Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory: but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Philippians 2:3.
Strife of tongue or fist of blows – the ungodly behavior and condemnation of spiritually immature believers.
The state of a spiritual babe in the Lord is a delicate stage of a spiritual life in any believer’s relationship with God if they not are fast learning in readiness to endure strong and solid meat of the word God (for every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belonged to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 6:13-14), that they might walk worthy of God unto all pleasing in self -abasement: let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5-8.
Believers has no right to engage in any verbal dispute or exchange of any verbal abuse against anyone, either in the church or in the world after the example of Christ who did no sin, neither was any guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again: when he suffered, he threatened not: but committed himself to him that judges righteously. 1 Peter 2: 21-23.
Verbal abuse or exchange blows is evil if it is found in the life of a believer – the Lord’s soul hates all those who loves physical violence. Psalms 12:5. The strife of tongue (oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear you; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Thou shall hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. Psalms 31:19-20) or fist (Acts 7:26) are condemnable works of the flesh, and they that do such things (new or old converts. 1 Corinthians 3:1-3) shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Note: let none among the children of God who are called to be peacemakers be found to be trouble makers or trouble seekers at church, home, in the neighbourhood or at workplace: they should seek and pursue peace towards believers and unbelievers alike. Matthew 5:9.
Foolish and unlearned questions should not receive any attention from us, knowing that they do gender strife: and the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will (2Timothy 2:23-26), including ungodly and unbiblical discussions outside the frame work and context of the word of God: these are out of the question, but to avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. Titus 3:9.
All things must be done without murmuring and disputing (wrangle, quarrel, clash), that you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. Philippians 2:14-15.
God desire that his children should do all things quietly, politely, cheerfully and peacefully without seeking for any attention in the simplicity of Christ. Our offerings, our tithes and other seed sown should not be done grudgingly, neither of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7.
Group or private prayers should not be done through strife: I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 1Timothy 2:8.
No relationship should keep going on in strife. Follow the footsteps of Abraham, the father of faith. Do not work with a trouble seeker or trouble maker man like Lot: let there be no strife between you and your relatives, wife, husband, children, neighbors etc. Keep distances to avoid strife, if by doing so, peace and quietness will reign in your life. Genesis 13:7-9.
Preachers should not preach with strife in the heart and tongue, speaking against other preachers on their pulpit: let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. Galatians 6:4-5.
Giving should not be done while strife is in the heart (therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remember that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Matthew 5:23-24.
Who can stand before envy? It conceives strife to give birth to hatred. It is a spiritual silliness, the lack of common sense and sound judgment which kills its victim. Job 5:2. King Saul suffered for his envy in his foolish pursuits after David’s life; and the latter finally insulted and cursed his king for his foolish envy and strife which made Saul to cry. 1 Samuel 24:11-16.
Believers should not walk or live in strife and envy (let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. Romans 13:13-14.
Good brethren should be acknowledged and appreciated for their good works in the kingdom. They should not be fought against for their good works, not to be intimidated or victimized because of their gifts and labor of love for the Lord’s sake (now if Timothy come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he works the work of the Lord, as I also do.1 Corinthians 16:10): but if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. James3:14-1 8.
It is good to be zealous for the Lord’s sake (Revelation 3:19), but the motive behind your zeal should be to glorify the Lord and not yourself. Your priority desire should be to do all things for his glory (1 Corinthians 10:31): either in words or deeds, as unto the Lord, and not unto man. Colossians 3:24: (b) your desire and aim should not be to compete, compare or make yourself equal with other brethren in the Lord: otherwise, Christ will not have his honorable praise of preeminence among his brethren if you seek to exalt yourself above others for a fleshly show.
Do you hate, or seek to fight against your brethren you ought to do everything to protect and defend in the Lord for the reason of their spiritual ability and gifts? We ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters in Christ. 1 John 3:16.
The church of Christ is indivisible one body. It is not like the competitive world where everyone is full of himself and every man labor is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not filled. Believers should be filled with all knowledge, that they are full of goodness, able also to admonish one another (Romans 15:14): members should have the same care for another (that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 1 Corinthians 12:25-26) and not to strife against each other: for if you bite and devour one another, take heed that ye are not consumed one of another. Galatians 5:15.
Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me….Galatians 2:20: therefore, you are saved and called to promote and advertise the Lord, not to promote yourself, not to use the Lord to advertise yourself. Let the Lord to promote and advertise his name in your life; this will be indisputable and praiseworthy (and Samuel said unto the people, it is the Lord that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 1 Samuel 12:6). There is not a man that will successfully dispute or contend against God’s positioning and establishing you: such a man is twice dead that will be fighting against God’s choice and will over your life. No one can contend and win a battle with the man who is promoted by God. Do Dothan, Korah and Abiram win their battle of envy and strife against Moses and Aaron’s position of authority in the church in the wilderness? No, but the earth opened its mouth to devour them. Does Haman win the battle of the bitterness of his heart against Mordecai who was promoted by God? No, but he was hanged on the same tree he prepared to hang Mordecai.
In the days of his flesh, our Lord to a very high degree sought after the glory of his Father, and not after his own glory (John 8:50), pursuing after, and fulfilling the purposes his Father in heaven, and not his.
You are called to seek and to promote the spiritual well being of others from the spiritual nutrients and blessings received from God, and not yourself, otherwise, you will be seeking your won glory – and Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, my lord Moses, forbid them. And Moses said unto him, are you envious for my sake? Would God that the entire Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them! Numbers 11:28-29.
Others should promote or advertise you in the Lord, but not yourself, otherwise, you will become like Pharisees the hypocrites who blows their own trumpets and sing their own praises: let another man praise you, and not your own mouth, a stranger, and not your own lips. Proverbs 27:2.
Self -seeking spirit and self seeking glory is a damnable behavior and sin before God: the scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: but all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. Matthew 23:1-7.
The sin and condemnation of vain glory seekers in the church.
A man can receive nothing, except it given unto him from heaven. John 3:27.
If you have not receive any gift from heaven, wait until you receive one or two according to God’s will: meanwhile, be yourself and do not seek for diabolical and any counterfeit gift and anointing to ignite strange fire before the Lord to deceive his people. Do not go and bow down before any idol for power or whatever ability, lest you also become a curse thing like them. Little children, keep yourself from idols. 1 John 5:16-21.
Keep yourself from the pollution, defilement and condemnation of idols: it is a sin unto death, having no forgiveness here or afterward. God will not hear any plea for mercy and forgiveness, having dined with him, then back to dine with Satan, do not be fooled or deceived. Acts 15:26.
The voodoo pastors, the enchantment pastors, the divination pastors, the illuminati pastors, the occultist pastors, witchcraft practitioners in the church and with all the children of God who for one reason or another seek to obtain another covering, but not of the covering of God’s Holy Spirit for fame, power, earthly riches praises and glory are under the condemnation of sin unto death.
After the forty days and night fast, Jesus passed his third test against earthly vain glory, power and riches presented by the devil. Matthew 4:9. You must also pass this crucial test for all purposes and intents: nothing should take you back to Egypt (kingdom and power of darkness) for help and covering, if you don’t want to come under the eternal curse and condemnation of God.
Once born again, being born of water and of the Spirit baptism, being born of the incorruptible seed of the word of God; the battle line between you and the world of darkness is drawn against any association or commonness. There should never be any negotiation, neither going back nor any surrendering to the enemy of your soul.
There is no believer, who has been or who is now a partaker of the power of the world to come, and for whatever reason will seek help from the kingdom and powers of darkness which Christ has spoilt and triumphed over them on the cross (Colossians 2:15) which shall obtain or found mercy and forgiveness of the Father; having observed lying vanities, they have forsaken their own mercy. Jonas 2:8.
Nowadays, how many believers have you seen around throwing party for the ofscourings – the rejected men and women of the society? Then said he also to him that bade him, when thou makes a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou make a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shall be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. Luke 12:12-14.
People throws a party or make feast with one another to show off – to display something or themselves. This is exactly what the text before us condemns – do nothing through vain glory, like Nebuchadnezzar made a show off party. Like Haman, their invitation is not only to feast with them, but to always inform you about how smart, attractive, or successful they are – outward appearances: this is what the apostle Paul calls making a fair show in the flesh, they glory in the flesh (vain glory- forbidden rejoicing), the showy, self- advertising spirit.
I’d rather not help others nor do something that will cause pride in me, than to do it with exalted heart: this is vainglory. It is to receive the glory due unto God who will not share his glory with anyone. I’d rather not try to emulate what is good in the church than to do it and make it appears like I’m trying to make impression that I can do it better than the other men, or make as if I’m competing and comparing like other men: it is the sin of vain glory. This was the sin of Ananias with his wife in the primitive church as they sought after man’s admiration and respect; but they deceived the church, and lied to the Holy Ghost, and were judged and condemned to untimely death with no chance to repentance. Believers ought to be quiet prince and princess of the Lord like Seraiah the quiet prince, doing nothing by strife or self seeking spirit of vain glory. Jeremiah 51:59.