Paul turns the tables on the familiar idea of getting everything done “my way.” He writes that we should not do anything from selfish ambition or conceit, which removes a very popular life strategy from the table. Instead of promoting ourselves, we are to approach life with clear thinking, not overestimating our importance. The order is reshaped: love God first, love others next, and then self finds its proper place. Paul puts it plainly in Philippians 2:3, calling believers to “count others more significant than yourselves.” That does not come naturally. Left to ourselves, we tend to assume we are the center of the story, with everyone else playing supporting roles. Markus Bockmuehl describes humility not as weakness or groveling, but as moral strength, a clear-eyed recognition of our limits and a willingness to trust God rather than our own abilities. It turns out that humility is not thinking less of ourselves in a gloomy way; it is thinking about ourselves less often.
This way of living becomes very practical very quickly. Paul continues in Philippians 2:4, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” That sounds simple until life becomes inconvenient. Then it becomes a test of whether we really meant it. I remember the hailstorm of 2014, when windows were shattered and homes were left exposed. With an injured arm, I was not much help in boarding up our own house. Glass and water were everywhere, and it looked like the weather had decided to redecorate without permission. Then people from our church stepped in. They called, showed up, and worked alongside my son to cover broken windows and clean up the mess. Others reached out as well. It was a real-life picture of what Paul describes. In moments like that, people stop being projects and become neighbors, and the difference is noticeable.
This perspective reflects the heart of Jesus Himself. He taught, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39), placing others firmly within the circle of our concern. His own life demonstrated this perfectly. As Paul goes on to explain, Jesus “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). He did not cling to status but chose to serve. In another place, He said, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45). The pattern is clear. Looking out for others is not an optional extra; it flows from the life of Christ within His people. When that life is expressed, even in something as simple as boarding up broken windows, it reveals a deeper reality at work.