An Encouragement to Serve Over Self

This weekend, what are some practical ways you can serve those around you?  Read these words from the apostle Paul recorded in Philippians 2:

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.

This weekend, how can you look to the interests of others more than you look to your own interests?  How can you count others more significant than yourself?  How can you begin to cultivate a heart filled with humility?

Fortunately, Paul gives an answer.  And fortunately for us, the answer is NOT to do better and try harder.  If that were it, we'd all fail!  Rather, Paul tells us to look to Jesus.  Read this amazing reflection on Jesus doing all of these things for us and on our behalf (seriously... even if you've read or heard this 100 times before, read it again and be amazed at the reality of the gospel):

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The key is to look to Jesus.  To cultivate humility in your own life, look to the One who humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  To be genuinely more concerned with the interests of others than your own interests, look to the One who made himself nothing and took on the form of a servant on our behalf.  To serve over self even at great cost to yourself, look to the one who served ultimately by completely giving Himself.

I encourage you to reflect on the gospel.  Think deeply about Jesus.  And experience authentic heart change that leads to radical life change.