Acknowledging Self-Interest

So… Is Boris Johnson ‘clinging to power’ (The Guardian) or is he right to claim that the outcome of last Monday’s vote of confidence was ‘an extremely good, decisive, conclusive result’? I suspect that your answer may depend on whether or not you have confidence in him as Prime Minister. If you had had the opportunity to cast a vote last Monday, would you have supported him or not? Among those who did support him, how many did so because they genuinely believe that keeping him in post is the best way forward for the country, and how many of them were motivated by a degree of self-interest? Of course, there is a debate about the extent to which Mr. Johnson himself is motivated by self-interest in his desire to be Prime Minister. Does he enjoy the power and status that come with the job (maybe not so much at the moment!) or is he motivated by a genuine desire to serve his country? If he believes that he is the best person for the job, is this a genuine reflection of his skills and abilities and vocation, or is there a degree of narcissism in his self-understanding? Let the debate begin!
Happily for us at Brighton Road, I believe that our fellowship is strong enough to include people with widely differing opinions on his premiership!
 
For better or worse, he continues in post, at least for the time being. Does that mean he has been appointed by God (Romans 13:1-2)? Is there such a thing as ‘the divine right of kings’ to govern, and if so, does it extend to Prime Ministers? Or is Paul here making the point that
rulers have to be subject to God and that the purpose of their role is to serve God in such a way that they benefit their subjects (Romans 13:3-4)? The outcome of good government is that we might be able to live peaceable and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness: if that prospect seems to be a remote one just now, then that is a very good reason for us to pray for those in authority over us (1 Timothy 2:2).
 
In Philippians 2:3, we are told to do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit; rather in humility we should consider others better than ourselves, and Paul holds Jesus up as an example of what it means to empty yourself in the service of others rather than grasping after power (Philippians 2:6-7). That this was a way of life that  Paul himself sought to follow is apparent as he speaks of being ready for his own life to be poured out for the sake of those whom he served (Philippians 2:17).
 
Yet in Philippians 2:4, he says that we should not look out for our own interests, but also for the interests of others. That ‘also’ is significant: it suggests that I am called to look out for the interests of others as well as my own, that I am not to disregard my own interests completely, but to ensure that they do not take priority over the needs of others. Some scribes, perhaps disconcerted by this apparent tolerance of self-interest by the apostle, seemingly omitted the word ‘also’ when copying their manuscripts, but it is likely part of what Paul originally wrote, and I for one am glad it is there. We are not called to sacrifice ourselves to the point of burning ourselves out through emotional martyrdom. There is a recognition that if we invest ourselves, heart and soul, in our work and ministry, then our own wellbeing is going to be inextricably wrapped up with how we serve. It does and should become deeply personal, because we are not called to work for God with detached objectivity, but rather to give
everything we have, all that we are, to whatever he calls us to do. The greater our personal involvement in what we do, the greater the personal cost. In this case, my self-interest has nothing to do with exploiting my position for my own personal gain, and everything to do with being the best person I can be for God to use in fulfilment of his purposes. Is that what is happening with Mr. Johnson? God knows. But what about you?

Tim Carter