Pastor’s Corner: “It’s Not All About You (or me)”
Philippians 2:3-8 (NIV) – Imitating Christ’s Humility – 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
It is easy during these times of separation and isolation to become more and more focused on our own worlds, problems, needs and significance. As a matter of fact we are surrounded by messages from the world all around us that encourage us to focus on and even fight for our wants, desires and things that we believed are owed to us. Our lives become self-focused and self-centered. In this process, we can become more easily offended, detached and fearful about our future, compounding and exasperating the difficulties we are facing. We feed the problem rather than focusing on Jesus’ heart and plan for us and it is easy to become lost.
Benjamin Franklin was confronted by a disgruntled American, complaining that his country had failed to provide him with the happiness it had promised. Franklin is said to have smiled and calmly replied, “The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.” The question is how do we pursue happiness? The world’s answer to happiness is to seek and fulfill everything that you want and desire and you will be happy. Jesus gave us an upside down picture; true happiness and fulfillment comes when we consider others better than ourselves and seek their best interests. This is opposite of our flesh and what the world promotes.
Self-centeredness is the basic cause of much of our distress in life. Hypochondria, mental disorders, melancholy and depression is often caused by self-pity and self-centeredness. Most of us suffer from spiritual nearsightedness. Our interests, our loves, and our energies are too often focused upon ourselves. Jesus underscored the fact that His disciples were to live out-flowingly rather than selfishly. To the rich young ruler He said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21). It wasn’t the giving away of his goods that Jesus demanded, particularly, but that he be released from selfishness, and its devastating effect on his personality and life.
Serving others is more than keeping up with your to-do list. To be a servant means we genuinely need to care about people. It’s keeping our eyes, hearts, and schedules open for divine appointments. Jesus was not stressed by time, what others thought of Him, or a list of tasks to accomplish each day. Jesus was led by the Spirit of God and followed His promptings to serve, love, and help others. No task was ever beneath Jesus, and no person was ever unworthy.
Instead of always thinking about receiving, let us start looking for ways to give. Instead of holding grudges against those who offend us, let us be anxious to forgive. And instead of keeping a record of what we’ve done or who we’ve helped, let us take delight in forgetting the deed(s) and being virtually unnoticed. Our hunger for public recognition will diminish in significance. Giving, forgiving, and forgetting . . . as a servant of Jesus Christ, which of these three do you need to apply most today?
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton & Family