multi-generational, multi-era church should be united and working together guided by Christ to be performing works of good will which edify not just the church but the world of lost people as well.

Perhaps, it is this understanding of unity Paul finds so joyful. Paul's appeal is forceful and tender. He longs for them to identify even the smallest amount of encouragement, love, fellowship and affectionate sympathy from the work of the gospel in their lives. For a man who has labored as hard and as long as Paul has, seeing the fruit of his labor brings joy into his heart. This fruit isn't produced by him, but happens were God produces it. What joy it must be and how encouraging it must be not just to Paul but for everyone who has worked so hard for the proclamation of the good news to see God changing and transforming the lives of people. Taking pagans and making a community of authentic believers in the living God.

Unified people do not all look the same, talk the same, enjoy the same things. Unified people are like minded in the mission, have the same love in them because they all believe in the giver and maker of love, and are of one spirit and one purpose. Paul continues to describe how we should live humbly and not look only at our own interest, but at the interests of others. It is this interdependent life Paul hopes to see. The type of life that hurts because we act intentionally and sacrificially. The type of life which reflects our confidence in the world to come and our place in it because of God's intentional sacrifice. The type of life which brings glory to our father in heaven. Let us not act out of 'rivalry and conceit, but in humility count others more significant than [ourselves]'.