Him and Others
Life can feel demanding, and in those times, it’s tempting to want to focus on yourself, your life, and your goals. However, those that God placed in your life have goals, wants, and desires too; they have whole lives and stories. So should those things (the details of their lives) be neglected just because there is a lot on your plate?
No. We often turn to ourselves because we want to take control of our situations out of fear that God won’t handle them as well as we could, or that He doesn’t care. However, this mindset only hurts us and those who are in our lives. God teaches us how to regard others through Paul as he writes to Christians in Philippi:
“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. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5 NIV)
Though we might have our own problems and aims, we shouldn’t be thinking about ourselves so much that our issues/desires are all we see and all we pursue. In this way, we block others’ needs, and the constant “me, me, me” makes our hearts more conditioned to value ourselves at a level where we see others as less than. We aren’t given another day to make it about ourselves, but to love God and value others. This involves focusing on God rather than ourselves, so that we stay connected with Him and His Spirit can work in us to love people the way He does. This is what Paul means by having the same mindset as Jesus in our relationships with one another. As Christians, God should be in the middle of our relationships, meaning both sides should be in relationship with God so that as God works in both people, their hearts and minds will become more like Christ’s, and their actions will follow. In relationships with unbelievers, our connection with God and our surrender to Him allows Him to work in our hearts so that we can be a blessing to others as we show His love and humility.
Sometimes, life and the enemy can make it seem like we are the only ones in the world, or that we are the only ones struggling, but everyone feels that way sometimes. A Christ-like heart that shows love and concern is what everyone needs. It’s what makes life a more shared experience and reminds us of the bigger picture rather than our own little bubble.
Verses: Philippians 2:3-5 NIV, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV
“Love is patient; love is kind. It does not envy; it does not boast; it is not proud. It does not dishonor others; it is not self-seeking; it is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV)
