Philippians 2:4 - Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Of all the things that Christians are called to, the greatest is that we would love one another. One of the ways that we do that is through service. We go out of our way to help each other, looking for ways to honor and do good to one another. If possible we even try to meet needs that may arise, giving up our time, energy and finances to help a fellow brother or sister out.
This is one of the key responsibilities of the church, and yet it can be very hard to do. Naturally, we are all relatively self-focused and self-serving. Our actions can seem righteous enough, but deep down we may just be helping out because it means we would look good to others. You may find yourself looking for a way out when people ask for help, and then have a sigh of relief when you find out that enough people are helping and you no longer need to.
Looking to your own interests can mean that all you do is talk about the things that interest you. You might only spend time with people that make you feel good or that make you feel comfortable. Being self-interested comes in all shapes and sizes, and truth be told, can be very subtle.
It’s not wrong to look to your own interests, unless that is all you do. You have to take care of yourself, but you aren’t the only living person on the planet. It really is a privilege to serve others, even though it can at times be very hard to do. Perhaps the greatest example of this type of loving service is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Jesus was interested in the glory of God above all things, honoring the Father and doing the will of the Father. But he also cared very much for humanity and for their need of a savior. Jesus served people time and time again, washing feet, healing the sick, and raising the dead. And yet he did all that in the context of fulfilling the role he had been called to.
Are you out of balance when it comes to these things? Do you find it hard to help with the needs of others, or do you jump at the chance to love people in this way? Do you find yourself looking for opportunities to get out of a conversation that is concerning things you don’t care about, or are you able to engage because you want to appreciate and value the people you are talking to?
As you think about the people in your life, think of ways in which you can discover their needs and then meditate and pray about how you may be able to help them in those areas. Maybe you can’t do the physical labor required, or maybe you don’t understand how to do what they need. No matter what the obstacle, don’t let self-service or any other thing keep you from loving others well today. We all have plenty of needs, and the church is meant to notice and care for the needs of the saints in ways that make the church strong and healthy. Consider how you might do that today.
