Philippians 2:3,4 says: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” In context the passage is dealing with relationships between fellow Christians, but we should have this attitude toward others in general.

If we learn to care for the interests of others as closely as we look out for our own interests we can be said to be living for others instead of for our own selfish interests. A good example of someone who was living for others is found in the old testament in the book of Ruth. The books namesake, Ruth, left all that she knew in her own country to stay with her mother in law Naomi and to travel with her to live in a foreign land.

Ruth’s selflessness was obvious in the way she cared for Naomi and looked after her throughout the book. Take some time to read and study the book if you have never done so.  If we can learn to live for others in similar ways we can meet the requirement in the passage above and be what God would have us be.

The Apostle Paul is another example of selflessness found in the scriptures. He was so zealous in his service to God that he, at great sacrifice to his own comfort and safety, made three extensive trips to preach the gospel to a world that desperately needed to hear it.

If we can learn to be even half as zealous as the Apostle Paul was for God’s kingdom, we can learn to care enough for the lost to be what God would have us be. We should spread the gospel in our daily lives because we do not wish to see anyone lost come the judgment day.

We should look after the needs of the lost as we look after our own need to be saved. If we desire for them to be saved as strongly as we desire salvation for ourselves, we will not hold back when opportunity arises to speak to them of the things of God.

For most people, learning to live for others is a long and difficult task that requires quite a bit of soul searching and work to accomplish. For most it does not come naturally.

We should take the advice of Galatians 6:9,10, which says: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

If we learn to do this we can learn to live for others in the unselfish ways that Ruth and the Apostle Paul did. We must keep on keeping on and not grow weary though the road seem long and even thankless in our quest to devote our lives to others and to the service of God.

Sin usually results from our own selfish desires, so if we learn to quench, or put to death in the language of the scriptures, these desires  and learn to live for others we can make much progress in being what God would have us be. Thus, it is very important that we learn to put the needs of others ahead of our own, as such an attitude alone ,will help us grow into stronger Christians better able to serve our God.

May God bless and keep you until next time.