Philippians 2:3-5
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus”
Paul’s admonition here falls into the category of ‘easier said than done.’ It’s our natural default to always think of and look out for ourselves – our preferences, our aspirations, our reputation. The movie we play in our head usually has us as the hero or the victim, but always the star of the show. Other people are simply supporting staff, extras coming into and out of scenes that highlight OUR story. But Paul is saying here to give others equal billing, or worse, put them ahead of ourselves?
If you’re like me, you might be thinking, “Impossible! I can be nice to others, but consider them as more significant than me? That’s a tall order.” But this isn’t impossible, it’s just uncomfortable. It’s part of dying to ourselves, which is part of being a disciple. This death to self doesn’t just allow us to follow Christ, it also creates an ensemble cast that points to Him as the TRUE star of the show.
While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:
- Are there some people that you find it particularly difficult to count as “more significant than you?”
- How might you look to the interest of others today?
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you?
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Today’s post is by Jon Price, Associate Pastor
Photo by Oscar Keys on Unsplash