Equality

Philippians 2:5-8

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In our world today we have heard many people who express a desire for greater equality. And sadly there are people in our nation, even in our own communities, who have been marginalized, people who have experienced racism and prejudice. For us as Christians, how should we react? How should we be there for these people who are part of our of our community? And how should we be there for our neighbors?

St. Paul tells us in Philippians chapter 2,

Indeed, let this attitude be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Though he was by nature God, he did not consider equality with God as a prize to be displayed, but he emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant. When he was born in human likeness, and his appearance was like that of any other man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)

For us as Christians we should be concerned about these things. In fact, God wants us to have this attitude which was also in Christ Jesus. That he was willing to suffer himself to suffer inequality for the sake of the people around him. We should be concerned about our neighbors. We understand the kind of love that God had first of all shown to us. That his own Son would come and humble himself for the sake of people who were outcasts, who were marginalized, people who had sinned against him, you and me.

He came into our world to help us and he did. He humbled himself he took on the nature of a servant. He didn’t consider equality with God as a prize to be displayed. He gave that up in order to help you and me.

And that’s the kind of attitude that God wants us to have now when it comes to the people in our community, to our neighbors, to the people around us. Are we willing to suffer inequality in order to help those people around us who have been marginalized, who have suffered in one way or another? You and I, we rejoice in this love that we received from Jesus our Savior because of his willingness to sacrifice himself you and I know that our sins are forgiven. We have a home with him forever in heaven.

And we celebrate that kind of love that is willing to sacrifice itself. And that’s the kind of love that we want to show to all of our neighbors wherever they are in our community, in our nation, throughout our world. We want to be ready to humble ourselves so in a sense God asks us to be so concerned with equality that we actually go a step beyond equality. Being willing to suffer inequality for the sake of others.

As you go out into your life there are people around you who might need help. You know the love that God has shared with you. That’s love that you can now reflect to those around us who are in need. God’s blessings with you this week.