Yield Series

For the past 4 weeks we have learned a lot about making our relationships better. We have learned how LOVE, ENCOURAGEMENT, FORGIVENESS, and SERVICE play a huge part in building more sincere relationships. We take another step today and add yet another element that will help to better your relationships. Today, we going to talk about YIELDING to one another.

PRAYER

Are you one of those people who will camp out or wait in a line for hours for a store to open so you can cash in on an item? I get a kick out of watching people on the news who camp out overnight to be one of the first to purchase the latest phone, tablet, or gadget.

On the other hand, it saddens me when I see the reports of people pushing, shoving, getting into fist fights and even trampling someone who has fallen down just to be the first in the store for the black Friday sales during Thanksgiving weekend.

People can really get impatient and grumpy while waiting in line. There was a man waiting in line at a check-out stand. He seemed agitated and impatient and had a very solemn and gloomy look on his face. When the CHEERY young woman at the check-out said, “Good morning” the man just grunted. The woman was trying to loosen the man up by joking with him, but it was quite obvious that he wasn’t in a joking mood.

Finally, the young woman said, “Sir, can I ask you a question?” The man sighed and said, “What?” “Are you a PREACHER?” “No,” the man replied, “why do you ask?” “Well, no offense, but you seem MISERABLE.”

I hope my demeanor doesn’t come through as being miserable. But if I did, I’m sure one of you would surely let me know.

But there are times when we don’t want to be first. The 4-year-old will gladly let his sister go first when they line up for vaccinations. The skydiver will often step back and let someone else jump before taking that big step outside of the plane.

These examples all share one thing, whether it’s to be the first in line or the last: it shows selfishness. A desire for something isn’t necessarily wrong, but when I push to get it at the expense of others, I’ve placed myself first and damaged my relationship.

In the book of Philippians, Paul says that we’re called to be first in line for one thing: looking out for the needs of others. And when we do that, we get the great benefit of strong relationships.

Let’s turn to Philippians 2. READ Philippians 2:1-4. “If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.”

One of the key themes in Paul’s letter to the Philippians is his call for the church to remain united in Christ. So, Paul wrote of their common belief in the gospel as their reason for unity. He urges the Philippians to live in humble unity that places the needs of others before one’s own. His instructions might sound simple but it’s anything but simple.

Let me say that Paul’s teaching in this passage isn’t an invitation to be a doormat and let others walk all over you! Paul wasn’t suggesting that you ignore your own needs or stifle your own interests. It’s good to tend to whatever you’re responsible for in your life, but don’t do it at the exclusion of others or at their expense. As you have probably once told someone, “Think of someone else besides yourself all the time.”

Work to help and meet the needs of others just as you work to meet your own needs. Jesus said the 2nd greatest commandment was to “Love your neighbor as yourself”—not love your neighbor INSTEAD of yourself. Still, we shouldn’t consider our own interests as more important than those of others.

Paul challenges the church to strive for a new level of maturity in relationships. He says in v. 2 to “Make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.” Live in harmony!

Unity pleases God, just like a well-rehearsed song becomes “music to our ears.” Think of it this way. At our church business meetings, all of our members will not agree on every single line item in the annual budget, but we can agree to stay together, work together, pray together, and serve together. We choose to push our differences aside and interact with each other with “affection and mercy.” (v.1)