+DEV+ Others First

Date: December 10, 2009 8:07 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Others First

Others First

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests.” (Philippians 2:3-4)
Scripture Focus: Philippians 2:1-11

William had a costly decision to make. His neighbor had asthma and was reacting to the smoke from his wood-burning stove. Gently, she asked him to turn his furnace back on, relieving her from the frightening asthma attacks the smoke caused. But she left it to him.

William shook his head. He was out of a job for the winter and his truck was broken down. He was burning wood to help save expenses. It was tough, but he didn’t throw another log on the fire. He turned his furnace back on.

Putting someone else’s welfare first pleases our Lord. “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others,” Paul said (2:4). We live on earth with other people. Some sacrifice and compromise is needed to get along. By holding our tongues and thinking of others, we refuse to put another log on the fire of strife. Our attitude will be like that of our Master Teacher, who became a servant, putting others first, though He was God’s Son.

Insight: Fighting for our rights causes conflicts, but humbly putting others’ needs first shows them our Lord’s true nature—unselfish service.

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