Philippians 2:1-11 is counter-cultural to our day. We live in a culture greatly influenced by theories of Abraham Maslow, humanist and psychologist, who essentially contends that contentment and growth come from the close attention to the needs of one’s self. Somewhere inside of all of us we want his theories to make sense and be true. After all, “If I don’t take care of my self, who will?” Who better to look out for ourselves than ourselves? Audre Lorde, a well-known poet, feminist, and civil rights activist in the 1960s, has been attributed with saying, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation.” The logic seems to be there, or is it? Even in paying close attention to the needs of one’s self many are left discontent
