Number 1

          “You deserve a break today.”  “You’re worth it!”  “Put yourself first!”

“Do something for YOU!”  All of these modern-day adages underscore how obsessed with are in the world with ME, Myself and I.  It’s all about taking care of #1.  In our society today, the message you hear from psychologists, counselors and even advertisers is, “You are the most important person.  You need to put yourself first and do things that make you happy.” 

          But does this work?  More than any other time in history, we have teens, adults and even children who suffer from low self-esteem, anxiety, depression and a host of other issues.  In no way am I trying to make “light” of any of these – or dismiss them.  I’m just saying if what psychologists and the world tells us is true, wouldn’t it be working by now?

          Contrast these modern messages with the words spoken about Jesus by Paul in the book of Philippians 2. 

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others.  Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.  You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.  Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.  Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.  When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.  Philippians 2:3-11 NLT

From these verses and the entire New Testament, we see how Jesus implores us to think of others FIRST before ourselves, totally counter to what the world teaches.

As a school teacher and now a substitute teacher, I can tell you from experience that selfishness doesn’t have to be taught.  You know that.  You and I are both naturally selfish. Kids come out of the womb being selfish.  Left to ourselves, each of us cares most about ME.

But when Jesus comes in to a human being, it should change him/her…sometimes immediately but usually over time.  Spiritual growth is a process.  And with some personality types, it’s perhaps easier than others.  Bottom line…as a believer in Jesus, we have to allow the Holy Spirit to change our selfishness into selflessness.  It doesn’t just happen automatically.  It happens as we read the Word, as we hear the Word, as we allow the Holy Spirit to change us and apply what He’s teaching us.

I don’t know about you, but it’s mind boggling to wrap my brain around the kind of character and selflessness Jesus had in order to give up his life.  Even before He went to the cross, we see numerous examples in the Bible of how Jesus thought of others vs. himself.

One that pops into my mind is his encounter with the woman at the well in John 4.   We know that he purposely detoured from the road usually taken because the disciples questioned him.  No Jew WANTED to go through Samaria.  Jesus was tired and hungry.  But his physical needs and reputation were not near as important as this woman and her current condition.

His encounter with her begs the question.  When was the last time you were inconvenienced but still took the time to minister to someone?  This account sure steps on my toes and causes me to reflect on my own life.  Not only that, back in Jesus’ day most men didn’t speak to women.  But in this case, a Jewish man sure wouldn’t have wasted his time speaking to a Samaritan woman.  He didn’t put his nose in the air.  Jesus didn’t think to himself, “I need to rest.  I need some time to regroup.”  No, he took the time to think of this woman, this outcast and what she needed.  Even though he was physically drained and probably needed some downtime, he still not only interacted but poured himself into this needy woman. 

How about you?  Are you like me and sometimes run the other way because you don’t have time to minister right then?  Or you just don’t have the “energy” to reach out to someone who is needy?

I’m thankful I can read these accounts, and they paint the picture for each of us of what it looks like to live out a life that dies to self.

If you’re like me, it’s difficult to know how to actually live out that kind of unselfishness. It’s just one of many reasons why we need to listen and to rely on the Holy Spirit.

Do we even strive to live a selfless life?  Do we want to follow Jesus’ example?  Or do we buy into the world’s lies that putting ourself first on the throne will satisfy us like nothing else?

It’s difficult at times to find a balance between doing for others, thinking of others and putting yourself last.  The world certainly tells us to think of ourselves…it’s the only way to live and be happy.

Just rereading these verses in Philippians 2 and writing this blog article have made me stop and evaluate my own life.  You?

More thoughts on this topic tomorrow.  Thanks for tuning in.