Courtesy Is At The Center Of Christianity

Our text for today is one that epitomizes the whole motivation behind our salvation and our taking salvation to the world (Phil 2:2-8). Of course, that motivation is far deeper than courtesy, but it also shows us that courtesy is far more than a mere ‘please’ or ‘thank you.’ We also notice that courtesy is not just a nice addition to Christian demeanor, it is essential to its core. Let’s notice some points we can pick out that touch courtesy.

• We are to do nothing through strife or vain glory. We are not to let our pride or our feeling of misconstrued self importance be a motivation in anything we do.

• We are to esteem others better than ourselves. This alone would be the foundation of much courtesy as we “did for others.” And, it would keep us from feeling slighted when others were discourteous to us. We would not return “tit for tat” in our relations. We would seek to be courteous and good even to our enemies (Mt. 5:44; Rom. 12:19-21).

• When we are told to “look every man also on the things of others,” would that not mean that we hold the door for people, pick up what they dropped, be kind in our speech and even tell them about the gospel? We would treat all courteously if we were “looking” on their things.

• This is the mindset that Jesus had and that we must strive to have. He became a willing servant. It is demanded of servants that they serve courteous. How much more of us who have willing chosen to have the mind of Christ.