To promote Unity
… complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Phil 2:2-4
The church as one body must be one- act as one, relate as one and be seen as one by those who are watching it from the outside. If this is not so, then it will not represent the body of Christ that Paul described severally as one body.
To be one living body, the church must have same mind, same love, be in agreement, of one ambition, one interest. Every members should look out for the interest of the other member. Oh! What a wonderful thing and a wonderful life it would be if it were so? Everyone striving to outdo the other in demonstrating love and good works.
The disunity in the body of Christ has persisted because of selfish ambition that stems from selfish interest. This is what must be dealt with if we are going to experience this wonderful life in Christ.
To experience this life, the key is humility. Humility is “the feeling or attitude that you have no special importance that makes you better than others or having a lack of pride”. It is the virtue that prioritizes social harmony. Without humility we cannot have agreement or unity. So, the Apostle presents to us examples of people who lived this life of humility that brought about reconciliation and oneness in the body of Christ.
First, we see the example of Christ Jesus himself. Then that of Timothy and last of all, Epaphroditus.