The Unfairness of Our Faith

It seems that the apostle Paul’s point in writing Philippians 2 is to show Christ-followers that we are called to live an unfair life. The gospels echo this point: Jesus often tells us that the world will hate us because of our faith. We can especially feel this unfairness and hate when we go into work environments that do not invite belief in Jesus. Regardless, we are called to love.

So, how do we deal with the unfairness of our faith? Apostle Paul gives us a hint in verses 3 and 4 of Philippians 2. He tells us not to strive to advance our own selves and our agendas but to consider the interests of others. In the marketplace, this is counterintuitive. We could be encouraged by our job to put others at a disadvantage in order to gain the favor of our boss or be selected for the position we want. And if we navigate our workplace without Jesus, it’s easy to be selfish. But if we follow Jesus, we must also look out for others.

Making an effort to go above and beyond by looking out for the best interests of others will cause us to stand out, especially in environments that don’t invite Jesus. This is an opportunity for us to make those who notice us feel special and important. Then, we can introduce them to the love of Jesus.

Though it may seem unfair to consider the needs of others above our own, being a believer in Jesus is still beneficial. We get to show those we interact with the path to everlasting life. This is an impactful work that requires our sacrifice in the duty of Christ.

DAILY CHALLENGE

Make a decision to put the needs of others above your own today. It could be as simple as holding the door for someone or advocating for a colleague, boss, or employee. In prayer, ask God to identify that opportunity and partner with him to act. Notice how you feel and how the other person reacted to your effort.