Selfless

 Who do you think is the first person I take care of in the morning? - Me. I get up and take myself to the bathroom. Who is the last person I think about at night? Again, me - sure I tell my family good night, but then I wash my face and brush my teeth and put myself to bed. When I think about it - I think about me all the time. I always make sure I get food whenever I'm hungry. I dress myself all the time. I drive myself where I want to go. I make sure I pay my bills, I make notes to remind me of various things I need to do, I spend an awful lot of time just taking care of and thinking about me.

I'm guessing that's kind of your experience, too - thinking about you and your needs. But is there anything necessarily wrong with that? I've preached on various passages of scripture multiple times over the years. Some are pretty easy - but others, honestly, I don't enjoy them as much. It's not because they're complicated with difficult spiritual meanings - it's just the opposite. There are some passages that are simple and easy to understand, but very hard to consistently live out.

This passage from the Apostle Paul is one of those.

Philippians 2:3-11 (NIV)

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (4) Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (5) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, (7) but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (8) And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! (9) Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (11) and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Do you see what I mean? I almost changed my mind midweek to go with a different passage, but the fact that I was struggling with this one so much meant this was the one I was supposed to preach - whether I liked it or not. The first instruction Paul gives, that I struggle with, is…

I. Consider others better

Did Paul really mean that? Did he really mean we are to think more highly of others than we do of ourselves? Maybe this was just a translation error, right? Maybe if we look at the original language and context we'll see that he didn't really mean what that says..?

Nope, it means what it says – I tried to find a way around it. When Paul wrote "in humility consider others better than yourselves" – he really did mean it. Paul really was instructing the Christians of the Church in Philippi to treat others as better than themselves.

Now I think it's important to point something out here. We need to notice that word 'humility' in that phrase. Paul is talking specifically about humility…

A. Not a lack of self esteem

Paul wasn't instructing everyone to go around thinking poorly of themselves because 'everyone is better than us' or letting others treat us as doormats. That's not what we're talking about here. He didn't say that everyone was better than the Christians in Philippi but that they should be treated as though they were better. How do we act this way, or change our attitude, so we can actually do what Paul asks without putting ourselves down…?

I read somewhere that this kind of humility, "isn't thinking less of yourself – it's thinking of yourself less." Does that make sense?

The way Paul adjusted his attitude was not by comparing himself to others, but by comparing himself to Jesus. What Paul was asking us to do is to get the proper perspective on just how righteous and deserving we are when compared to Christ Himself. When you fully realize the scope of the gift of salvation that you receive from Jesus while you are still a sinner – you can't help but be humbled.

As a follower of Jesus, if we go about with an attitude of superiority or self righteousness because 'we're special' and 'we're going to Heaven', we'll likely 'turn others off' to the very message of hope with which we are charged to spread. If, however, we treat others very well because of our new found perspective – then we can actually have a chance of being a witness for Jesus.

Why should we treat others better than ourselves? - Because Jesus did. Jesus set the standard. Jesus is The Son of God; Jesus is God incarnate! If anyone deserves to think highly of themselves it's Him. But, in Mark 10:42-45 (NIV)...

Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. (43) Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, (44) and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. (45) For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Even though Jesus is worthy of honor, and respect and VIP treatment, He showed us how to put others first. Jesus walked away from the glory of Heaven and became a man, became a servant! If Jesus Himself did that, how can any of us think to place ourselves as better than anyone else?

Being humble is what God desires of us, but in this world that sure doesn't seem to be what's popular. Many times, humility and being a servant are seen as a sign of weakness. Paul would argue that 'putting others needs first' is actually…

B. A sign of strength

Jesus wasn't showing weakness when He served His disciples. Jesus certainly wasn't showing weakness when He willingly gave His life for me... Let's look at another of those passages I would prefer not to preach…

Romans 15:1-6 (NIV)

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. (2) Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. (3) For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." (4) For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (5) May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, (6) so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our goal is unity to glorify God! And in order to achieve unity with my brothers and sisters in the Church body - I have to sacrifice. Paul is pointing out that it's the strong who are called to put aside their needs to serve, to build others up. He doesn't expect those who are weak to be able to do that. He even points again to Jesus' example of putting His own needs aside for the sake of others.

I suppose as we look at this passage, there are two categories represented – the strong and the weak. Into which category do you suppose that you might fall..? If you would place yourself in the category of the spiritually strong, there's a responsibility that goes with that. When someone does something that seems selfish to you or infringes on your rights - if you are strong you are to "bear with their failings". But what does that mean in practice?

If I were to "bear with someone's failings", do you think my response to them should include complaining about them or getting angry with them or pointing out their failings to everyone I could? That's what I want to do! - But, no, I think a response out of strength would be patient and restrained. My response might need to be more instruction and encouragement than it would be anger or scolding – and that's not always easy to do.

Sometimes people do dumb things, inconsiderate things. Not me, of course - other people... I wish that were true. If we are to respond to others, to bear with their failings, to put their needs first – we will need a lot of strength to be able to accomplish it.

In the scripture we read - 'the strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak'... Are you the weaker one? If you are the one whose failings others need to bear all the time, perhaps it's time you worked on growing spiritually? And that requires strength, too.

If you're not sure which one you are, the stronger or weaker - maybe think of it this way... If you are mature enough to understand the concept of putting others first, you're probably in the camp of the strong and God is asking you to show that strength by being a servant.

But there's more to it than just strength, though. There's a word that Paul mentioned twice in that last passage…

C. Endurance

Endurance could be defined as strength demonstrated over time. That's the part that's hard. It may be somewhat easy to show strength by putting someone else's needs first – once. On one really good day, I can be very Christ like. - But to demonstrate that strength again and again and again over a long period of time…?

Think of it this way - I can pick up some dumbbells once, no problem. But can I continue to hold these weights out for an extended period of time? Not so much. That's the endurance part...

Jesus wasn't just selfless and humble and patient some of the time. Endurance is required as well as strength in order to consistently put others first. And as far as I can tell - the only way to develop endurance is to be placed under stress for long periods of time repeatedly. Anyone on a good day can 'put others first' for a special occasion. Most everyone can put aside their own needs for a short period of time. Those who really want to be servants and follow the example of Jesus must be willing to endure for the long haul. That's why Jesus said…

Luke 9:23 (NIV)

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

How can we learn to consistently put others first and continually treat others better than ourselves? Putting others first is a sign of strength, but I think even more so, it's more of…

II. A sign of love

As I stated, you might be able to be strong enough to put others first once in a while, but to be able to endure - you have to be motivated by love. Let's look at Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a (NIV)...

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. (2) If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (3) If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. (4) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. (5) It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. (6) Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. (7) It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (8) Love never fails.

By that Biblical description of 'love', can I call myself a loving person...? - Not easily angered...? - Not rude, always kind, never fails? It gets harder to preach the deeper we go...

This is a passage that we usually hear read at a wedding, but in the context in which it was written, it really wasn't referring to a 'romantic' type of love. The word translated as 'love' here is the Greek word "Agape". The King James Version actually translates it as "charity", meaning 'benevolence', lovingly doing good to others. This type of love consistently says…

A. You first

It's developing, learning – choosing - this kind of love, this kind of benevolence that allows a person to consistently put the needs of others first! That's what makes you more like Jesus - not just a 'one off' act, but consistently responding to others in love! It's this kind of love that Jesus was teaching His disciples…

Mark 9:35 (NIV)

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

I have seen that kind of love here at Deep River! I have seen many give sacrificially – both of their time and finances. I have seen people reach out to those who were hurting – even when they themselves had 'full plates' of their own. I have seen people drop what they were doing in order to serve others. I have seen people push through physical pain and fatigue in order to serve others.

I have seen people who have experienced loss themselves reach out to comfort others. I have seen busy people put their schedules on hold – even when it costs them - to minister to a brother or sister; to meet their needs. I have been the recipient of that kind of love. There are a lot of people who do things like that all the time here! They have developed a servant attitude because of their growing love for Jesus and His Church!

I would strongly encourage each of you to become one of those who say, 'You first'. – Become one who serves. …And even as I encourage that - there's something else here that we shouldn't miss from this passage about love. It's about…

B. Making your gifts matter

I have personally known a handful of very gifted people over my years of ministry who, despite their great giftedness, were not very effective. They may have had a lot of knowledge or credentials, but they were missing something. They had talent, but they didn't have love; they didn't have humility; they weren't interested in putting others first. They may have had a lot going for them, but their gifts didn't matter because of a lack of love.

God has given each of us gifts and abilities to be used to accomplish His purposes here on this earth. Could you be getting in the way of those gifts because of a lack of humility? You could be the most amazingly gifted person in the world and may even become a huge success in the eyes of the world - but if you don't have a servant's heart, you will be absolutely useless for God's purposes. Choose to be a servant – and make your gifts matter!

So What?

Are you useful to God? Do you put others first? Do you perhaps resist that idea? Do you see why I don't like to preach these passages...? It is an impossible calling, to consistently put others first, to find joy in being a servant – it is impossible – without Jesus! Jesus, our Savior, showed us how to put others first. We need to learn to follow His lead if we want to call ourselves Christians.

I'd like us to really remember one thing from today. Let's bring up the next slide.

Philippians 2:3 (NIV)

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

- Now let's go live it!