Lesson 8: Joy fulfilled in service
Philippians 2:1-30 – www.bible.com/bible/59/php.2
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
As we have already read in previous lessons, true joy can never exist alone, it is always greater and more fulfilling in relationship with others. This is what we read in these verses also – encouragement and love, affection and sympathy are completed in joy as they are shared with others of the same mind.
All through the Gospel of John, Jesus talked about the importance of relationship of believers to Himself and to each other. The model for relationship is God’s own love for us, and one of the greatest scriptures demonstrating this love and joy in relationship is also one of the best-known verses in the Bible, John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” God, though He was complete in and of Himself, desired the loving fellowship of His creatures enough to make a way for them to return to Him after they had chosen to leave Him. He wanted to share His joy with us, but could not do so until He had made a way for us to return to His presence without destroying us in the process (see Romans 6:23).
Our verses today also tell us joy is made complete when it is unselfish. Our human nature is basically selfish. We seek our own pleasure or peace or happiness at almost any cost, and often consider those who serve others to be less important than we are. But God’s way is not mankind’s way – God says to be great in His kingdom we must become servants to all (Matthew 23:1-12). Thinking or planning for our own life, our own future, our own dreams, is always short-sighted because we cannot make certain plans for the future – read Jesus’ story of the rich man in Luke 12:16-31. We cannot know the moment in the future when our life will end, so working only for ourselves becomes a labor of futility.
We will see more of this model of Jesus’ way in the next few lessons.
*How does knowing God created us to enjoy joyful fellowship with Himself and others encourage you to serve more intentionally and to develop a closer relationship with Him and with your family and friends? What changes will you ask God to make in your heart and life?