“Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value
others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to
the interests of the others.” (VV.3-4)
Boy these
words are the key to solving many of today’s problems. Selfish ambition, vain
conceit, looking out for number one, all these seem to be the norm and even the
church has been infected and motivated by competition in areas like,
attendance, performance, facilities, growth. This just should not be.
Paul
tells us we are to value the interests of others above ourselves and do nothing
out of self-ambition or vain conceit. This means having a servants heart, doing
for others first, putting others needs above our own. This enables us to be
truly concerned with the circumstances of those around us, and allows us to be
more caring, empathetic human beings.
Knowing the sufferings, and the hurts of
others fills us with compassion for people and allows us to “put on the
Humility of Christ.”
The Truth
“God
opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)
