Scripture:
Philippians 2:3-7 ESV
[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. [5] Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Observation:
In this litter to the Philippines, Paul uses this opportunity to teach them that it’s not about them. If they could put themselves aside long enough to think about someone else, the real meaning of what christ did on the cross would come to life. Considering others as more important and serving them must have been a problem in philippi. The city was known for its brotherly love. In fact, that’s how it got its name. In the Greek language, there are 4 different words used for a word that the English language only has one word for…love… philleo is the word used to describe a brotherly love. Please don’t hold me to the spelling on that. I’m blessed to be able to read, let alone spell. I felt it important to bring out this mindset in all of us. Paul thought it was just as significant, and he showed it in his actions. Walking thousands of miles to spread the gospel. He considered your salvation more important than his comfort. Writing letter after letter. He put himself aside, and he is not even the most significant example. Of course, Jesus christ is HE put himself aside to the point of death on a cross. Truly looking to your interest rather than HIS own. This scripture tells us that HE is equal with GOD HIMSELF, yet HE set that down and gave up HIS life for you. Taking on the form of a servant. Stepping out of heaven to walk the earth in the form of a man to serve us as a sacrificial lamb. The ultimate form of selflessness. Being obedient to the point of death on a cross. The thing is, Paul is calling us to have the same selfless mindset. Considering others more important. Looking out to their interests over our own. Setting aside who we may think we are and thinking about the needs of someone else. Selfless love.
Application:
The world would have you believe that you have to look out for you. However, reading this scripture in the book of Philippines would lead you in another direction. Having the mind of a servant. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to do this scripture much justice. Because honestly, I have some selfishness in me. I mean, I would like to think I am selfless. But start cutting into my time with my family and see if I consider your needs over mine. I think GOD put this scripture on my heart this morning to correct me. I’m just not sure. I do try to be selfless. But it’s not easy, and the world would have you believe you are the one that is important. You have to look out for number one, right? But I wonder what the world would look like if we took the time to love our neighbors as we loved ourselves. Looking out for their interests over ours. It could catch on. If we look at the early church in acts, we can see how this mindset grew the church rapidly. They all had a common purse, and no one’s needs were above someone else’s they had a community of believers who considered others as more important. Meeting the needs of their neighbors over meeting their own needs. A selfless kind of love. I can only aspire to be like that. My heart is to serve. To give. To set myself aside and consider the needs of others. Sometimes, lm ok at it, but most of the time, it’s a struggle. That’s just me being honest. But my point to all this is I want you to know that you matter. Every time I get up to put one of these SOAPS together, I pray first I only hope the Holy Spirit can take the mess I made this morning and turn it into something that hits your heart, and helps you consider others and their interests as more important.
Prayer:
Father, only you can take this mess and turn it into a message. We want to be selfless. We want to be like your son. Help us to do so. Let us see the needs of those around us and place them over ourselves. Help us to get out of any selfish mindset that we have and turn our attention towards others. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.