SELF FOCUSED OR CHRIST AND OTHERS FOCUSED
SELF FOCUSED OR CHRIST AND OTHERS FOCUSED
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. —Philippians 2:3-4
For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. —Philippians 2:13
For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. —Philippians 2:21
Whose interests do you really have in mind— yours, others, the Lord Jesus’? The interests of our Lord Jesus Christ should be our interests as well. Then, when His interests are our interests, we will not only be looking out for our own interests, buy also the interests of others. We will not be self-focused, but others focused.
Take a quick survey of your life. First, are the interests of Jesus really your interests as well? What are His interests? We find His interests in His Word and so if you are not regularly in His Word to listen to Him it is likely that you are not focused on His interests, but on your own interests. Second, if His interests are your interests then where and how are you looking and serving the interest of others?
What are some of our Lord’s interests?
- Loving Him and loving others
- Being a witness and a disciple-maker
- Helping the poor
- Helping the sick
- Visiting those in prison, nursing homes…
- Helping those who need food and water
- Helping those who need clothes
- Helping the homeless
- Helping the foreigner
- Caring for those in the Body of Christ
- Seeing unity and peace
Those are a few that quickly come to mind. So, whose interests do we have in mind? Dear Father may we have Your interests as our priority interests and be others focused and not self-focused. May this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Precious Son Jesus. So be it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYkZE8AogDE