From Selfish Ambition to Joyful Selflessness: Embracing Paul's Call in a Culture of Individualism

November 4, 2024 - Monday, Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop

Phil 2:1-4

Paul's letter to the Philippians radiates with joy, and that is surprising indeed. The apostle wrote from prison and was not sure whether he would come out alive. Thus, this joy does not depend on external circumstances. Many preachers correctly point out that Paul's relationship with the risen Christ is the source of that joy. Christ lives in Paul, and He guides the apostle to embrace a different lifestyle, a lifestyle that leads to such joy. What kind of lifestyle is it?

When we turn to contemporary teachers and gurus, they tell us that each of us is worthy and deserves the life of a celebrity. They promise us health and wealth, financial success, and happiness. This is the "gospel" of individualism, which states that "I am the center of the universe; I am the sun around which all others revolve." But if everyone is the center, if everyone is the sun, who is outside of the center, and who is one of those planets that should revolve around us? Moreover, why are we so unhappy and lonely while following this recipe for success?

Paul, from his prison, advises the Philippian Christians: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (Phil. 2:3). "Selfish ambition" permeates our workplace, social media, and even relationships. In the workplace, the drive for success often leads to a mindset where we prioritize our own advancement at the expense of others. Social media platforms encourage self-promotion, where many people constantly curate their lives to appear perfect, often measuring their worth by likes, follows, or shares. Even in personal relationships, modern culture sometimes promotes a view where friendships, marriages, or family dynamics are about what we can gain from them. Additionally, our consumeristic culture encourages us to prioritize our needs and desires over others.

Paul, on the other hand, for whom Jesus Christ was the "role model," tells us to "in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (Phil. 2:3). In the workplace, this calls for teamwork, mutual support, and cooperation—sacrificing personal gain for the sake of the group. Social media can also be used for community-building instead of self-promotion. And in relationships, it makes us ask a different question: instead of "What can I get out of this?" we can ask, "How can I love and serve this person or that community?"

Even in society, Paul's advice can lead to a monumental shift. Today, we highlight personal freedom and individual rights. But what about the common good of society? In many Western societies, what is best for an individual is often done at the expense of the wider community. Poverty and environmental crises have their roots in our selfishness—very few want to sacrifice their comfortable way of life and convenience for the sake of others. We have created an entitlement society where most people demand something and few are willing to sacrifice for others. Jesus said that "there is more happiness in giving than in receiving" (Acts 20:35), but we try to find joy in receiving rather than in giving—and we fail.

What would happen if we take Paul's call seriously? What would happen if, instead of pursuing "selfish ambition," we begin considering others as more significant than ourselves? We can find the same joy that permeated Paul's life—the joy found in serving Christ and others, moving from selfishness to selflessness.