Feb. 17/25 -- Philippians 2:4 -- The Interests of Others
/People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:4 ESV
Funny, isn’t it, how the little things can signal the big sins in someone’s heart?! I realize I am not a patient person. I recently found this out all over again at a big box shopping store. It is always busy. I am armed with my list. Prepared with a pen to cross off each item. I quick-march through the store on the most efficient route possible. Inevitably there are two people, their oversized shopping carts side by each, oblivious to the fact they are blocking the entire aisle. Chatting away as if this were a garden party. I can go from focused on my task to incredibly irritated, to wanting to ram their carts for their ignorance, in under 3 seconds. (Is it honourable that I didn’t slam into their carts or mutter, just loud enough for them to hear, about their ignorance? No, I didn’t think so. Heavy sigh.) My actions, they demonstrated I was ignoring the interests of others. It is a sort of funny illustration, but an embarrassing example of the condition of my heart. Do I care about others only when it is convenient for me? Please, God, help me to be far more compassionate, no matter my own circumstances.
How can I look out for the interests of others? I don’t want to. My old nature rebels against this. Paul has already spelled it out, how to look out for the interests of others. He described the motivation that overcomes my old sinful impulses. Look at the four attributes to be employed at every moment of life where the need to look out for the interests of others interferes with one’s own agenda or roiling emotions (this is from verse 1 of this chapter).
As one who has already been encouraged in Christ, I am at that moment of rising frustration to exercise that same encouragement and kindness to others.
As one who has been comforted by the love of the Father, and recalling His extravagant lovingkindness extended to a sinner like me, I am to exercise that same love to others.
As one who lives in close communion with the Holy Spirit, I can exercise the fruit of the Spirit. The moment old exasperations flair up, the self-centred huffiness of pride, the Spirit prompts me to exercise the fruit by which believers can live in community with one another and show the world in general, the reconstructed nature that abides in him.
Exercising the fruit of the Spirit will expose others around you to the previously poured out into your heart the affection and sympathy of Christ.
Father in heaven, thank You for the gift of Jesus, Who did not look out for His own interests, but in humility and love perfectly walked in obedience to Your plan of salvation. In so doing Jesus looked after the interests of those whom You, dear Father, appointed for life. Thank You Holy God, for the Spirit Who lives in every believer, enabling us to conquer our old nature and every ever-present sinful impulse and as the followers of Jesus look to the interests of others. It is for Jesus and based on His accomplished work, we dare to pray this. Amen.
https://youtu.be/p932vD3El_I?si=pJJJGjbJR8hPA_F1 I Am Not My Own
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