Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2: 3-4

“Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death – even to death on a cross” (Philippians 2:5-8)

The natural tendency of people, including many if not most Christians, is to put their own needs and wants first.

We’re all guilty of that from time to time. But the Bible says that this should not be what characterizes Christians.

Apparently the Philippians were having problems with this. A number of people were being selfish and self-important, and Paul says to cut it out.

Why? Because  it’s not a Christlike attitude.

The basic idea here is that we need to take our eyes off ourselves and put them on others.

When we’re filled with selfish ambition and vain conceit, we miss the needs of others that Paul tells us we’re supposed to be concerned with.

But when we consciously and intentionally look at others as being more important than we are, we start to shed that old skin of selfishness and self-importance.

You need to gain the right perspective on others – that they are more important than you.

Jesus took His eyes off His own glory – glory He deserved and will deserve forever and ever.

He took His eyes off that and looked at what we needed.

That’s the example I want you to catch today. He took His eyes off his own glory and acted on the needs of other people.

Are you willing to do that? Are you willing to set aside your convenience, your preferences, your agenda for the sake of others?

Are you willing to be a living example of the love and priorities of Jesus? His example is worth imitating.

 

From “Putting Others First”, Brian La Croix