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Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
Do you remember one of the earliest questions in the Bible? “Where is your brother Abel?” To which Cain responded: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Paul’s answer is a clear and undeniable yes! We must look to the interest of others and not just our own.
My Prayer…
Father, teach me to love your family as you do. I get so caught up and distracted with my own world and my own problems that I forget to notice those who are hurting around me. Help me to grow more aware and more attuned to those needs so you may minister through me. In the powerful name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Bible References
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Paul is teaching in Philippians 2 on having the humility that Christ had, and how to put it into action in our lives. Humility and putting others first, is utterly foreign to the human mind, and we simply cannot do it without the power of the Holy Spirit that we possess as born again believers in Jesus Christ. (Philippians 4:13) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Selfish ambition and vain conceit are two of the greatest enemies of unity among God’s people. Wherever you find people who are interested in promoting their own agenda, denomination or beliefs over seeing souls saved in a church, there you will find the seeds of contention and strife which are fueled by selfishness and pride. The Apostle Paul saw this quite alot in many of the New Testament churches, and addresses it many times. Sadly, it still goes on today!
The cure of strife and trouble among God’s people is to be more concerned with the interests of others than with the things in our own lives. This does not mean however being meddlesome and judgmental towards people. It means rather to be helpful to them and pray for what they are concerned about in their life, in a word it means to be LOVING. It is as we give ourselves in devoted service for others that we rise above the selfishness and strife that is so common to mankind, and become more of the kind of person Christ died for us to be, reflecting more and more of His image to those in our world!
Thank You Jesus for being our perfect example in humility and servant-hood. Help me to put others first as You did when You walked this earth and ultimately laid down Your life for me. I love You so my Savior and thank You for shedding Your precious, innocent blood for the forgiveness of my sins. I give You all praise, honor, and glory this day my Redeemer, Amen!