Scripture Study
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4
It is extremely easy to think about yourself first. You may think you do a good job of putting others first, and I am sure some of you do, but try this test.
Think of the last time you were in a group photo, and someone handed you the phone and asked if you thought it was a good picture. There are several other people in the picture, but who was the first person you looked at?
If you are like most people, you looked at yourself and judged the entire photo based on how you looked.
It’s okay if you failed the test—it’s human nature. We naturally think of ourselves first, and our culture encourages that behavior.
The Group Photo Test
It happened to me just a couple of days ago. Amy asked me if I saw a picture on Facebook that someone had posted of me, and I said that I did. Then she asked me if I saw the funny look on her face.
First of all, it wasn’t as funny as she thought, but I had to admit that I hadn’t noticed the look on her face. Why? Because when I saw the picture, I only looked at myself.
It made me wonder how often I do the same thing in other areas of my life. How often do I look at a situation and think about how it affects me before considering how it affects someone else? How often do I think about what I want, what I need, or how I feel before thinking about the people around me?
Finding True “JOY”
I have always heard the saying that “JOY” stands for:
Jesus first
Others second
Yourself last
What would change in your life if you lived that way?
You put Jesus first in all you do, allowing your words and actions to flow from your relationship with Him. You intentionally think of others before yourself. Would it bring more joy to your life?
Following the Model of Christ
There are several verses that promote this idea:
Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Galatians 5:13: “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
Philippians 2:3-4: “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.”
Jesus modeled it, taught it, and commanded it. Maybe there is something to it.
This week, ask God to show you where you’ve been putting yourself first.
Who in your life needs you to put their needs ahead of your own, and what can you do this week to show them Christ’s love?
Have a great day in Christ,
Matt
