Sanctified Effort

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself.” Philippians 2:3 (NIV)

Writing in his latest book Why I Love the Apostle Paul, John Piper says, “No one walked with me more closely or helpfully than the Apostle Paul in identifying and addressing my most besetting sins, especially as they related to my relationships.”  Over several months of self-assessment, John Piper identified five areas of personal sin that threatened important relationships in his life, marriage, and ministry. Those five areas included selfishness, anger, self-pity, quickness to blame, and sullenness.

“Selfishness is virtually the same as pride and is at the heart of what Paul calls indwelling sin (Romans 7:23)- sin that remains in me as a believer. It is the corruption of my heart that is at the bottom of all my sinning. I see my selfishness function as a reflex in five different ways:

∙      I expect to be served.

∙      I feel that I am owed.

∙      I want praise.

∙      I expect that things will go my way.

∙      I feel that I have the right to react negatively to being crossed.

John Piper further identified four effects of his selfishness: anger, self-pity, quickness to blame, and sullenness. Gradually he reached the same conclusion as the Apostle Paul in Philippians 2:11-12: “canceled sins must be killed, not coddled. The link between the cancellation of my sin on the cross and the conquering of my sin was sanctified effort.”

Piper continues: “I thank God for Paul. Under Christ, no one humbled me, diagnosed me, exposed me, taught me and delivered me the way he did. How can you not love a comrade in arms, a marriage counselor, and a ministry saver like this man?”

Real repentance means turning from our sin and turning to God. Repentance begins by recognizing our sin, calling it what it is, accepting personal responsibility for it, and asking God to help us change by the power of His Word and His Holy Spirit.  That’s what John Piper calls “sanctified effort.” We work out what God has already worked in us. Forgiven sins are the only sins that can be defeated.

Paul’s words to the Philippians are still good words for us today. Do nothing out of selfishness or pride.