Philippians 2:3

Doing nothing through faction or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself.

Faction and vain-glory ... These twin vices have been spoilers of the church of God in all ages. Petty strivings for place and preferment, jockeyings for advantage, pushing and shoving for prestige or attention - how many congregations of believers in Christ have been blighted or destroyed by the sins Paul mentioned here?

Hendriksen asked a pertinent question on his verse: "But how can a man who knows that he is industrious regard the rather lazy fellow-member as being better than himself?[6] Of course, Paul's rule here does not mean that every Christian must think that every member besides himself is better in every particular than he is! However, a proper evaluation of our brothers in Christ will reveal that every person in one particular or another is better than ourselves. In opportunity, in privilege, in the endowment of youth, strength, intelligence, or other of life's benefits, every Christian in some specific sense is better than any other; and thus this rule enhances one's true regard, not merely of his brother, but of himself as well.