Monday 31 October 2022
Philippians 2:1-4. In you, Lord, I have found my peace – Psalm 130(131). Luke 14:12-14.
Be united in your love
Paul’s exhortation to not engage in competition seems out of place in a world where competition is endemic. We cheer on our ‘team’ in local, national and international events, we vie for the better job, the more lucrative contract, the best house . . . Paul is not telling us competition is intrinsically wrong. Indeed, it would be a waste, and against God’s plan, if we did not make the most of our talents. What he is warning against is the fetishisation of winning at the cost of other people or the environment, or both. It can be easy to remove oneself from the equation and say ‘the market requires I charge this . . . do this . . . be this’ and forget others will be affected by our decisions. Paul reminds us that Jesus, who had equality with God, so loved us that he became even ‘humbler yet, even to accepting death on a cross’. If we truly aspire to show our love for God, then we need to show our love for others.
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