"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interest of others."
Philippians 2:3-4 (NKJV)
If something works well for us, does it also work well for other people? If we are benefited by something, are other people benefited by it as well? While we do need to pay attention to what is necessary for our own lives, also paying attention to what is helpful for others is definitely a good thing. So many people live self-centered lives, and what they do is mainly in relation to their own well-being and how things work for them. While this is a natural human tendency, and people generally tend to be selfish, this is not a good way to live.
Paul wrote to the Philippians to be like-minded, to not give in to selfish ambition, to esteem others better than themselves, and to look out for the interests of others. This kind of thinking goes against the way of the world, where most people seem to only be interested in what works for them in their life. The point is not just that we need to be nice and considerate to other people, but there is a spiritual principle here. What may work well for us, and what we might understand, may not work well or be understandable for others.
As Paul told the Philippians, we need to pay attention to the interests of others and what works well for them. When we look at Jesus, and the life He lived, we never see a time where Jesus insisted on His own way or what He wanted. Jesus was not focused on His own interests and what might work well for Him or benefit Him, but Jesus looked for what was best for others. Jesus looked for ways to help people, to teach people what He knew, and to help people understand spiritual truths that He understood. This is what Jesus did, and it is something we should do too.
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interest of others."
Philippians 2:3-4 (NKJV)
If something works well for us, does it also work well for other people? If we are benefited by something, are other people benefited by it as well? While we do need to pay attention to what is necessary for our own lives, also paying attention to what is helpful for others is definitely a good thing. So many people live self-centered lives, and what they do is mainly in relation to their own well-being and how things work for them. While this is a natural human tendency, and people generally tend to be selfish, this is not a good way to live.
Paul wrote to the Philippians to be like-minded, to not give in to selfish ambition, to esteem others better than themselves, and to look out for the interests of others. This kind of thinking goes against the way of the world, where most people seem to only be interested in what works for them in their life. The point is not just that we need to be nice and considerate to other people, but there is a spiritual principle here. What may work well for us, and what we might understand, may not work well or be understandable for others.
As Paul told the Philippians, we need to pay attention to the interests of others and what works well for them. When we look at Jesus, and the life He lived, we never see a time where Jesus insisted on His own way or what He wanted. Jesus was not focused on His own interests and what might work well for Him or benefit Him, but Jesus looked for what was best for others. Jesus looked for ways to help people, to teach people what He knew, and to help people understand spiritual truths that He understood. This is what Jesus did, and it is something we should do too.
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