3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4)
What guides your day? Thoughts of your own agenda or the agenda of God? While none of us are one-hundred percent either way, we do tend to lean toward what we believe is best for us. Yet in the whole of human history, this way has never been fulfilling – there has always been something missing. This is what Jesus meant when He said in order to gain our life, we must lose it. In His backwards Kingdom, success looks a lot like failure. To a large part we are always fighting against our desires and ego. To pursue Christ means a lifetime of battling our flesh to force it under our rule and the rule of Christ. In a world that puts emphasis on answering “who am I” we know that our identity is eternally bound to how we view others. When we love, we are found. It is the man who continually seeks his own gain who regularly gets frustrated because it is never enough. Finding himself forever lacking, will be the most holy of miracles – if not the most frustrating as well.
If you want joy, seek the joy of others
If you want financial gain, help meet the need of others
If you want peace, make peace with others
It is revolutionary, counter- cultural, and exactly what we need. But exactly how do we do this? It is one thing to tell people to put others first, it’s an entirely different matter to go about doing it. You cannot make an impact on all, but you can on a few. We are surrounded with a “sphere of influence” – people we can reach. Within this sphere, who could benefit from what you have? Are you holding back out of “selfish ambition”? For the next few months, this might mean not to speak when an acquaintance brings up their political views. In general, it may be a calling to simply listen. Oftentimes our desire to speak comes from insecurity or self-interest.
Today, stretch your faith as you put others first. Seek the uncomfortable calling of seeking their interest. Seek true fulfillment of not being the center of your life.
Matt simon blog 