Ambitious people run for political office.  The time commitment and the organization of a campaign require a tremendous amount of energy and passion.  For many, a particular issue or concern is what causes them to embark on running for an office for the sole purpose of making a difference.

But what if politics is applied outside running for an office or governing a nation?  For a church or office, the results could be disastrous.  When a person goes to great lengths, evening using political tactics to push a personal viewpoint or themselves, the organization suffers.  The Apostle Paul may have been concerned about politics, and its influence in church life when he writes in Philippians 2:3-4;

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

The original Greek phrase for “selfish ambition” can be translated to describe a person who embarks on a pursuit of political office by unfair means.  They will go to great lengths — even create strife — in order to get what they want to serve their personal agenda.  They will do things at the expense of others to elevate themselves.  A person can gain political advantage by using these means, but cause great disharmony if applied to the church.  Even though a person may feel strongly about a certain issue, there is a right and a wrong way to express your view without disrupting harmony.

Notice Paul uses the words “vain conceit” to describe that person with excessive ambition fueled by pride and selfishness.  They are more prone to glorify themselves in their earthly pursuits rather than seek to glorify the Lord.  In Paul’s choice of words, we can certainly tell he was very concerned about this topic.

The pursuit of earthly glory has plagued many men throughout the ages.  Older men have expressed to me great regret in their feeble attempts to obtain glory or to be somebody.  Eventually, after years of trial and toil, the pursuit winds up leading to a dead end.  The truth is that there is no substance to vain glory and therefore, is meaningless.  Solomon, considered one of the most successful men who ever lived, wrote, “Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”  (Ecclesiastes 2:11)

The true mark of a sincere Christian is humility or “lowliness”.  They have discovered the pointlessness of running on a path of earthly pursuits or personal gain.  Like putting on a new prescription for glasses, they have a much better sight on what is most important.  The glare of self is replaced with a new focus on others.  This vision correction is a result of a renewed life in Christ.  His sacrificial life of gentleness and humility now becomes their own. 

When a group of Christians practice humility, a spirit of harmony occurs. We not only accept our own gifts and interests, but readily acknowledge the various gifts and interests of others.  Nobody is looked down upon, but looked up to with appreciation.  Everybody is giving of themselves and showing kindness to others.  Only the Gospel can give us the strength we need to live lives of humility that will clearly distinguish us as genuine followers of Jesus.  When there is humility, then there is harmony.