Philippians 2:1-11

Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4)

When I took physics in high school, we were taught about centripetal and centrifugal force. Centripetal force is a “center seeking” force. It’s the force of gravity that keeps a satellite in orbit. Centrifugal force, on the other hand, is a force that appears to propel something away as it rotates around the center. This is the force that is used by your washing machine spin cycle.

One of my favorite definitions of sin is: a life turned in on itself. Greed falls into this category. It has an undeniable centripetal force. The church has labeled greed the “matriarch” of the seven deadly sins. In other words, it’s the stuff the other sins are made of. Theft, adultery, destruction of the environment can all be traced back to a self-centered interest that cares for no one or nothing else except ourselves.

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he calls us to turn our focus outward. The life of discipleship is one of centrifugal force. With Jesus at the center, we are propelled outward for the sake of the world. We offer ourselves, our time, and our possessions for the sake of the world that God loves.