Philippians 2:1-4, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
Everywhere that I go I pay attention to people. As a child of God I keep my eyes open for ways to be helpful. I love giving to others. I went to Little Caesars today for a pizza. I paid for my pizza with Italian sausage, pepperoni and bacon. The cashier handed me $5 and some pocket changed. As I walked away, a woman (a total stranger) sitting in a chair said kiddingly, “I'll take that!” I said, “Here you can have it if you want it.” She thanked me and said she needed it because she didn't have enough money for a pizza. She didn't ask me for any more, which is why I asked her if she would like more, to which she humbly said she would. So I asked her to swap the $5 bill I just gave her for a $20 bill that I handed her. She was so happy, and I was happier. She saw my “Jesus” hat. I told her, “That pizza is from the Lord,” and I went my way. I love making people happy.
Perhaps I lost my reward in Heaven for telling you what I did today, but that's okay, I didn't do it to get anything in return. I did it because I LOVE PEOPLE. Our text passage from Philippians 2:1-3 teaches us to esteem OTHERS as being better than ourselves.
Some people only care when it is convenient for them. Some people only care about their little clique of family and friends. Today's churches are extremely shallow, because today's pastors are extremely shallow. One of the greatest books I ever read is 'POWER THROUGH PRAYER' by Pastor E.M. Bounds (1835-1913). Here is a great quote:
“The sermon cannot rise in its life-giving forces above the person. Dead people give out dead sermons, and dead sermons kill. Everything depends on the spiritual character of the preacher.” —Pastor E.M. Bounds, “Power Through Prayer,” p. 5
That was well said. Edward M. Bounds understood that dead sermons resonate from dead ministers, and dead sermons kill a church congregation spiritually. What I see sadly happening in many churches today is that Bible college graduates are being hired to fill America's pulpits. Consequently, these academic type pastors woefully lack compassion for hurting people.
Pastor E.M. Bounds continues with these helpful words:
“Preachers are preeminently God's leaders. They are primarily responsible for the condition of the Church. They shape its character, give tone and direction to its life. Much every way depends on these leaders. They shape the times and the institutions. The Church is divine, the treasure it incases is heavenly, but it bears the imprint of the human. The treasure is in earthen vessels, and it smacks of the vessel. The Church of God makes, or is made by, its leaders. Whether it makes them or is made by them, it will be what its leaders are; spiritual if they are so, secular if they are, conglomerate if its leaders are. Israel's kings gave character to Israel's piety. A Church rarely revolts against or rises above the religion of its leaders. Strongly spiritual leaders; people of holy might, at the lead, are tokens of God's favor; disaster and weakness follow the wake of feeble or worldly leaders. Israel had fallen low when God gave children to be their princes and babes to rule over them. No happy state is predicted by the prophets when children oppress God's Israel rule over them. Times of spiritual leadership are times of great spiritual prosperity to the Church.” [emphasis added] —Pastor E.M. Bounds, “Power Through Prayer,” p. 50
A church congregation rarely rises above the spirituality if its pastor. So if a pastor is cold, uncaring, formal and judgmental of others, so also will be the congregation. If a pastor doesn't lead the example by praying for others, then neither will the congregation pray. I am not impressed with most churches today.
Have you ever been to a church where you felt like they couldn't care less if you leave and never came back? That is exactly how I feel in nearly every church I visit. Today's pastors and churches woefully lack the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-26, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” You can tell a man's character by how he treats the individual.
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