It's Not About You

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

Selfishness, it seems to me, is part and parcel of fallen human nature. Apart from God, most people have an inherently self-centered worldview. Whether you're the king of your own country or just the king of your own house, it’s easy for us as fallen people to think that the universe revolves around us.

‌‌It reminds me of the solar system model many of us had to make in school. We painted a styrofoam ball yellow to represent the sun then put all the other planets on hangers revolving around it. But functionally, most people don't live their lives in keeping with that model of the universe. If people were to make a model of the universe that's in keeping with how they actually live their lives, they'd have to put a big 'ME' at the center.

It’s sad when lost people look only to their own interests, when they put themselves first, but it's unthinkable that a Christian would live this way. Scripture reminds us that we should do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Your actions should never be solely about advancing your own interests anymore because, as a Christian, your life isn’t just about you anymore! 

That's why it says you should humbly “value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” That one sentence is a kick in the gut to the Me-centric universe. Scripture commands you to value others above yourself, to look out not for your own interests but for the interests of others. In other words, your life isn’t about you. It’s about others…specifically other believers. You are part of the family of God. You live for far more than just yourself now.

‌‌Are you serving others, especially other believers? Or are you living for yourself?‌ When was the last time you put someone else ahead of yourself? Whose interests, other than your own, are you looking after? Or is your life all about YOU?