God’s Support Group

Philippians 2:1-11

There are support groups for everything in our day. There are support groups for children of alcoholics, for rape victims, parents of sick children, and for people with cancer for example. Usually the support group is comprised of people who have had a simiar problem or been closely associated with some one who has. Families and small communities served as support groups in the past, but the destruction of the family, and urbanization of our society has destroyed much of their effectiveness.

The church is supposed to function as a support group. The people have common experiences and common goals. In a naturally developed setting, people with similar backgrounds tend to come together, due to their understandings of each others problems. Unfortunately, such a setting can easily degenerate to nothing more than sharing ignorance and complaints, rather than a positive benefit. God has given the church the scriptures to enables us to best support each other. II Timothy 3:16-17 describes this “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

As Christians, we all face similar problems, and thus can understand and empathize with others who have the same problem. Sharing our experiences, and how it has worked out for us does a great deal for others in the same problems. At the same time we do not want to sympathize, reinforcing their bad decisions and hopeless. We want to provide encouragement rather than despair.

“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me. 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.” (Philippians 1:29-2:2)

To be effective as a support group, their needs to be understanding and a sense of equality. The more we have in common, the easier it is to understand one another. We also need to have the same goal. Someone who is only out to take over and get their way will prevent helping one another. Paul gives some guidelines that will make the church more effective at supporting one another.

“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.” (Philippians 2:3-4)

When we are focused on ourselves, we tend to ignore things that do not support our own opinion. As a result we destroy the trust, and people are turned away. We need to shift the focus from ourselves to the concerns of others. Romans 15:1-2 stresses this concept. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.”

In order to accomplish this, we need to have the attitude Christ had. He is the creator of this world, yet he came and lived as mere human being on this world. He did not come in the form of a king, or political power. He came to an unimportant family in a small town, and was almost unknown until he was about thirty, working as a carpenter. Though he still had the power as God, he did not exercise it allowing himself to be arrested, abused and crucified, as if he could not have stopped them. In fact he offered less resistance than most, allowing them to have their way.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8)

Because Jesus Christ was willing to put aside his power, and his position, he has been promoted above even what he was before. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

We have the same promise for humbling ourselves, putting away our own desires, convictions, and plans. I Peter 5:6 advises, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” James 4:10 uses slightly different wording. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”