It would be a wonderful thing if we all did nothing “through strife or vainglory” and esteemed others “better than themselves“, as the Bible tells us to do. Just imagine a family or church where everyone has such love for one another. That would result in great peace and joy. There is no telling what great things would happen were such love, humility, obedience, and joy displayed. To say that the results would be wonderful is an under statement. It would be glorious. That’s why God says, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye 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;”– Phil.2:14-15.
If you’re looking for loop holes, a common practice, to justify your failure take note of the word “nothing” in vs. 4. There are no exceptions. Certain things sometimes prompt us to act out of character and do things we normally don’t do– but they shouldn’t. There is never a cause for disobedience. It is our own selfish, sinful, stubborn attitude that causes us to fail and fall. The word “nothing” means something. It means “not even one”, no-thing. That’s a test we all fail, which is evidence that we all need God’s help all the time. This is a standard too high for people so weak. And our need of God is not just in this area, but every area of life. Without Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5).
We wonder why we can’t get along with one another, why we lack love for others, when the problem is our attitude toward God. Those who don’t reverence God won’t respect others. We will never mend our problems with man as long as we try to hold God at arms length, lest He be too controlling to suit our flesh. Those who tell us we need more “self-esteem” have it backwards. Self esteem is the problem not the solution. We already think too highly of ourselves– and thus too little of others. It is only when we put God first in our lives that we will learn to live with one another.–HDS
